The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-09-10
FIGHTING EQUIPMENT.
Military Authorities Concede That of
American Soldier Finest in World.

1t may sound strange to American
ears, accustomed as they are to denun-
Citations of our national unreadiness, to
hear that the American soldier equip
ment is conceded by military authori-
ties to be the finest Of any army in the
world, says Gerald My9att in Leslie s.
Thus it is that Sammy will 90 to
France (or to Russia or Mesopotamia
or wherever the Fates decree carry
ing on his person the most complete
most adaptable, lightest, handiest and
most thoroughly efficient living, work
ing and fighting outfit of any soldier on
earth, not excepting either our enemies
or our allies. The personal equipment
of the American infantrvman (and
we take the infantrvman because he is
| both the backbone of the army and
the bulk of it, represents American
business efficiency and applied common
sense IN its highest practical manifesto
ton. Each detail of every tiniest ar
ticle, even the most insignificant strap
or lace, is the result Of scientific study
and experiment. I. Some things about
our army may not be above friendly
criticism but when it comes to the de-
sign of the individual soldier s out
fit the United States army has no peer
Most of us are iii a general way IA
miliar with the uniform, which consists
of Undertaking, socks shoes, canvas
Ileggings, breeches, belt, flannel shirt,
hat and blouse (the military name for
the jacket or coat, with a sweater or
lovercoat added in cold weather-but
livery few of us have any real idea of
what else a soldier carries Of what the
best brains in the army have determined
upon as the minimum complete outfit
needed by man III every possible
phase of his military march.
ing, camping. eating. sleeping, and 90
ing into battle. When first YOU see the
complete list Of what an American IN
fantryman actually carries upon his
; person in field service you are tempted
; TO wonder how he can march or fight
at all. Perhaps YOU Will wonder how
it all can be placed upon a single hu
man being-how there is room enough
Here issthe list, exclusive Of undercloth
ing and uniform.
Rifle (this alone weights 5 I. pounds)
ammunition (220 cartridges 100 worn
in the belt 100 III bandoleers slung owe
the shoulders; bavonet scabbard; in
, tronching shovel Cor pickaxe or wire
, CUTTER; this would seem to be some
, thing Of a hardware store to start with
but the list has Just begun; cartridc
belt; havcrsack; pack carrier (thes
latter two items, with their suSpendcrs
2 form the cylinder roll, carried on tn
2 back, commonly called the pack; shel
q ter tent half and rope (each man carrie
+ one-half of tent, the halves buttonin
: together); metal canteen; padded en-
teen cover; drinking cup; meat can
= bacon can; condiment can; fork; knife
O spoon; one extra suit of underclotheS
h two extra pairs of socks; extra shoe
k laees; comb; tooth brush; soap; towe
!. house wife Ca small sewing kit; idei
+ tiication tag Ca metal disk and tap
i to fasten around the neck); whatcvt
!, rations may be issued
s All the articles mentioned above tn
d American infantryman carries upon h
% perSon-and he is given frequent il
n spection to see that he does carry the
e. and that not a single thing is missn
q One tent-pin gone, comb or toot
,c brush or pair of socks not there-ar
n trouble results But these articles a
20 not all. Each squad of eight men HI
a. a squad kit-bag which is carried in Il
wagons, and in this bag each man mu
always have the following things:
An extra pair of breeches; an ext
flannel shirt; two additional pairs
st socks; an additional suit of undo
clothes; a spare pair of marching sho,
as III good condition; extra shoelaces.
ed This is the equipment with viii
Sammy goes forth to war, and if it