Evening journal., 1917-08-22
DON'T Carry MUCH
GOING TO THE Front
Officers Advised to Buy
Sparingly Of Things They
Think They'll Need
MUCH BAGGAGE
IS A NUISANCE

There are thousands OF young men
In this country Just now for whom
the burning question Is; What kind
of equipment shall / buy to take with
me to France7 The question is all
the more anxiously debated. because
a paternal Government. while pro-
Viding It's enlisted men IN the ranks
with such equipment as It considers
Is good for them to have, leaves Its
officers TO worry out the question for
themselves, and at their own expense.
And most of the new young reserve
officers, no matter low industriously
they may have crammed their
manuals and their tactics, are begin
ming to realize that when II comes to
such important problems as, for In
stance, the number of pairs OF socks
which will be needed In France, they
know no more than babes unborn.
For their comfort and assistance,
one OF their number, having agonized
over the question at length, yesterday
sought out two or three friends who
had gone over with the early Cana
dian contingerts, and had been sent
back home TO reeuperate from the
effects Of various inrursiols Of Teu'
tonic lronmongery into their ana
tony. From them he obtained much
sage counsel even more apt to the
case than that OF experienced officers
OF the u, S. regulars, because fitted
to the peculiar requirements OF trench
life In France, which are consider
ably different from those of active
service In the drier Western hemis'
phere.
The hrst and most emphatic adj
vice he obtained was. Don't buy an
overcoat. A uniform overeoat in the
United States Army costs around s75
but will not be worn at all IN France
IN the trenches 5or out after the first
few weeks. Most Of the Canadian Of
ilcers left their oyercoats behind
them In England. The reason for thll
Is that the overcoat, besides beinl
long and clumsy, Is not waterproof
and In finance and Flanders, where
winter Is more a season OF rain and
mud than Of snow and lee, a trust
worthy waterproof garment is the
most important OF requirements.
Instead Of the Overcoat, Canadian
officers advise obtaining a trench
coat Of the English pattern, with {
detachable lining. The outer cloth o
this coat Is not only heavy. but thor
oughly waterproofed. In very cold
weather you put Il on with the thick
warm lining In place. IN merely we
weather you leave out the dining
thus obtaining practically two coats
The Canadian officer Is limited 4
30 pounds personal baggage, and tn
American officer probably will not b.
able greatly to exceed this allow
ance. In this space, his CANADIAN
friends advise, he had better includ
the following:
Trench coat with detachable lining
Wolsley kit lsleeplng bag with blaI
lEets and air pillowJ5 one pair Of hig
shoes; one pair kneelength leathe
boots, waterDroofed tieather is col
sidered by the Canadians as In tn
long run preferable % rubherli on
pair leather leggingsi six pairs socks
three flannel shirts; two suits under
wearg one pair slippers5 one PAL
Stacks (fulllength khaki trousers, Q
distinguished from the breaches q
the regular uniform; one electri
flash lRmpl one pair pajamas; on
mess tin; one knife, fork and spoon
one hard rubber bottle OF Iodine; on
bath towel; one toilet kit one cal
vas wash basin; one soap box; on
hold-all for safety pins, needlel
thread, darning needles, yarn, SC
four khadcolored handkerchief
one wrist watch with luminous III
ures, one pair binoculars; one pistl
and holster; one map-casei one wri
ing pad and pencil.
Fwffr- Trarrrfacr fFn this ia
the inquirer sought out another Cal
Rdlan officer Of experience for fin'
review and commentary, and receive
a letter. Of which the following II
cludes the most striking passages
Dear D.; ] have looked owe
your equipment list with interes
You might be quite happy, this weat
er I'm either underwear or paiama
but IN the interests Of decency an
to conform to the regulations, mig
suggest that you include unifor
and a hat2
"Your friends can send you mol
handkerchiefs occasionally In letter
Also, ask your friends in writing
inclOse thin paper and envelope
they expect an answer A sheet eaS
letter is the best way, as a big su
ply usually getsl wet, The main thiI
is 10 start out light and buy on
what what you find is going to
useful
con the move you only have
throw extras away. ! suppose q
government furnishes binoculars, pi
tol, holster, and map case. ut doesi
by the way. Get a good map cas-
There Is one made In New York
green duck, with squared mica fac
folds three times, with pocket
outside under flap for report book.
Jet me know II there Is any n
Their Information. and N I think