El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-06-02

, iowance, but one must remember that
whatever he wears is purchased by
him from the government at whole
sale cost. And the prices are much
cause everything is bought by the
war department in enormous quanti-
ties from the lowest bidders
War is hard on clothes The fight
ing man during campaign will wear
out three or four times as many
shoes s in the piping times Of piece.
likewise with other garments, par
ticularly stockings On the other
hand. war clothing is much Cheaper.
No best" clothes-sOldiers call them
"blues--are issued. A service coat
of khaki. price SO cents. takes the
place Of a blue dress coat at s4.95.
On being accepted Tor enlistment.
the new recruit gets what is csaled
an initial allowance of s43-05 for
the purchase of his military ward
robe 1t is not paH to him in cash,
but he draws against it. at list
prices. for the articles he needs Ar
ter that. he has a monthly clothing
allowance Of 500.
The first thing done is to take his
measurements. and the garments he
draws are of corresponding dies.
Coats and trousers. for instance. are
listed as size No. !, size No =.
and so on. Once in awhile there is
a freak recruit whose things have
~ Et MA6uc lot MIN ~ uANANAs Jul u
dinarily there Is no trouble about
fits. II the war department were
buying clothes for 50 or 100 men, ii
would be hard to guess how many
garments of each size should be pur-
chased; but when 100000 are to b.
sizes required can be reckoned with
close accuracy
Clothing Bill of S43.O5O.OOO-
According 20 present plans, we are
to have 1,0Ve.0Q0 soldiers trained and
ready for service a year from now
Their initial outfit of clothing VIII
cost $43,050.00O. = casual cOnsidera-
ton Of that single item affords a
suggestion of the gigantic expense
that our entrance into the war will
involve. And by that time Of course,
y months hence, there will be clothes
70 buy for a second million Of re-
cruits, with other millions to follow,
it is likely
The initial allowance Of S43.05 is
devoted TO the purchase of five coats,
i've pairs Of breeches. three hats.
Two pairs of leggins. three suits of
underwear. six collars, six pairs Of
gloves, two olive drab flannel shirts.
tnres pairs OF shoes, eight pairs Of
stockings. pair of suspenders, and
a few sundries
When something new is needed.
the soldier notifies the first sergeant
OF MS company who gives him an or
der on the regimental qua rtermaster
Tor the shirt, pair Of shoes. or what
ever else he requires The quarter
master Issues the article from his
stock, and charges it at the schedule
price against the mans account
Prices Are Low.
AS already stated, the prices are
remarkably low For a pair OF khaki
breeches the soldier pays 70 cents
WoOuen breeches of olive drab cost
him 1921. He pays sass for a pair
of shoes; So for a good warm over
coat; II cents apiece for cravats: 20
cents pair for heavy woOllen stock
ings. and seven cents for cotton
stockings II is worth mentioning.
by the way that the principal cen
tiers for the manufacture Of army
clothing are Philadelphia, ST Louis
and San Francisco.
Blankets. two for each man, are
issued to the company and detach- I
ment commanders. Oilskin clothing 4
is provided for men of the coast ar I
tillery who are employed in the I
work Of planting mines and laying /
mine cables-that branch of the ser