The Mena weekly star., 1918-02-28
OVID TIT, TOD
 co AN AMERCAN SOLDIER WHO WENT a < AM11UD GUY YT,fIprY MACHINE GaINNFD FpvHgc IN rpANce-
MACHINE GUNNER ERYING lN fRAhcE-
CHAPTER n.
BIlghty to Rest BIIIets.


 n recruiting sergeant you are a wash out" and sent me to q training depot
 After arriving at this place, I was hustled to the quartermaster stores and received an awful shock. The auartermaster sergeant spread wa terproof sheet on the ground and com menced throwing miscellaneous as. sortment of straps. buckles and other paraphernalia into it. I thought he would never stop. but when the pile reached to my knees he paused long enough to say, Next, No. 5217, 'Arris B company" I gazed in bewilderment at the pile of junk in front of me, and then my eyes wandered around looking for the wagon which was to carry it to barracks. I was rudely brought to earth by the quarter" exclaiming. <''Ere, you, 'op 1t; tyke 1t aw'y; blind my eyes. 'e's looking for is batmnn to 'elp i'm carry it."
 Struggling under the load, with ire quent pauses for rest, reached our barracks Qarge car barns), and my platoon leader came to the rescue. It was marvel to me how quickly he assembled the equipment. After he had completed the task. he showed me how to adjust it on my person. Pretty soon stood before him proper Tom my Atkins in heavy marching order, feeling like an overloaded camel.
 On my feet were heavy-soled boots. studded with hobnails, the toes and heels of which were re-enforced by steel half-moons. My legs were in- cased in woolen puttees. olive drab In color, with my trousers overlapping them at the top. Then woolen khaki tunic, under which was bluish gray woolen shirt. minus collar; beneath six inches wide, held in place by tie strings of white tape. On my head was heavy wcolen trench cap. with huge earlaps buttoned over the top. Then the equipment: A canvas belt, with ammunition pockets, and two wide canvas straps like suspenders, called ID" straps, fastened to the belt in front passing over each shoulder, crossing in the middle of my hack, and attached by buckles to the rear of the belt. On the right side of the belt hung a water bottle. covered with felt on the left side was my bayonet and scabbard, and intrenching tool handle, this handle strapped to the bayonet scabbard. In the rear was my in- trenching tool, carried in canvas case. This tool was a combination pick and .aIx strapped to the left side of the belt, while on my back was the pack. also of canvas, held in place by two canvas straps over the shoulders; suspended on the bottom of the pack was my mess tin or canteen in neat little canvas case. My waterproof sheet, looking like jelly roll, was strapped on top of the pack, with wooden stick for cleaning the breach of the rife pro Jecting from each end. On lanyard around my waist hung huge jack knife with a can-opener attachment. The pack contained my overcoat. an extra pair of socks, change of under wear, hold all (containing knife, fork. spoon, comb. toothbrush, lather brush. shaving soap, and a razor made of tin, with Made in England" stamped on the blade; when trying to shave with this 1t made you wish that you were at war with Patagonia. so that you could have hollow ground" stamped Made in Germany"); then your house wife, button-cleaning outfit, consisting of a brass button stick, two stift l brushes, and box of "Soldiers' Friend" paste; then a shoe brush and box of dublin. a writing pad. indel- | ible pencil. envelopes. and pay book, and personal belongings. such az q | small mirror. decent razor and . | sheaf of unanswered letters, and fags. | In your havsrsack you carry your iron rations, meaning a tin of bully beef. four biscuits and a can containing tea. l sugar and Oxo cubes; couple of pipes and pack of shag. tin of rife oil, and a pull-through. Tommy gen. erally carries the oil with his rationsi 1t gives the cheese sort of sardine taste.
 Add to this first-aid pouch and a | long, ungainly rife patterned after the Daniel Boone period. and you have an Idea of a British soldier in Blighty. |
 Before leaving for France, this rife Is taken from him and he Is issued | with Lee-Enfeld short trench rife | and ration bag.
 In France he receives two gas heI- | nets, sheepskin coat. rubber mack mtosh, steel helmet, two blankets. tear shell goggles, balaclava helmet gloves and tin of antifrostbite grease | which is excellent for greasing the | boots. Add to this the weight of his sations, and can you blame Tommy for l growing at twenty-kilo route marchf |
 Having served as sergeant major in the United States cavalry. tried to tell the English drill sergeants their business. but 1t did not work. They Immediately put me as batman in their mess. Many greasy dish of stew was accidentally spilled over them.
 would sooner fight than be waiter, 90 when the order came through from Headquarters calling for a draft of | 260 re-enforcements for France, vol unteered.
 Then we went before the M. O. smedical offlcer) for another physical examination. This was very brief. He asked our names and numbers and