The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-07-14
CHANGES IN The
PACK EQUIPMENT
RECENT CHANGES ANNOUNCED
BY THE WAR DEPARTMENT
ARE OF GREAT INTEREST TO
LOCAL MEMBERS OF THE
NORTH DAKOTA GUARD.

Facts which win prove of especial
interest to all members Of the Fargo
and North Dakota National guard
VIII be the many and recent changes
In the pack equipment of the infantry
soldier and the methods of it's car
rage. At the present time a report
Is under consideration by the secre-
tary of war and the first section of
the general staff and the chiefs of the
bureau, which explains fully the use
or the different articles of the eouip-
ment and the proper method for its
use.
In the new equipment all articles
except the canteen and first aid pouch
have been removed from the belt and
attached to the haversack. which ia
borne on the back in cylindrical form.
and the bayonet Is attached to the left
side OF the haversack and the trench
Ing tool to the back The blanket.
poncho and shelter tent are made into
short roll, which Is attached. for
carriage to the bottom of the haver-
sack.
Another important feature of the
new equipment is the facility with
which the soldier can divest himself
of these articles essential only to his
health and comfort In the field and
not to his fighting efficiency. This
can be done by simply withdrawing
coupling strap, which holds the pack
carrier to the bottom OF the haversack
and unstrapping the hooks which are
attached IN he
sack. which fails off, leaving the SOL
der with his rife, 100 rounds of am
munition, intrenching tool, canteen.
hrst aid packet and poncho, two days
rations and toilet articles.
Cylindrical in shape, the new pack
lis about two inches in diameter, which
when in position on the back reaches
from the level of the shoulders to
point about three inches below the
waist line. The bundle Is held in a
vertical position on the back by sus-
penders attached to the haversack at
the top, passing over the shoulders
and beneath the arms and attached to
the back of the haversack near the
bottom. In al the tests of the equip |
ment it has been found to be the most |
comfortable, with no construction of |
the muscles, nerves or blood vessels /
of the neck or arms. From every |
anatomical standpoint this method /
places the burden in it's proper place
and no muscular effort is required TO /
hold 1t in place or help support its
weight. A short suspender hangs /
from the haversack In the rear and 4is |
fastened to the belt for the purpose
OF steadying the load and to serve as
third point OF support for the belt.
This method is not a new one in
worldwide military circles, as IL is
exemplified in the Korean tirgy. a
very primitive pack used by the ma
lives OF that country, and IL Is also
Is use In tae infantry pack of the
Norwegian army. For some time the
war department army board OF equip
ment has deemed 1t necessary to flnd
a substitute for the present infantry
which would be lighter i'm
weight. Another consideration was
the arrangement of the load to be
borne by the soldier as would reduce
10 a minimum the fatigue incident to
Its carriage. with the least interfer.
snce of of the arms and leggs.
L. III. Hartman OF New, York.
nephew of the late railroad wizard
and a son-in-law of Mrs. Roswell d /,
Hitchcock, the noted New York lectur-
er. explorer and society woman, came +,
% the equipment boards assistance
It the opportune moment and pre- 4
'ented the clever device which has
been adopted. and which will soon be
n use in many of the standing armies
IT. the world.
The new Hartman equipment has ,
,een most favorably commented upon !
~ all officers who have seen il and 8
las been tested in the field by a bat !
alton of the Tenth infantry and a war
strength company of the Eighth in
antry. Both officers and enlisted men
4 the organizations using Ii have
-iven IL their unqualified approval Its
universal adoption by the national
'uard Is anticipated in a very little
vhfle and already many of the or
anizations of several OF the eastern
tates have conclusively adopted it
nd it's use IL now In vogue.