New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-20
FOOT SOLDIERS AFIELD.
Experience of Foreign armies an
Equipment.
From The Tribune Bureau. J

army through its second division has just issued
a publication entitled Comparative Studies of the
Field Equipment of the Foot Soldier of the French
and Foreign Armies" 1t is by Commandant La
wise of the French army. and has been translated
for the General Staff by Captain Lawton' of the
18th Infantry. The Importance OF the suoJect ol
proper field equipment for infantry is sucn 'hA1
this little work will probably be read by ofhcers OF
both the regular and National Guard services with
interest and profit. The question of the most suit
able infantry pack of aluminium equipments VI 'lie
amount Of ammunition to be carried on the Pei0o'
as distinguished from that to be carried on the
train: the question of portable Intervening toolS'
rs well as the great tendency, in all foreign armies
TO reduce the weight carried by the foot soldier Oh
al: arms are a few of the problems discussed III
thts work.
The book takes up in order discussion Oh TINS
knapsack and its load. clothing. equipment rauohs
and arms of each of the principal foreign powers
with excellent illustrators descriptive or each SUI
iect The conclusions Of the author, al'er rev ie"
ing the subject from every standpoint are as io-
lows:
tb course Of this work we conclude that the cam,
pag2 squipnerfs r. Of th cor dGGf so''e'
CLOTHING.
CTot,,as -rorer-An overcoat blouse or full
tunic and tro'aers CLOTH; all these artlees ot
dull color The Jacket shGm9 shod have with
turndow collar sleeves furnished DIV with the hends
Made lighter IL WY and t for pr f fode same me
reasons as the GszTan coat 1t SHOULD pc bonIG he
on tho kpapsack during marches, ana SlpuIo e.
Core, properly speaEiag article of clothing Tor
~ heoF Of sope dun a e0lST
light waterproof. oe compressed coz H. WIN
FoofWesr@A pair OK high marching shoes, Vel
and s9 s mn6s a eas Raf but ut Of Sufficient Ts
ing power to F rep ise If o or should the
have feet. -. u,+a
Elimination of the low shoe and the g3 4be nse of
which would be prescribed for az seasons aea
under an circumstances, but only Tor use III 'o0
81 EQUIPMENT
belt and two cartridge boxes. In consequence,
of the amnunitcn which it carries between the
cartridge boxes and W Peoke SO Pe placed
A movable sword-bayonet scaDbard. -. .o,,
ing an Interior framework Of rattan The inner f
face alone should be made o. pliaole leather IN
The sings Should be attached, the one hand
ndfecT 70 to e the ower part Of the by
Of little straps genetaa Sa tn The sIings
This modification would permit of abonshing the
The inner face of the knapsack should have
a 4be pos of Contact and distribute
the load better by spreading it over the largest SUI
It's total Height should be such that the upper
edge o would a be o0 he the Belt 70 this Result
it would be necessary to adoPt tW9 OF b
of two pads placed Ike those Of the Swiss 9naP
sack These pads wog9 bfX rom the back the
lower part of the knapsack and thus facilitate the
In the interiar Of the Rnapsack there should be
placed at wothirds Of its hesht or ehe Tn
ton from the rest of the articles
alone and, When used. the shelter tent and acces-
SORES There would be placed in the interior the
The indvdiial bowl Should be abolished, wei
the by a Ga nPdVdna uens Of dsrkeed
aluminium, which should be liked by means Oh d
IN t Sg Wa 40 Would vS result considerable tightening
the pack suppression OF the Reavy aoaa sITp
and easy and rapid attachment OF the camp equip
All the equipment should be of dark yellow
leather.
SMALL ARTICLES OF EQUIPMENT.
Two shirts of cotton. one cotton drawers. a
cravat. a handkerchief. a towel: besides, at the
wooIIen Socks or flannel footbands and one pair of
woollen gloves. sewing case and pSce o. soap'
Proof u sanvaa Two s sePsFats ed
arranged pace for the canteen The he hayersdek
should be arranged SO that II may Oe Su'p0i''-
from the belt or the shoulder.
CAMP UTENSILS.
An individual, utensil of aluminium and small
canteen containing one htre' and maze OF alumni
Portable tools-one in two Should S,d be fur
nished with tool having b case which at neea
Finally each should, carry in campaign ign
raton F 9 paek ana amd card Of
Identity 81 the soldiers handbook. the cover
should contain in the interior. on one side. the
civil status the description and the photograph OF
the holder on thu other size all useful ton
cnncnrnng fiy military status. The whole body of
the handbook, of which the, greater part Of the
ne ses could be done away with without much loss,
should be left at the barracks the day of mobil
cation.
1t is interesting to note that in a great many
rsspects these conclusions Of the foreign author
coincide with the opinions Of the United States
officers as shown in the personnel. clothing. equip
ment and camp utensils OF our regular army. The
author prefers a helmet to campaign hat
and leather Ieggings to our canvas legginss, car
fridge pockets to well known cartridge belt
l.nsnsack OF hide to blanket roll. But in many
details is most satisfactory to find that the de-
velonment of the field equipment of the foot SOL
der in foreign armies is proceeding along the
lines already developed by officers in the
last twenty years,