New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-11-08
MARCHING OUTFIT
OF u. S. SOLDIER
Best in World None Too Good for
Our Fighting Men
(By Paul Allen Mackenzie in Amer
lean Mschinistl

States soldiers military carrying
equipment. which is the result of
more than thirty years continuous
study, occasioning steady improve
ment and the evolution of wonder
full machinery, is interesting. All of
this equipment is now made of heavy
military webbing and duck woven in
the shapes required instead of leath-
err, and its manufacture Is one of the
most intricate in the textile field. The
cartridge belt and other items of this
equipment are made of cotton, which
VIII stand moisture with little or no
shrinkage and stretching, 1t is also
the standard equipment of the Brit
Ish army. Half a century ago SOL
diers were served clumsy leather
pouches, in which they carried their
heavy caliber cartridges which were
loaded singly. These pouches were
not only weighty but decidedly un-
comfortable to wear. The field
equipment of the American infantry
man is recognized by military author
tiles all over the the world as being
the finest that has yet been produced
by any army. Conditions of trench
warfare will probably effect many
changes, but as a marching equip
ment it is unsurpassed. There are
100 rounds of ammunition in the car
fridge belt. which is supported by
suspenders over the shoulder and adj
Unstable according to the size of the
wearer. The belt is also adjustable
in the back for waist measurement.
There are five pockets on each side,
each holding two clips of five rounds
of 3o-caliber ammunition. Between
the pockets on the belt are eyelets to
which can be attached any extra item
of equipment that a soldier might re-
quire for tho special work to which
he might be detailed. The hangers
for all items of equipment In the
army are standard, so that they will
fit the holes in the cartridge belt.
The bayonet Is carried on the side
of the haversack. This is much bet
ter than the old way of attaching it
to the waist belt, which spoiled the
balance of the belt, dragging 1t down
on the side and being continual
source of annoyance by hitting
against the soldiers thigh on the
march as well as som etimes causing
injury. when advancing under fire
the infantryman had to throw him
self on the ground between rushes.
The pack carrier is attached to the
haversack, and in 1t are carried the
private personal articles, his blanket,
poncho and extra wearing apparel.
On the right hip attached to the belt
is the canteen. High on the shout
der Is the haversack, containing ex-
ira rations, and so made that it can
be adjusted TO the quantity of food to
be carried and never presenting the
appearance of a half-flled
bag. Attached to it Is the meat-can
pouch, under which Is fastened the
shovel, the handle of
which is strapped to the haversack
by a coupling strap. The pack car
rier is laced to the bottom of the
haversack, SO that on a forced march
it can be easily discarded to tighten
the load without stopping to unpack
or throwing away the whole pack as
was necessary when the d-fashioned
knapsack was used. Hanging from
the belt in the front and to the right
side is the cotton webbing pouch
which contains the herm etically
sealed emergency and first-aid packet.
Almost every article of the soldiers
eauipm yonet, scabbard, can
teen cover, shovel carrier, pick car
rier, hand grenade carrier, first
aid packet, belo scabbard, pis-
toll belts, cartridge belts, field
medical belts and other special
articles of equipment--is made of
webbing, or canvas, which takes the
place of the more expensive but far
less durable leather which was pre-
viousiy used. The dispatch case and
Sam Brown belt are made OF
leather,
The web equipment is much super
ior to leather also because it is not
by long rains or lengthy
spells of torrid weather. 1t is equal
ly serviceable and efficient in any
and 1T requires no dress
ing, as is the case with leather.
In the old days when soldiers were
served with clumsy leather pouches
they contrived leather belts with
loops to hold the car
tridges. thereby considerably facili-
tating their free movements; but the
objection to this extemporized am
munition belt, or bandoieer, was that
the loops would pull out which in
volyed the loss of ammunition.
Gen. Arson Mills of the United
States army, whose attention became
by the loop-belt idea, real
lied that if this form of extemporized
belt could be woven
from heavy web it would become a.
decided benefit to the fighting man
and would be superior to leather.
However, ordinary canvas was too
of shrinking and stretch
ing, according to the variations of
weather and climate; therefore he
produced a belt woven from end to
end in single piece and fitted with
loops to receive the cartridges. which
were kept from falling out by the
rims which fitted tightly to prevent
them from slipping through.
General Mills, in his autobiogra-
ply, tells the story OF how he took
his first lesson in weaving from his
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