The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-08-30
tLeSSUu No. 81
Your Equipment And Arms.

III Camp. Cleanliness IN Camp.
Iour Health. Marching and Care
OF Feet
Each soldier III 4 modern army
carries with him sufficient food clio
thing. shelter. fighting armst and
ammunition to take care of himself
for short period in case he should
be separated from his company. The
total weight Of his load in addition
to the clothes he wears. is 50 to 20
pounds. The number or articles is
surprisingly large. They are so de-
Vised, however. that by ingenious
methods of packing and adjusting
they can all be carried with the least
possible effort.
You are personally responsible for
all the arms, clothing, and supplies
issued to YOU. The trained soldier
keeps track OF them. He knows i'm
mediately at any time where every
one Of his belongings is to be found.
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 supply 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 it becomes dirty or spotted
take the first opportunity to clean it
thoroughly.
Your shoes must be cleaned and
polished frequently. Wet shoes
should be carefully dried. Army
men frequently dry their shoes dur
ing the night by taking a few hand
fuIs OF dry, clean pebbles, heating
them in meat can or kettle until
they are very hot. and then placing
them in the snOeS. SO long as the
pebbles are hot move them about
once III 4 While by shaking the shoes.
Take care not to heat the pebbles so
hot that the shoes Will be Scorched.
In general. see 10 it that all your
clothing is as neat and clean as pos
sible at all times. Mend rips and
sew on buttons without delay. This
will add TO your comfort as we'll as
appearance.
Wear your hat straight. Don't
affect the smart aleck' style of tilt
ing the hat. Keep all buttons fas-
tened. Have your trousers and leg
gings properly laced. Keep yourself
: clean shaved. Carry yourself like a
soldier.
Bear in mind that there is a ten
dency in camp life for men to be-
come careless and untidy. You must
use every means to counteract this
! tendency. For this purpose the Gus
/ toms and regulations of the Army
4 he u
neatness and cleanliness. The good
der carries a blanket, rubber pom
cho. a canteen. Il mess kit, including
meat can, knife, fork, and spoon,
cup. toilet articles, first aid pack
age. and some minor belongings.
! One Of the most useful ieces is
one-half of a shelter tent, with rope
and pins. The shelter tent is said
to be a French invention which was
introduced into the American Army
during the Civil War. In the Army
it is often called dog tent" evil
IDENTIFY because of its shape and small
size Two men can combine their
halves and set up a shelter tent in
few minutes. While it can not be
described as roomy, it is just what
/ its name implies, Il shelter" from
! wind and rain. 1t is used only in
! temporary camps.
Your chief fighting tools will be
rifle, bayonet in scabbard, a cart
ridge belt, and an intrenching TOOL.
| Other weapons or defenses needed in
modern trench warfare will be re-
ferred to later. Do not under any
circumstances lose track of these
articles While on field duty. SO long
/ as you possess them, you are an arm
ed soldier capable of defending your
self and of performing effective SER
vice. Without them you are for all
practical purposes helpless. OF course
this statement does not apply strict
/ ly to those men who are armed in
some other way, such as those who
are serving artillery or machine
guns.
The rifle is the soldiers closest
friend. His first thought should be
to guard it and care for it above all
his other possessions. He expects it
to take care of him in emergencies.
/ In ordinary times he must take care
of it.
In caring for 4 rifle it is especially
important TO keep the bore clean. In
so doing be sure to avoid injuring
the delicate riting which causes the
bullet to s. in as it is forced out and
thus greatly increases the accuracy
Of firing Never put away rifle
that has been fired or exposed 20 bad
weather without first cleaning it.
. Never lay i rifle on the ground. Rest
il securely against something. In
lowering the rifle TO the ground,
whether during drilling OF at any
other time, see that il touches the
ground gently.
! Don't play with your rifle. \ rifle
/ or revolver, whether loaded or un-
loaded, should never be pointed at
a person unless you fully intend to
shoot that person, ii necessary, i'll
the performance of your duty. When
a tirearm is put into your hands you
are intrusted with Il great RESPONSE
bility for its proper use.
An, jody in normal physical con
dition can learn to be a good shot.
Two of the most important points to
remember are to take a deep breath
just before completing your aim, so
that you may hold the rifle with per-
feet steadiness, and to squeeze the
trigger so that the gun will not be
jerked from its aim at the moment
of firing. When YOU become an eX
pert marksman (proyided you have
also the courage which permits you
oremain cool and collected on the
battle field you will have added i'm
mensely to your value as citizen
soldier. The simple fact that you
qualify as a marksman will give you
more self-confidence and self-controI
Tue amount Of ammunition which
an American infantryma carries into
battle is usually 220 rounds. In an
advanced firing position. where it is
difficult to bring up reserves of am
= munition, it is necessary to be eco
nomical. Bear this in mind during
q nnur target practice and learn to