The Cordova daily times., 1918-04-01
CHAPTER II.
RIiuhty to Rest eiIIets.


 for me and informed me: "Empey, as a recruiting sergeant you are q wash out" and sent me to a training depot After arriving at this place, I was hustled to the quartermaster stores i and received an awful shock. The l quartermaster sergeant spread a wa | terproof sheet on the ground and com. menced throwing q miscellaneous as | sortment of straps, buckles and other ! paraphernalia into it. I thought he | would never stop, but when the pile 1 reached to my knees he paused long enough to say, "Next No. 5217, 'Arris, B company" I gazed in bewllderment 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. l was rudely brought to earth by the "quarter" exclaiming, "'Ere, you, 'op it; tyke it aw'y; blind my eyes, 'e's looking for is batman to 'elp i'm carry it."
 Struggling under the load with ire quent pauses for rest, I reached our ! barracks 0arge car barns), and my l platoon leader came to the rescue. It was a marvel to me how quickly he assembled the equipment. After he l had completed the task, he showed me how to adjust it on my person. Pretty l soon I stood before him a proper Tom l my Atkins In heavy marching order, l feeling like an overloaded camel.
 On my feet were heavy-soled boots. 1 studded with hobnails, the toes and heels of which were re-enfOrced by i steel half-mOons. My legs were iu-
 cased in woolen puttees, olive drab in l color, with my trousers overlapping them at the top. Then a wOOlen khaki tuniC under which was bluish gray wOOlen shirt, minus a collar; beneath l this shirt a woolen belly band shout six inches wide, held in place by tie l strings of white tape. On my head was heavy woolen trench cap, with huge earlaps buttoned. over the ton. Then the equipment: A canvas belt, with ammunition pockets, and two wide canvas straps like susppnderS, l called "D' straps, fastened to the belt in front, passing over each shoulder. l crossing in the middle of my back, and attached by bucks to the rear of the | belt. On the ;.t side of the belt 1 hung 8 water bottle, covered with felt on the left side was my bayOnet anu scabbard. and intrenching tool handle, this handle strapped to the bayoner i scabbard. In the rear was my in- l trenching tool, carried in canvas case. l This tool was combination pick and | spade. A canvas haverSacll was 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 i mess tin or cantePn in a neat little
 canvas case. My waterproof Shpef. l looking like jelly roll, was strapped
 on top of the pack, with a wooden stick ! for cleaning the breach of the rife pro- 1 jecting from each end. On a lanyard around my waist hung a huge jack knife with can-opener attachment. The pack contained my overcoat, an extra pair of socks, change of under wear, hold all (containing knife, fork, 1 spoon, comb, toothbrush, father 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'D then your house
 wife, buttOn-ceaning outfit, consisting
 of brass button stick. two stiff brushes, and box of Soldiers Friend" paste; then a shoe brush and
 box of dubbin, a writing pad. indel- ible pencil, envelopes, and pay book, and personal belongings, such as a
 small mirror, decent razor and q
 sheaf of unanswered letters, and flags.
 in your haverSaCk you carry your iron
 ratiOns, meaning a tin of bully beef
 four biscuits and can containing tea
 sugar and OxO cubes; a couple of
 pipes and pack of shag, tin of rife
 oil, and a pull-thrOugh. Tommy gen
 orally carries the oil with his ratiOns :;
 1t gives the cheese a sort of sardine 1 taste.
 Add to this first-ald pouch and a long, ungainly rife patterned after the
 Daniel Boone period and you have an 1 idea of q British soldier in Blighty.
 Before leaving for France, this rife
 Is taken from him and he is issued
 with a Lee-Enfield short trench rife
 and a ration bag.
 In France he receives two gas hell nets, a sheepsldn coat, rubber mack i intosh, steel helmet, two blankets, tear shell goggles, balaclava helmet, | gloves and tin of antlfrostbite. grease l which is excellent for greasing the