The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-19
A MrLrrARY rrCrssrrY.

A MILITARY NECESSITY.
 The Oklahoma State Capital copies from some source the following:
 Tt may be odd. but is significant that, for every twelve Japanese sol- diers in the field there must be carried does not look like business. Maj Louis Seaman, an American surgeon who has spent some time at the front. tells fur ther. that the Japs are lectured regu- in the sss corps msa. Sn so oss their finger nails and to keeep them clean, to carry tooth brushes and to maintain rigid code of hygienic rules day in and day out Every supply of camp is secured of dirt and refuse.
 Tn this advanced age the bath tub Is considered an important and highly necessary adjunct of civilization in the home life of any people. The prover- bial Englishmen without me tub" would be as badly out of 1t as if he were to loose his eye1glass. and we Americans are very much given to the habit of using bath tubs, especial ly in the cities. Tn the country they can take a plunge in the river or pond as . substitute. but in some form bathing has become what some look on as a fad.
 With all our fondness for 1t, how ever. the bath-tub has not heretofore been looked on as an essential DOT. ton of the soldiers outfit. Much hu- nor has been expended on General Miles and his porcelain bath-tub, but pur government as far as we know. has not included such articles among the military stores provided for the army in active service. They are not included in the acquisitions of the Quartermaster or Commissary Depart in making out acquisitions for use in field or camp mention bathtubs. This Is an oversight which should be at once attended to if we are to keep pace with the advance of civilization, else we are likely to fall behind even Japan in providing for the necessities of our armies. There can be no more pride, pomp and circumstance of glo- rious war" if we neglect this feature. The Capital draws this whimsical pic- ture of what may happen when our armies go into battle with this modern implement of warfare:
 What an awe inspiring scene 1t must be to see brigade of infantry rush.. ing to the attack armed with modern any wonder these soldiers of the Flow cry Kingdom have been 50 generally successful? A Russian can stand lyd- dite and Shimose powder and bullets and shrapnel, but when he is attacked with bath tubs his national pride, his very nature revolts. and he gets from under. In the light of the bath tub disclosure, the repeated and hasty re- treats made by Gen. Kuropatkin are easy of explanation.
 We have not yet been informed how this new offensive weapon is to be carried. We do not know if 1t is to be mounted On wheels or carried on mule- back. or whether they are to be made of aluminium or some other light ma terial so that each soldier may carry one. or certain number of men in each company detailed to carry enough of them to supply twelve men, as the
 
 mere detail which will be arranged in due time. The point is that we must have our army properly fitted out, or we are no good. And our humorous contemporary has this as a prospective report from commander on the battle field:
 T regret to report that during the battle yesterday the enemy turned our left flank and succeeded in taxing sixty Of our bath tubs and disabling nearly twenty more. resulting in throw ing our lines in confusion"
 How would that sound as a report of an engagement? A serious loss of bath tubs might so cripple an army that 1t would be compelled to haul otf for repairs. Verify the world moves, and we must move with it. We have immense warships, powerful guns, and ammunition of every known kind and power. but yet one thing thou lack est" might be said to Uncle Sam. Come to think of it. there are two things wanting. for the Japanese are teaching us that no soldier is fitted to go to the field unless he carries a tooth brush. If he falls to bathe frs- quently and brush his teeth before going into battle he Is likely to be court marshaled and shot, Let us not fall behind in the onward march of civilization.