Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-22

weight OF the infantryman nae,.,
a grim purpose. The whole. ;n,s,la
business Of war revolves arousa =
doughboy and his rifle and th,r.t u
The American army rife 4. =.
about the last word in effic,er,. r sai
weight fighting tools. Thers - I'm
prospect that its weight eah X. ~
ther reduced. So the Il ber,s t ~
pOndering over. each other art,a,. sN
the infantry pack to see what rsrt.
eliminated or sent back to the We wa
trains until needed.
Since the war ended. splans h..
been worked out, TO Tighten ~
emergency rations, the two, A.
supply each hiking soldier csrss
with him. Several ounces can !.
taken out of the contsiner weirs.
and a few more out of the mes, IA
and ounces feel like tons toward n
end of a forced march. 1t nov ssa,.
probable. also, that the pun, ts.
carried heretofore may be abandos.s
or at least greatly reduced in veiss,
and that the extra shoes will 20 III
to the escort wagons. Still ane,se
development is in experiments rs
! new waterproofing methods TO mai.
rain coats and, perhaps, oyercoss
unnecessary and also to save d,
doughboy from having to cam
pounds Of water in his soaki,,
equipment after a march in the rsjr
If all o. Che individual fighting Al
defensive equipment that is proyiSN1
for him was iDad on the doughboy,
back. he probably would not be All
to lift his feet off the ground and HI
he did succeed in moving, he woul
CHATTER and rattle like an Oh co..,
stove. In addition 10 his arms. an.
munition. food and clothing, mode,
war requires that the infantryns,
should have available as he cuma
to grips with the enemy hand
granades, rife bombs. trench knife
day and night fireworks for signaling
his position, sandbags for quick En-.
! trenching. picks and shovels h.
digging himself in. gas mask, helmet
first aid kit. and dozen other hing
| he might need. But there is no pos,
I sibility that he could carry it all aai
move. 20 the experts are weighing
| the probabilities and article. by az
ticle reasoning out just how far bscs
| it would be safe 20 send Il along tt'
! supply line so that it could be brsusk
up when the call came.
An army niule Is mighty walN
| carrier and in rough going 'erossI
country. the long cared friend 0f ts1
, soldier probably always will be close
) at the doughboys' heels than any olns
' element Of the army, But the mar,
mum lead for an 500 pound psfl
mule is $50 pounds. and the lgf,s'|
/ the mule the lighter the load unVi
army regulations. Loads for wagons
and artillery teams are similarly ds.
4 tributed according 10 the welghs an
F., capacity of the animals. "A
There is no such adjustment
burden possible for the dougape'
heVeyer. He carries the Slsl
weight whether he is a si1-foot w
, pounder'fron the first squad. o. u
five foot four, Misunderstanding
pound runt from the picKanlnn
squad at the left Of the connpall
And that weight viii more often ,N
! not be more than half OF MS ~
heft. ..,s
There has been a lot OF experihesss
! ing. both in the army anu Ia
Marine Corps since the war. ~
| types Of hand carts to carry pa' N
| the aouchboy's load. They are !, -
at it. but results thus far are y
! promising excent where the n'ss's a.
| over good roads. on the r0aas
! doushboys. after due triai sso ia =
! tendency to prefer taking the H"'
! their own shoulders. As.,ts
Down at Fort Rennlng' 'he ,'h, -
school Of the army. the ears w
tried ont scientifically. student
GERS volunteered for the tests' u .s,s
ing all day cross country l,as h,
carts after them. Each nien.
underwent minute physieai eA
alton in comparison with coi,,' 4
who had packed similar ioa"T Toas
their shoulders over the sails 4.
In each case the doctors no,eu ,,ssIs
; tinctly greater degree OF et ,Ss eatsl
J among the men who haul ,,.s wv ,nelsI
The possibilities of iign. NM NM
wheel carts are still to be ex pssI,
! Various types are to be useo, n pss
ularly to take some Oh .ie AZ ind, |
gun load. But it is now ", ,bst M
ment of experienced officers ~, 1 Nj
brawny back Of the dous l,issc, 4
continue to be the main rs .,Sss
armies for front line operaao