Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-22

u VIII 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 keen
your clothing spotlessly clean. But
"hen 1t becomes dirty or spotted
take the first opportunity to clean it
thoroughly.
1our shoes must be cleaned and
Pollshed frequently. Wet shoes
should be carefully dried. Army men
frequently dry their shoes during the
night py taking u few handfuls of
ury, clean pebbles, heating them i'm
meat can or kettle until thew are
very not, and then placing them in
the shoes. So long as the pebbles are
not move them about once in a while
ny shaking the shoes. Take care not
" neat tne pebbles so hot that the
shoes Will be scorched.
In, general, see to it that all vour
clothing is as neat and clean as pos
sloie at all times. Mend rips and sew
on buttons without delay. This will
auo TO your comfort as we'll as APP
pearance. up
wear your hat straight. Don't af-
rect the smart aleck" style of fitting
the hat. Keep all buttons fastened
rave your trousers and leggings
properly laced. Keep yourself clean
dier. o SUI
Bear In mind that there is a ten
dency in camplife 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
emphasize the necessity for personal
neatness and cleanliness. The good
self.
Besides his extra clothing a soldier
carries blanket, a rubber poncho. a
canteen, a mess kit, including meat
can, knife, fork, and spoon, a cup,
toilet articles, a first aid package,
and some minor belongings.
one of the most useful pieces is
one-half of shelter tent, with rope
and pins. The shelter tent is said to
De French invention which was in
troduced into the American Army
during the Civil War. In the Army it
is often called a dog tent" evident
ly because of its shape and small
size. Two men can combine their
halVes and set up a shelter tent in a
few minutes. While it can not be de-
scribed as roomy, it is just what it's
name implies, shelter" from wind
and rain. 1t is used only in tempo
rary camps.
Your chief fighting tools will be a
rlne, bayonet in scabbard, q car
fridge belt, and an intrenching tool.
Other weapons of defense needed
in modern trench warfare will be
referred 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
armed soldier capable of defending
yourself and of performing effective
service. Without them you are for
all practical purposes helpless. Of
course, this statement does not ap-
ply strictly 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 1t 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 a rifle it is especi-
ally important to keep the bore
clean. In so doing be sure to avoid
injuring the delicate rif1ing which
causes the bullet to spin as it IS
forced out and thus greatly increases
the accuracy of firing. Never put
away rifle that has been fired or
exposed to bad weather without first
cleaning it. Never lay q rifle fiat on
the ground. Rest it securely against
something. In lowering the rifle 20
the ground, whether during drilling
or at any other time see that II
touches the ground gently.
Don't play with your rifle. A rifle
or revolver, whether loaded or un-
loaded, should never be pointed at
person unless you fully intend to
shoot that person, if necessary, in
the performance of your duty. When
firearm is put into your, hands you
are intrusted with a great RESPONSE
bility for its proper use.
Anybody 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 (provided you have
also the courage which permits you
to remain cool and collected on the
battle field) you will have added i'm
mensely to your value as a citizen
soldier. The simple fact that YOU
qualify as a marksman will give YOU
more self-confidence and self-con-
troll
The amount of ammunition which
an American infantryman carries
into battle is usually 220 rounds. In
an advanced firing position, where
1t is difficult to bring up reserves of
ammunition, 1t Is necessary to be
economical. Bear this in mind during
your target practice and learn to
make every shot count.
In modern warfare the intrench-
ing tool is an essential part of your
fighting equipment. The eight men
in each squad carry these tools:
4 shovels, 2 pick mattocks, / polo
or hand ak, and 1 wirecutter. In or
dinary soil you can quickly throw
up shallow trench which will pro-
tect you to a great extent from the
enemys fire. After a trench has once
been started, it can be deepened and
extended, even in the face of the
enemy, without the soldier exposing
himself to direct fire.
Don't look on practice in digging
trenches as If 1t were drudgery. Skill
In seeking and making cover from
the enemy's fire is far from being a
sign of weakness on the soldiers
part Rather 1t is a sign of the de-
termination and courage that mark
a really efficient fighting force. The
day has gone by when either officers
or men are expected to stand out in
the open. They should use every eff
fectiVe method of self-nrotectiop 40