The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-10-02

of Energy He Has to Expend and In
ercases His Staying Powers.
There are two things. and two things
only. whicl determine TIE length of II
days marco for soldier. The first Is
the amount of actual la or or mechan-
zeal work done while marching. the
second Is the degree of crcn distribu.
ton of this labor among the chieI mus
clcs used in performing labor. Now.
labor. or work, Is simply the pruduct of
the force overcome and the distance
through which it is overcome. The
forces to be overcome are by no means
confined to the weight of the man and
his pnck. Many other forces are called
into play in the course of a days
march.
TO illustrate. suppose the marchcr
has to carry a five pound weight on the
end Of II five foot stick Suppose he
places THIS stick across his shoulder
with four feet behind him and one foot
in front. by the simple exercise Of had
judgment lie multiplicS the weight Of
his load by four: he has TO pull down
continually with force of twenty
pounds. and the shoulder puSt contin-
unlly push mp with force of twenty
five pounds. all on account of that five.
pound load which Is carried ON the end
Of the stick.
Another way in which energy may
he wasted is somewhat more subtle
nd ,,n,.l,nnc a, In al
but of equal or greater Importance.
1t lies in the principle that work has to
he done whenever II mass of any kind
Is changed in its motion. 1t takes more
energy to start street car. for in
stance. than to run 1t ut uniform speed.
1t takes more energy to make its speed
little faster than to maintain it at the
last spced-tllat is. whenever body
Is given an accclcration new force
has to be used. Now. every time sol
dier bobs up ana down when walking
he has TO start the weight of his BODY
and pack and gun upward ana let them
down again. TO do this uses up more
energy than simply to keep them NOV
Ing up or down. In the one case only
the pull of gravity has TO be overcome.
In the other the incrtia OF the soldiers
head and body. And the faster this Is
done the more energy is used up per
step. Hence 1t is thnta slow walk can
he maintained, not merely for II longer
time than n fast one. but for longer
distance on II stretch.
Under the principle outlined above
wuld come the loss OF energy due to
all swinging articles, such as bayOnct
scabbards, tin cups. tassels, etc These
have to he put in motion. then jcrkcd
back and stopped by bodily contact.
then put In motion again. All this con
sumcs energy. ana work has to be done.
Again, any weight on the breast of
soldier or II tight coat or shirt, has to
he overcome every time he brcathes.
And the deeper his chest expansion the
more work he has to do with his breast
every time lie takes breath. This
amounts 10 an enormous total during
days march. A loose coat and under.
clothes will cause him to travel with
less expenditure of energy 1t must be
remembered that this Is actual energy
used mp. taken from the store of en-
ergy available to march with.
BESIDES the up and down motion of n
soldier while marching, he sways from
side to side. Every article lie Is carry
ing and his own body are thus started
and stopped in this swaying direction
also Thus energy Is used up. Now.
hn mt Of
thcr than does the lower part, so If the
pack there must he. the heavier part
OF 1t should he placed just as low down
The trunk as Is convenient or comforta-
bic. The heavier articles should also
go as close to the back rs possible, so
as not to increase the leverage on the
straps holding the pack to the body.
To sum up then: The gun should be
carried with its center of gravity Just
wee bit hehid the shoulder, so as
to balance the weight of the hand and
forearm which keeps it steady Qhis Is
the usual practice. be 1t saidl: the pack
should he as compact as possible. close
lifting to the back. the heavy articles
tightly packed in the lowest available
space; no swinging articles should he
allowed. not even tassels; the coat
across the breast should he loose fitting.
ms shonld also the underclothcs; slow
ghlt should be used: us small rise and
fall MS possible Of the body should be
indulged IN and as short sway as pos
slble, To the above may be added that
the shoes should not have stiff SolcS.
Tor every time the sole of II shoe is bent
energy is used up.
To decrease the rise and fall of the
BODY in walking the old Indian walk"
used by some surveyors Is useful, 1t
consists In slightly crooking the for.
ward Knee rs the body IL showed for,
ward on to the front fo"t.-Philadcl-
phia Press.