The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-07

tives. The truth of the matter is that
 tho general health of the men making up
 the brigade Is far better now than it was before the call.
 PREPARE FOR WINTER The Alabama troops have been ordered | into winter quarters and are making preparations against any bad weather | that may come along. Mountains of lumber have been brought out by the | indefatigable motor trucks and every company is hard at work with saw and | hammer. The lumber is used to floor
 and wall the pyramidal tents, making
 them in every sense little canvas topped
 houses, as warm and weather proof as
 anyone could ask.
 The pyranidal tent is the governments
 latest venture in sheltering troops, and | it is hard to see how 1t could be inn proved on. It is intended to house a | squad of eight men, with their arms and equipment. It is a great improvement l on the conical tent, which 1t superseded,
 as 1t affords better arrangement of the cots and enables more men to be quar- tered in it. Of course the more men to the tent, the less stuff to be carried by the company.
 We have always believed that the idea of the conical and pyramidal tents of our army was taken from the tepee of the
 Indians, for they are similar in every
 essential In the tepee the fire is built in the center of the tent, the smoke find ing it's way out through an opening at the top as best 1t can. The soldier i'm proves on this by using a Sibley stove, which for ingenuity and simplicity de-
 serves the thanks of grateful army. The stove is nothing but an iron cone
 bottomless, and without any fixings
 other than a little hinged door to shove
 the fuel through. The apex of the cone
 fits into little pipe which runs up be-
 side the pole and out at the top. It is
 nothing more than a contrivance to keep the fire and smoke from wandering all over the tent. The soldier throws in a handful of sticks, strikes match and in a moment the stove Is red hot. In order to get rid of the ashes he merely lifts up the stove, pipe and all, rakes the ashes to one side and sets the stove down again. Its conical shape enables any
 number to be 'nested." which aids trans portation greatly
 GOOD PLACE TO LIVE The pyramidal tent, with it's Sibley stove is mighty good place to live in | under any circumstances, but when prop erly floored and walled in the prescribed raised several feet and the tent placed over @ frame in such a manner that 1t becomes in effect little square house with a pyramidal roof of canvas. When every crack and cranny has been stopped and the stove lighted up, the soldier has
 cheerful and comfortable little home. Of course. the order to prepare win ter quarters has led to any number of rumors. for soldiers are inveterate gosssips and never tire of swapping dope" One report has it that we are to stay here indefinitely because we are such magnificent soldiers that the war department cannot bear to part with us. Another has it that we are l so Sorry and mo count the govern ment is going to keep us here until we learn how to 'soldier if it takes a year. By some 1t is said that we are
 merely doing the work for some regu- lars who will be brought in soon to occupy our quarters while we go back l to Alabama and that dear Ham" Some argue that the order is proof that we are to stay here forever, while others contend that 1t is a sure sign of speedy departure. Both sides have
 their followers.
 If the pyramida1 tent Is a model for camp use, the little shelter or "up" tent is equally as valuable for field service. It is nothing more than a
 bare shelter. for the size had to be cut
 down to tighten the soldiers burden The pup" tent is made in two pieces, each soldier carrying a half. When going into bivouac the two halves are buttoned together. the little jointed poles set up, and in moment two men
 have home. It isn't much of home,
 but it is a great deal better than noth-
 ing. It Is just large enough to cover
 two men, and high enough to crawl
 into. But with the blankets spread
 and a candle or two stuck into an old
 tin can, making both light and
 warmth. 1t Is not to be despised. It
 keeps the wind off and adds a great
 deal to the soldiers comfort. It can be
 set up in a moment. and. if the owners do care to use it as a tent "pitch,"
 1t comes in mighty handy as extra bed ding.
 HAS ITS DISADVANTAGES The latest model shelter tent does not use any poles the soldiers rifle serving for that purpose This saves the trouble of carrying the pole, and would seem to be a fine idea But most of the boys prefer the old model for i