The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-09-19
THE PERSHING SHOE.
Million and Half Pairs to Be Delivered
Monthly to American Forces.

According to . the government hide
md leather control board the principal
use to which leather is being put at the
present moment is for the Pershing
trench shoe Beginning on August /
there will be delivered one and one half
million pairs of the Pershing trench shoes
very month. Each pair of these shoes
weighs five and half pounds The
shoes are heavier than those used by the
armies of Great Britain or Frances They
are composed of a sole about three quar-.
ters of an inch thick, made of four soles
or four thickncsscs of leather The sole
md heel are completely studded with
ron nails. Affixed to each heel and sole
are iron plates so that the soldier is wear
ing out the metal all the time instead of
Gather. After these metal nails and
)lates wear out. the shoes are exchanged
or new ones. while the old are being re-
tudded and replated to be worn again
The uppcrs of these shoes are the finest
ind heaviest that can be made
Therefore, the Pershing trench shoe in
construction and quality represents the
most durable and most modern in all
esrects that the men in this branch of
he leather industry have ever been able
o turn out. The shoe was made after
he most careful analysis of the wearing
qualities of army shoes turned out by
he allies since the war begar The
manufacture of the Pershing trench shoe
1as made 1t necessary for the authorities
It Washington to conserve all leather
md not allow the sale of any thicker
han thin IRON or about an eighth of
| IN inch, No tanner win see the sole
Gather any thicker than that.
The largest use of leather outs side of
hat set aside of the Pcrshing trench
| shoe, or possibly larger, is for harness
| for which there is tremendous demand
| It is stated that the government expects
| within the next sixty days. to have all
| he black harness leather it redu res. q,
FOR russell harness leather large duanti
les are still required. The tanners oil
| he United States are endeavoring To
| supply this demand for russell harnes.
| leather. Which unquestionably will b.
net this time. Army officers are payins
| 'pecial attention to the manufacture ant
quality OF stirrup straps for cavalry anC
artillery horses. They are making tn,
most minute inspection of every stirrn
trap, because if one breaks it mean
almost certain death to the rider. TIL
strap is made of russell leather; it ha
rot to be Of the very finest quality an,
is strong as it is possible to turn it out
| There has been great foreign deman
for American sole leather, as a result o
he war, and vast amount cf it ha
been exported. This condition is the re
ult of the almost complete cessation O
operation by the manufacturers Of sol
leather in the countries involved in til
var When the big conflict ends, Their
viii be natural falling off in America
ole leather cXnorts. As to upper leatha
he foreign trade, especially that of Sout
America, will continue to buy it in grea
quantities, because the people like it fc
Is looks. neatness and adaptability t
lyle. There will always be a grea
market for it. The export trade {
betting viii be verv large. Europe aIor
viii call for practically all we can pr,
luce and the demand win last for son
months before normal conditions prevail
Charles A. Schieren in the War Indu
trial Number of the New York Evenir
Post. s