Gunnison news-champion., 1918-02-22

pc rgph.rnalia Into it ! thought he
ould never stop, but when the pile
-..arh-d to my knees he paused ion-
uuu-h TO say. Next. No. 52l7. 'Arris
. rumpany." ! gazed In bewildermenT
he. pile Of junk in front of me. and
b % my eyes wandered around looking
~ rhe wagon which was 10 carry Il
u narracks- ! was rudely brought to
9TH by the quarter" eIciaiming.
Ire, yuu. 'Op it; tyke II aw'y; blind
Is ry.-s. 'e's looking for Is batman TO
'r i'm carry it."
-'rUsglinE under the load. with fire.
.g' rauses for rest, ! reached our
---uCks Narge car barns). and my
.'rUn leader came TO the rescue. IL
q marvel TO me how quickly he
.,ah'rd the equipment. After he
r0mpleted the task. he showed me
70 adjust II on my person. Pretty
stood before MIN n proper Tom
Atkins in heavy marching order.
NJ Ike an overloaded camel.
,pr my feet were heavy-soled boots.
lied with hobnaiIs, the toes and
~ .hich were re-enforced hr
...' half-moOns. Ny legs were IT.
- In wooden puttees, olive drab In
~ with my trousers oyerlappinr
$50 M the top. Then a wooden khak
.r under which was a blush ErT"
.u shirt. minus n collar; beneath
shirt wooden belly band nbou'
inches wide. held in place by n
- II white tape. On my head
heavy wooden trench cap. Wit
... "ariHps buttoned over the tor
ID" equipment: A canvas belt
ammunition pockets. and two
90. canvas straps like suspenders
.'I -" straps, fastened to the bel.
fr.ut. passing over each shoulder
Ing In the middle of my back. and
h.d by buckles TO the rear of the
an the right side Of the bel'
wug a water bottle. covered with felt:
90 rhc left side was my bayonet and
lard. and intrenchinE tool handle.
'.- l"ndle strapped to the bayon"'
'hard. In the rear was my In
hing tool. carried in n canvas case
'> '""l was combination pick au'
la.d" A canvas haversack was
trapped TO the left side OF the belt
Ehll" on my back was the pack. alsr
II 'unvas held in place by two canvns
rrnps over the shoulders: suspended
ru n" bottom of the pack was III;
n'ss tin or canteen in neat little
'ugvaS case. My waterproof sheet.
0okinc like jelly roll, was strapped
% top of the pack. with wooden stick
or cleaning the breach OF the rife pro-
ceiling frCsn each end. On lanyard
ruuhd my waist hung huge jacl;.
nlfe with csn-opcner attachment
rhe pack contained my overcoat, AZ
.vfrn pair Of socks. change of under
ear, hold all Containing knife. fork,
noon, comb, toothbrush. lather brush
having soap. and razor made of tin
18th made In England" stamped oil
he blade: when trying to shave with
his II made you wish that you were
II war with Patagonia, so that you
.ould have n hollow ground stamped
Made in Germany') a; then your house
Aife. button-cleaning outfit, consisting
Il brass button stick. two stifl
brushes. and box OF soldiers
Friend" paste: then n shoe brush and
\ box OF dublin. writing pad, indel-
hle pencil, envelopes. and pay book
md personal belongings. such as
small mirror, q decent razor and
sheaf of unanswered letters. and fags.
In your haversack you carry your iron
.atfons. meaning tin of bully beef
sour biscuits and can containing tea
pipes and pack Of shag, a tin of rifle
III. and pull-throueh. Tommy gem
orally carries the oil with his rations:
it gives the cheese sort of sardine
taste.
Add to this a first-aid pouch and
ong. ungainly rifle patterned after the
Daniel Boone period. and you have an
dea Of British soldier in Blighty
Before leaving for France, this rifle
IS taken from him and he is issued
with Lee-Enfeld short trench rifle
md a ration bag.
In France he receives two gas he'll
nets, q sheepskin coat. rubber mack
ntosh, steel helmet. two blankets, tear
she'll goggles, balaclava helmet.
gloves and tin Of antIfrostbite grease
which Is excellent for greasing the
boots. Add to this the weight Of his
rations. and can you blame Tommy for
-rowling at twenty-kilo route march?
Having served as sergeant major In
the United States cavalry, ! tried to
tell the English drill sergeants their
business. but It did not work. They
put me as batman In their
mess. Many greasy dish Of stew was
spilled over them.
would sooner fight than be a waiter,
70 when the order came through from
calling for a draft of
go re-enforcements for France, / vol
unfeered.
Then we went before the n. O.
medical officer) for another physical