Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-09
Modern. Yankee
Soldier Uses Care
in Matter of Dress

Washington, Dec. S-The time was
when, in popular fancy, no good SOL
der ever looked at his heels. That
belief fostered by countless joke
smiths, is due to be rudely shattered
when the doughboys of the present
army offer their testimony, accord
ing to officials of the War Depart
ment The good soldier of the pres
ent day is giving careful attention to
not only his shoes, heels and soles
but to every item of his equipment,
they declare-and all because of the
wave of economy that has swept over
the military arm of the service.
In it's effort to live within the re-
duced appropriations granted by the
present Congress the army has been
forced to apply economies all along
the line. and the thrift habit is being
impressed on the rank and file in
manner calculated to leave an abid
ing impression.
Some saving soul suggested that
the item of shoes was one that might
be easily subjected to a little prun-
ing. The doughboys were scuffing
out their sole leather at rate that
threatened to prove ruinous. he DEM
onstrated. and it was suggested that
the man behind the gun be made per-
sonally responsible for the state of
his foot wear. The suggestion was
adopted. and as translated TO the
rank and file it runs about as fol
lows:
Privates will see that their shoe
soles are in good order-that they
are turned in for replacement at the
first sign of hole in the outer layer
of leather. And they will make this
shoe inspection every day, on PEN
atty of having to pay themselves for
any requirements where the old shoe
turned in to the Quartermaster's De-
partment is too greatly wcrn to per-
NIT its repair.
In the matter of clothing, too, the
War Department is effecting savings
wherever possible. When a private or
mon com" takes his best girl to the
movies he is clad in his Sunday best,
the suit he wears only at inspection
and when on pass. In his other wax
ing hours he is uniformed in khaki
that has seen better days but still is
serviceable for drills and camp rou-
tine. Careful inspections of salvaged
clothing are made by the inspector
general to the end that NO uniform
be scrapped while there yet is min
imum of service in ito
Economies in clothing, however,
a T,oarcJU CtroIc n chow fhnyx. tho
wind is blowing in the army. The
effort to make Congress dollars go
as far as possible is apparent all
along the line, and even the rawest Of
recruits is aware that thrift is re-
garded as a cardinal virtue in the
army. That is impressed on him as
soon as he enlists, for where it once
was possible to join the colors in one
part of the country and be assigned
to duty with some remote organiza-
ton, getting a splendid opportunity
to See America First" at the pres
ent expense of the WG Department.
things work out quite differently now.
Recruits are assigned to organiza-
tons nearest the station where they
enlist. and the day of free sight-sec-
ing tours are over, War Department
Officials assert.
This transportation taboo II fast
becoming all-inclusive, according 10
army officers. In times past, when n
regiment was transferred to another
post the transfer was accomplished
by entraining the men and their i'm
pedimenta and setting them down In
their new home. bag and baggage.
Under the new scheme OF things the
transfer Of a regiment involves NO
such expenditure of time and money.
Only the colors of the outfits to be
transferred are sent on the new post.