East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-08-22
LESSON NO. o.
YOUR ARMS AND EQUIPMENT.

YOUR ARMS AND EQUIPMENT.
(Preceding Lessons: 1. Your Post
of Honor. 2. Making Good as
Soldier. 3. Nine Qualities of a Soldier.
I. Getting Ready for Camp. 5. First
Days in Camp. s. Cleanliness in
Camp. 7. Your Hea tn. s. March
ing and Care Of Feet)
Each soldier in a modern army
carries with him sufficient food,
clothing shelter, fighting arms, and
ammunition to take care of himself
for a short period in case he should
be separated from mis- company. The
total weight of his load, in addition
to the clothes he wears, is so to 20
pounds. The number of articles is
surprisingly large. They are 50 de-
vised, however. that by Ingenious
methods of packing and adjusting
they can all be carried with the least
possible effort
You are personally responsib e for
all the arms, clothing and supplies
ssued to you. The trained soldier
keeps track Of them. He knows i'm
medately at any time where every
one of his belongings is to be fouRd
You are required to keep them in
good condition. In case you need
other articles. they may be issued to
you: but Their value in that case will
be deducted from your next pay.
You will receive on enlistment an
ample suppy of clothing, including
not only your uniform. but extra
shoes, shirts. underclothes. and socks,
You may not be able always to keep
your clothing spotlessly clean. But
when il becomes dirty or spotted take
the rst opportunity to clean it thor
oughly.
Your shoes must be cleaned and
polished frequently. Wet shoes should
be carefully dried. Army men fire.
quenty dry their shoes during the
night by taking a few handfuls of
dry. clean pebbles. heating them in
a meat can or kettle until they are
very hot. and then placing them y
the shoes. So long as the pebbles
are hot move them about once in
while by shaking the shoes. Take
care not to heat the pebbles 50 hot
that the shoes will be scored.
In general. see to it that all your
clothing is as neat and clean as pos
sib E at all times Mend rips and
sew on DuibbIlS NllIlthl uFldN lAAS
will add to your comfort as well as
appearance.
Wear your hat stra ght. Don't af- |
feet the "smHrt aleck" style Of fitting
the hat Keep all buttons fastened. |
Have your trousers and leggings
laced. Keep yourself clean |
shaved. Carry yourself like a soldier. |
Bear in mind that there is a tend |
ency in camp life for men to become !
and untidy You must use |
every means to counteract this tend |
ency For this purpose the customs |
and regulations of the army empha-
size the necessity for personal neat |
ness The good soldier keeps close |
watch on himself.
Besides his extra clothing a soldier
carries a blanket, a rubber poncho. a |
a mess kit. includ ng meat |
can knife, fork and spoon, cup. !
toilet articles. first aid package and |
some minor belongings,
One of the most useful pieces is one |
ha Of a shelter tent. with rope an5 !
pms The shelter tent is said to be |
a French invention which was intro |
duced into the American army dur |
ing the civil war. In the army it is |
often called a dog tent" evidently |
because of rs shape and small size. |
Two men can combine their halves !
and set up a shelter tent in a few I
minutes. While ii can not he describ- |
ed as roomy. it is just what its name /
implies a shelter from W nd and !
rain 1t is used only in temporary |
camps
Your chief fighting tools will be /
rifle a bayonet in a scabbard. ,
cartridge belt and an intrenching tool !
other weapons or defcnseS needed in Z
modern trench warfare will be refer /
red to later. DO not under any cir ,
lose track Of these articles .
while on field duty. So long as you .
possess them. you are an armed sol !
der capable of defending yourself
and of performing effective service
Without them YOU are for all practi-
'al purposes helpless. or course. this
statement does not apply strictly to
those men who are armed in some
other way such as those who are
serving artillery or machine guns.
The rifle 5 the soldiers closest