The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-22
kNAPSACKS or NAVY NATIONS.
English soldiers the Lightest Because Thsy
Rely More Upon Transports.
From the london Erpress

When the Germans heard Of the recent enor.
nous casualty list on the fatal Aldershot field
day, about which official inquiry has been held.
there waS much s~elf-comrlaoent h~ead-wag-
ging and many unkind things were said re-
garding the stamina and marching capacity
OF Thomas Atkins.
A. a matter of fact, any body az troops un-
der Identical conditions would have had an
equal casualty list, but the Germans do not
realize these conditions. because in their ma
npnvreS they, and indeed all NE crack, con-
tinental armies, without doubt, do these 'hings
better. But the Germans can march and 80 ian
the FrenChmen and Russians, and, moreover,
the two former IN marching order carry u
bigger load on their backs than the British
soldier Marching with them Is an important
accomplishment and one not to h. taken for
granted.
The German recruit, after he has had his
parade drill ground thoroughly into him, IL
AXE out to stretch his legs First, he marches
in uniform only, then be 10 given a rife 10 carry.
next hi knapSaCk, and 80 on until his march-
Ing order Is al lull weight.
bming all this the distances are being grad
ually englheUed and finally the pace is in
creased. Mhen trained he j. going his twenty
miles regularly twice a week. aud he may he
called upon To do a thirIy-mile march ocCa-
sionally, and fit as he Is, he acconpli,hes il
That Tommy Atkins can march, too, nobody
Will deny, but, when. comparing his ,umpara-
lively slasnodlc pedestrian efforts with those
OF the foreigner, general conditions must ls
taken into account, and here he does not, rs q
rule. compare too favorably except after a
fortnight or less in the field.
Then, again, though some of Olr authori-
ties differ on The point, he must have a break
fast 20 march upon, and II mall amour! q
mOuthiul Of water TO wash the dust oGt Of his
throat.
They get all these thing on the continental
manpuvres, rs n matter Of course. In ours
il i moi always sO-in fact, an officer writing
from the front has said That so far a. hHrdShips
and lack Of food are concerned The Iransvaal
il a paradis" compared 10 salisbury Plain rs
The continental soldier carries n heavier
Iii Oh his back than the British soldier be-
cause he relies less upon his transport, and
no matter where the baggage train +, lac can
always pitch ho tent AT might ana roll himself
ny In hi blanket
When IN heavy marching order Tommy
A'kins carries a coat and cane, mess lin t'onI-
pri.ing plate. frying pan and ketilel. a Nali=s
holding spare uniform. Shirt. s2ck' boots,
articles and a water bottle. THIS weighs com-
pleto. with rife. pouches, bayonel and 100 rounds
Of ammunition ,sixty-.'S pounds
one blanket and ground sheet. n quarter ~
a tent nj pole, a mess tin (which for IN" pres
eni T. also liN wafer bottle, and an, aye, MS
Of socks tor foot rags II he Is a Bavarianl, spare
uniform and fatigue dress brushes, SC Tho
whole e4girmnn, WI, n"y"nrt rnr ana 80
pounds.
The Frenchman carries, much he same.
Including t"ii ~rc'loh ana Dldnk'J bl 10
waterproof sheet or hAversaCk The com
pany cooking pots are divided up among tho
men 4 drinking cup and spade completes
his rig-ont. which weighs, With rife. bayonet
and 10 rounds Of ammunition. seventy-two
pounds.
The Russian carries only siSty-eight pounds
Of KIT. hu' then he has no blanket or water
pronf sheet. lie Is only hurdeied with seventy.
1--WE rounds Of ammunition, which Is fastened
about him In somewhat clumsy fashion.
So far n food T. concerned tho redCnat,
for all the millions that are 81 ent on him, really
fnrps worse than his conscrint "Omrad"- Nl'h
them biscuit and coffee or chocolate NJ 5 4. VI.
Is tho rule Dinner Is nj -. and consists and
this Is on nanpuvrn>, too Of soup, meat. 'alad
and beer for tho Germans and one pint of wins
nor man for the French. At 4 30 Is a supIe or
OF cold meat. salad. bread and choose and more
wine and beer The Russian menu T. varied
with snlt fish, but he fares well on tho whole.