Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-01-12

Raw materials Of man. kinds are
needed for the equipment OF United
States troops. Jute, silk. fur and linen
all find their way into the Gn.tcrin OF
nm infantryman, in addition 10 Ii"
WOO; and cotton which are used in
greater quantities.
A half ounce of silk is used in he
standard yellow gloves and slightly
larger quantity in the riding gloves.
Silk is also found in the service hat
and undershirt. Linen enters the equip
ment list in only one article. the shelter
tent. Jute is used in breechcs, coat
and overcoat fur in the service hat.
Mussel pearl, ivory nut and bone
form the buttons on different articles
of the uniform. Aluminium is USED in
the bayonet scabbard, cantcen. cur,
knife and meat can. In the slcke: ara
nine and half ounces Of rubber.
Horsehide and leather, wood, iron.
steed, bronze, brass, zinc, copper, tin
and lead are used in various articles.
No part of an airplane is subject TO
greater strain than the landing gear
when the machine is brought to earth
Because of this each piece Of the wood
en- material is made from carefully Sc
lected spruce, REINFORCED by binding
The metal joints are further strength
eneL by rubber windings which also III
crease resiliency. All parts are cut 10
air-stream shape to decrease resistance.
In the construction of one airpiane
of the more simple type PA feet of
spruce, IS feet Of pine, 81 feet of ash
and 1h feet of hickory are used. The
list Of materials. exclusive Of the cn-
CINE, also includes 3.262 feet of wire
79S forgings, 921 steel stampinss. ~
square feet of veneer, II gallons of var
nish, SO gallons Of dope" POI squar"
yards of linen, 81 feet of rubber, AMI
6j pounds Of aluminium. Over 4,GhD
nails are used, 1917 screws, and 27t
turnbuckles.
Reports coming from Southern
camps show the vaudeville shows, run
ming in tents, are crOwding seating ca
pacities. With the IS government the
alters at the environments completed,
the commission on training camp az
tivities will soon start several high
grade theatrical companies on the
rounds of the camps. Each company
will be out about Is weeks.
Local committees in cities and towns
throughout the country will put on
sale "smilage" books the week Of Jam
uary % containing coupons good for
admission to the entertainments in
camps and environments. The books,
are made in two sizes. to sell at ST
and IS.
Figures from examinations made by
army and civilian shoe experts at army
camps show that only about Is per
cent IF the men wear shoes which fit
properly. OF the several groups OF
men examined rs per cent wore shoes
onc-half size short, &c per cent wore
shoes IL full size short, and per cent
wore shoes two sizes short.
reports ascribe the high proportion
Of mistits to the inclination of men t"
choose shoes too small, faults Of meth
Of and supervision Of fitting, INSULT
cient numbers of larger and narrower
sizes. an incorrect marking of sizes by
manufacturers.
While men registered under the Sc
lective service law are not being al
cepted at recruiting offices for enlist
ment in the aviation section of the sig
nal corps, they may be indicted volun;
tarily into service by their local boards
if they are physically fit, sufficiently
skilled, and not required to fill the
current draft quota. They will be
sent to Camp Kelly, Tex, for distri-
button into trades, training and fOrma-
ton into squadronS, with ranks and
salaries running from $50 a month as
private to $S1 II month as master signal
electrician, food and quarters provided
by the government.
Christmas gifts for the expedition
airy forces aggregated $50 tons. Hun
tlreds Of thousands of pounds Of tur-
keys, purchased in Eastern markets
and refrigerated on the ships, togeth-
er with great quantities of cranberrics.
| sweet potatoes, and mince meat went
| to the forces overseas. In the United
! States every camp was supplied With
fresh turkey and the usual Christmas
accessories.
In a recent review of military opera
tons the secretary of war says:
The various reports Of immediate
peace proposals by the Germans on
seemingly favorable terms should not
for a moment induce us to slacken our
preparations for war. 1t Is only neccs-
sary for us to recall that during the
Christmas season last year the Ger
mans put forth very similar peace
rumOrs."
Christmas mail this year was % per
cent heavier than ever before, accord
ing to the post office department. The
congestion was less. however, because
the packages were mailed earlier thai
in former years.
The military service flag of the light
house service. department Of com
merce, contains 1.2O6 stars, one f"!
each officer and employee Of the light
house service now serving in the mn
t"ry forces of the United States.
A radio message from Lyons, France