The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-02-09
MARCHING TROOPS
Caring For the Feet Of an Army
Is a Vital Matter.
AS IMPORTANT AS FIT FOOD.

The Manner In Which the Sock and
Shoe Problem Was Solved by Our
Military Men Has Given Uncle Gam
the Best Shod Soldiers In che World.
The care of soldiers feet Is one OF
the important things in war. A soldier
is no better than his feet Many things
enter into the sum total of military ef-
ficiency. but two Of the great factors
making for efficiency in troops are
craftsmanship and marching power.
Infantry that cannot march would DO
as unit as infantry that could not
shoot. 1t may be because of the Inn
portance of the feet In infantry that
the men of that branch of the service
are called foot troops" Infantry
without good feet would be more use
less than cavalry without mounts. ar
tillery without cannon Or "a Lying corps
without an aerOplane.
Napoleon has been credited with say
ing that an army marches upon it's
stomach, which, of course, Is true as
far as it goes. Soldiers to bring or
maintain their efficiency at the highest
point must be adequately fed. and a
world of endeavor has been put forth
by brainy men to insure the proper
supply of food. to put into the ration
the constituents needed by the human
system and to have the food well cook
ed. But it is just as true. hguratively
as well as literally, that an army
marches on its feet
When recruit or prospective re-
cruit comes up for his physical exam
inati0n the examining surgeon gives
just about as much attention to the
applicants feet as tU his lungs. heart,
kidneys. teeth. vision and hearing He
will not pass a man with Hat feet. be-
cause that man could not march. He
will insist on a certain amount of arch
to the foot. Too high an arch, Which,
however, is rare in men, would result
In his rejection. Any defect in the feet
which would initiate against his en-
durance on the march would be a cause
for rejection of the man.
With the recognition of the impor-
tance of the soldiers foot came lonss
and earnest study and experimentation
with the soldiers sock and his shoe.
The sock question was soon satisfnc-
torily adjusted. The necessity of fire.
quent bathing of the feet, especially on
the march. was early determined ON,
and wOolen socks. light or heavy, ac-
cording to the season, were decided on
for marching men. Fresh and clean
socks are insisted On. and sock with
hole In 1t or sock that has been
darned Is not to be worn. At least that
is the idea as developed in the Ameri-
can military service. In the matter OF
the fit of soldiers socks 1t is pre-
scribed in regulations that 1.-THE socks
will be large enough to permit free
movement Of the toes. but not 80 loose
as to permit Of wrinkling."
When 1t came down to the study OF
the shoe the military men had a seri-
ous problem which It is believed in
this country to have been correctly
solved and with the result that the
men Of the American army are the
best shOd troops in the world. The
cost of the United States army shoe,
garrison or marching, is In round fig-
ures So, and so popular Is It with the
men Of the army that they rarely buy
a pair of private shoes for use when
absent from post on pass or on fur
Tough. The Quartermaster shoe of the
present day is considered an excellent
specimen of the shOemaker's art and
Is vastly different In 1T aud finish from
the army shoe of generation ago
In those states where these shoes
are issued by the national government
to the organized militia 1t Is one of the
perplexities of the national guard Of
ticers to keep their men from wearing
the shoes In civil life.
Before the foot and shoe ut question
came under the study of men concern
ed with the efficiency of troops there
was always great deal OF foot sore
ness among the soldiers ON the march.
This trouble was always severe and
annoying among new troops and
among old troops with new shoes.
The old idea was to equip soldier
with pair OF shoes that would wear
long. The stcutness and durnbility OF
the shoe was the main consideration.
There was very little consideration for
the foot that went inside the shoe Ii
the shoe was large enough and not
very much too large for the mun the
matter was thought to be settled Foot
trouble among regular troops on the
march has been greatly reduced. but
of course has nOt hoan aliminu od
Probably that ideal never will be at.
tanned.
soldiers marching efficiency de-
pends not alone on the size Or what is
commonly called the ''ft" of the shOe,
but on the shape. It has been said
that DR.. Herman Meyer was the frat
to formulate the theory that the great
toe must lie In such position that
It's axis when carried backward shalt