New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-18
Warmth Under Canvas
Camping Suggestions May Aid
Soldiers to Meet Winter Weather

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The press Of the day seems to indi-
cate that. to nut it mildly, considerable
number Of our soldiers are greatly neon
yenienced in their quarters by the cold and
this is easily belieyabc.
Among your readers there must De num-
her of men experienced in winter hunting
who could give valuable suggestions, some
Of which at least the soldiers might be able
to put into practice.
Mvcamp experience has covered many years,
hut not in exceptionally cold weather. Never
theless. I have one suggestion, derived from
Rear Admiral Peary's expedition when he
reached the North Pole. The costumes OF has
party were such that sleeping bae was not
needed. but each member of the party had a
two by four piece OF fur to lie on at night.
One of the large outitters Of the city had
for a time at least, upon the market rect
angles of clipped sheepskin of these dimen-
sIons. TO be used for that purpose.
| have used a double thickness OF heavy
mackinaw cloth with piece of waterproofed
canvas below it in the same manner and
have found it highly satisfactory.
The warmth of a blanket or several thick
nesses Of blanket depends upon its fuftiness
and the air contained in it. This is largely
pressed out by the weight of the body, at the
hips and shoulders particularly. Consequent
ly, a weight of blankets sufficient for warmth
in all other respects leaves person cold and
consequently uncomfortable, particularly at
these two points and in less degree along the
4 q no. tl,a ina y,lo ia
cold.
In moderately cold weather. e., down to
the freezing point have found a water
PROCEED sheet of canvas, 6X1, and three
blankets, 6OxSi, weighing seven and one-half
pounds, quite satisfactory, especially when
they were caught together with coarse
needle and thread so al TO form a bag for
about three feet from the bottom end of the
blankets, the waterproofed canvas being SINH
arly stitched and the blankets used inside
Of it.
The blankets without the canvas are totally
inadequate The canvas not only retains the
heat to some extent, but it prevents it being
blown out of the blankets by whatever air
may be stirring. Moreover, although the
canvas is sufficiently waterproof, it is not alb
solutely imperyious, and though the ventila-
ton is not all that could be desired, it is
wholly different from being encased in a rub
Der bag, OF which the absence of undue con-
densation in the blanket or upon the canvas
is sufficient proof
The army esnteen, with its felt cover,
makes an admirable hot water bottle, giving
out its heat so slowly that it is still warm 10
the touch in the morning. It can be emptied
with astonishing speed by thrusting straw
or a glass tube into the orifce 10 let in the
air as rapidly as the water is displaced.
Smoke tan moccasins, which are quite use
less for any other purpose in view of the fact
that they absorb water like r sponge
equal in effect to a hot water bottle for sleep
ing purposes, and far superior to woollen bed
socks. With woollen bed socks inside OF them
IL would seem that TO amount Of cold would
affect the sleeper. II they could be had with
long tops, so as to come approximately TO the
knee, they would be still more admirable. OF
course, wool socks are used inside of them.
A sleeper cannot afford 10 waste any Of his
vital heat, and in cold weather the head, with
the rest of the body, should be we'll under
the blanket, and if small loosely woven
scarf in thickness Of two can be spread over
the mouth and nose there will be am nddi-
tional saving Of neat
Among these suggestions believe tne most
important is that with regard to the pad of
sheepskin or mackinaw cloth.