Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-06-10
REGULAR ARMY HIKE IN WHICH
NEW EQUIPMENT 70 OWEN
FIRST TEST.
TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS
AND ADJOURNMENT try. our
Camp Utensils Made Of Aluminium 70
Lessen Wsishts-R;nss and eayenets
Take Place Of Tent Poles New
Methods Of Totins Camp Equipment
Being Tried.


the provisional infantry regiment from
Dubuque to Sparta. Wis. which began
today, is intended not only as test
of the ability of the automobile to re-
place the army mule. but also as test
of the new infantry equipment. This
much painstaking effort, in an attempt
equipment has been devised. after
to provide a pack in which the soldier
can carry everything he will need in a
campaign in the field and at the same
time conflne the bulk and place it in
such q fashion that it can be carried as
comfortably as possible.
This the officers Of the provisional
regiment believe has been accomplish
ed In the new pack. which has reduced
the weight Of the total equipment from
ffty-eight pounds to forty six and one
half pounds per man. The new pack
is marvel of compactness and COM
pleteness. 1t contains everything that
the old pack contained, at greatly
reduced weight, and is slung from the
shoulders in such a fashion that the
soldier is actually helped to walk cor
rectly instead of being smothered and
retarded in his movements as was the
old style blanket roll"
Company H Of the Twenty-Sixth in
fantry. Fort Brady. Mich, Is the only
company Of the provisional regiment
that is equipped with the old style
equipment, the other companies being
provided with the new equipment. For
comparison man equipped with the
old style equipment and one equipped
with the new were called to headquar-
tiers tent and the difference explained.
Even to the unframed eye the advant-
ages Of the new equipment over the Old
are apparent at glance.
Lssssnlns soldisrs' Burden.
The weight Of the new equipment 10
slung entirely from the shoulders and
none of it from the waist. From the
belt down there is absolutely nothing
in the way Of equipment to impede a
mans movements and there is nothing
in front of his hips or shoulders ex-
cent his cartridge belt With the old
style 'blanket rolf man carries his
bayonet, intrenching tool. canteen. wire
nippers and knapsack below his belt.
where, at every step. they bump MS
legs on his sides and, at the end of the
first five miles, making marching
torture.
The new pack is slung from the
shoulders by two straps.
The "shelter-half' tent has been Inn
proved by eliminating the pointed pole
which must be carried with the old
style tent and replacing it with the
soldiers rife and bayonet, the rife
making the pole at one end and the
bayonet the pole AZ the other. which 10
lower, the tent ridge having decided
slope toward the mems feet. The new
tent has a flap for closing both ends
while the old style tent was closed only
at one end
The plate and pan, canteen and cup
of the new equipment. and all the 9TH
er metal articles Of the equipment are
made, so far as possible, Of aluminium,
as against the heavier steel and tin
articles of the old equipment the
new style canteen is made in the form
of bottle with screw top and both
it and the cup At into a felt lined
pouch, BY wetting the pouch the liquid
in the canteen can be kept cold for
hours.
The entrenching tools, consisting OF
three shovels, pick, bolo and wire cut
ter are divided between the eight men
Of each squad, and are carried IN
pouch slung at the back Of the pack,
as is also the bayonet In the old
style equipment the entrenching tools
were slung firm the belt on one side
and the bayonet on the other. just
where they would strike a mans legs
with every step.