The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-17
xNAPsAck OF MANY NATIONS.

When the Germans heard Of the re-
.ent enCrn.ous casually list on the fatai
A .oersnot tie.d day. ab.ut which ON
,lai mo iry has BEN MADE. t--ere was
much self compiacent had wagginS
and many unkind things weIe saia re-
garding the sla.i.ina a.-d ma chl..g ca
pacIty OF Thomas Atkins.
AS a matter OF fact, any body OF
troops under Identical Conditions would
have HAD an equai cas-aity ist' oul
the Germans do MT reanze these condi-
ana indeed AL the cracA coiltine..tal
armies, without doubt, do these things
better" But the 1erma.-S can march
and SO can the FrenchmSn and RuS-
slams. and. moreover, the two Former
in "marchiag order" carry b gSer load
on their backs than the Brit sn solder.
Marching with them is an Important
accomplishment. and one not to be
taken for granted.
The German recruit, after he has had
his parade-drill ground thoroughly
into HIM. is taken out to stretch his
legs. FIRST, he marcnes in uniform
only, then he is given a rifle to carry,
next his knapsacA, and so on unit, his
marching order Is at full weight.
During ali this the distances are be-
ing gradually heightened, and finally
the pace Is increased. When trained he
is going his twenty mics regularly
twice a week, and he may be called
upon to do thirty mile marcn occas-
ionally. and fit as he is, he accomp.is hes
il ION his head"
That Tommy Atkins can march, too,
nobody Will deny, but when comparing
his comparative spasmodic pedestrian
efforts with those CT the foreigner. gem
eral conditions must be taken into ac-
count, and here he does not, as rule,
compare too favorabiy except after a
fortnight or less in tie field.
Then, again, though some of our au-
thorities differ on the point, he must
have a breakfast to march upon, and
a small amount of food every five hours
or so, and an occasional mouthful of
water to wash the dust out of his
| throat
They get all these things on the con-
tinental maneuvers as a matter OF
course. In ours it is not always so-in
| fact, an officer writing from the front.
has said that so far as hardships and
| lack of food are concerned the Trans
vaal is paradise compared to Sails
bury Plain as it formerly was.
The continental soldier carries a
heavier kit on his back than the Brit
ish soldier because he relies less upon
his transport, and no matter where the
baggage train is he can always pitch
his tent at night and roll himself up In
his blanket
When in heavy marching order Tom
my Atkins carries coat and cape,
mess tin comprising plate. frying pan
and kettle), valise holding spare uni
form, shirts, socks, boots. brushes. ETC..
a canvas haversack for small articles
and a water bottle. This weighs COM
plete, with rifle, pouches, bayonet and
100 rounds of ammunition, sixty-six
| pounds.
The German is provided with a great
coat. one blanket and ground sheet, a
quarter OF tent and pole, a mess tin
(Which for the present is also his water
| bottle) and an axe. His valise contains
a spare pair of boots, three pairs Of
socks Cor foot rags if he is Bavarian)
spare uniform and fatigue dress. brush.
| es, etc. The whole equipment, with
bayonet rifle and $50 rounds of bal
cartridge, weighs seventy-two pounds.
The Frenchman carries much tn,
same, including tent section and blan
ket, but no waterproof sheet or haver
sack. The company cooking pots ar,
divided up among the men. A drinkin,
cup and spade completes his rig-out
J which weighs, with rifle, bayonet am
ITO rounds of ammunition, seventy tw
} pounds.
The Russian carries only sixty-eigh
pounds of kit, but then he has n
blanket or waterproof sheet. He is onl
burdened with seventy-five rounds O
ammunition. which is fastened abou
him in somewhat clumsy fashion.
SO far as food is concerned the red
coat, for all the millions that are spen
. on him, really fares worse than hi
comrades. With them biscuit and cot
fee or chocolate at a. M, is the rule
Dinner at II. and consists-and this
on maneuvers, too-of soup, meat, salS
and beer for the Germans, and one pin
OF wine per man for the French. A
1880 is supper of cold meat, salad
bread and cheese, and more wine an
beer. The Russian menu is varied wit
salt fish. but he fares we'll on the whole
London Express.