New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-21
Shoes, "Jackass Battery" and
Wheelless Ambulances To
Be Tried by Noun
tain Artillery.

Denver July 20-One of the most I'M
nortant hikes ever undertaken in the
reoular army is now under way in
colorado and Wyoming.
For the purpose Of testing a new shoe
which it is believed will greatly increase
the marching efficiency Of the army, and
for irving out some new devices in the
form OF travois Htters. ratiOns. etc. and
90 note tho comparative endurance Of
horses and mules in carrying light artil-
,sry over rough trail, about five hundred
artIllerymen, infantrymen and members
81 the medical corps from Fort u. -.
Russell are on the march.
The hikes will cover about thousand
miles of roads and trails on the plains
and in the mountains. Exhaustive notes
are being made by the officers in charge.
The condition of the men is noted each
evening at the close of the days march.
Feet are examined 70 see il the new army
shoe is coming Up TO expectations in the
matter Of providing comfort TO the hiker.
The marches range from seven miles
6ay 10 twenty Notes are being made as
10 the efficiency of a new travels litter.
which is expected TO he OF great service
20 the medical corps in rough countries
where wheeled ambulances cannot be
taken. New rations, which Will greatly
reduce the amount TO be packed BY the
infantryman, are being tried out, and
reports on the efficiency Of new food COM
binations will be made.
The chief feature of the hike is the
work Of the mountain artillery, or Jack
ass battery" as the soldier men call il.
There is not a wheel in this battery, which
has demonstrated Its mobility and deadly
efficiency on more than one occasion In
the Philippines. The field pieces are d.
yided into four sections. each section fur
nlshing a load for one mule. The gun
mules carry the following weights; Gun
trail. $50 pounds; wheels and axle 2l5
rounds; gun barrel, 30 pounds; cradle,
lG pounds; ammunition, 80 pounds.
When this mountain battery swings into
action the sight ~ inspiring. The mules
are quickly unloaded by the expert artil-
lerymen, and the gun parts are ass IN
bled in a few seconds. In an incredibly
short time the wicked looking cannon are
ready for actual use. They are unlim-
bered and parked every night when camp
is made and each morning they are
knocked down and whisked 10 the lacks
y the mules again. In this form cannon
o. Conpa atively heavy calibre can IL
carried over trails which would be i'm
Iassabls 10 ordinary guns, mounted on
ordinary carriages, In the Philippines,
where the soldiers are often called on
ong hikes through the Jungle and over
mcuntJin trails In pursuit Of some Nero
outlaw and his band, the mountain bat
terry has proved itself invaluable. The
battery now on the test hike is due TO
start for the Philippines early in the fall.
There are more than 500 mules and
horses on the long hike In the Rockies.
This will be the first comparative test of
tns relative merits OF horses and mules
e. such an expedition. The mule has
bean favored for mountain battery and
pack service in the army. IA a rule, II IS
better "rustler' than horse, which
means that It requires little feed in
country where grass is comparatively
plenty. Tho mules in the service arc he
top Of the market, and arc worth more
IMAM coUV apiece hleHOuIi gun SNb'I'S
n.ne-tenths OF the mules in the govern
ment service, and stock raisers in oi1er
localities seem unable to equal the fine
mules which come from that state. Be
sides the field artillery, the mules and
horses carry the camp equipment, feed
and supplies.
4 unique feature of the hike is the lest
ing OF travois litter for use by army
medical corps. In rough countries il IS
often impossible 10 take wheeled anu
lances over the trails. The wheeled am
hulancc also is clumsy and cannot be
taken on a long. swift march across the
plains under ordinary conditions. Amy
experts have gone TO the Indian for cub
stitute. Tho Indians in carly days moved
much Of thtr camp equipment and their
sick and wounded by means Of trnvois.
These consist OF two long poles. one at