San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-15
Load, in Proportion, Is
More Than That Carried
by Mules, Horses or
Motor Trucks; Pack Can't
Be Made Much Lighter.

Washington, ID. c., March 49,
sHe heaviest laden pack animal OF
the army is the doughboy himself
Inch for inch by size, or pound for
pound of his own weight, the buck
private of infantry carries on his back
into battle double the burden handled
by horses or mules or motor trucks.
And he is expected to joke cheer
fully along through the ooze beside
the road, leaving the good going to
the gas and animal transport.
Army experts are racking their
brains for ways to cut down the
doughboy's load. Exhaustive study
has been given to war experience for
that purpose. Through the American
Legion and similar organizations, eff
fSrts have been made to get the men
who carried the infantry packs in
~Exapce to suggest changes. But as
yet it has been possible, it was said
today at the War Department, TO get
only few ounces of weight off the
backs of the trudging infantry.
Experts figure that the average
load for foot soldier should not ex-
coed 81 pounds. Yet under the pres
ent organization tables. mo. 3. rear
rank" (who is the automatic rifleman
in the infantry must stagger along
under about 133 pounds when fully
equipped. All of the machine gun
personnel is burdened- almost as heav-
lily, carrying from 115 to 125 pounds
per man, and the machine gunners
since the war make up about one
fourth of the strength of an infantry
outfit.
The bulk of the doughboy's load is
fighting equipment. What he carries
for his own bodily comfort has always
been stripped down TO the absolute
minimum. Aside from his iron ra-
tions," his blanket, overcoat. extra
shoes, mess kit, canteen and his few
essential toilet articles, the weight the
infantrymen packs has a grim pur-
pose. The whole intricate business OF
war revolveS around the doughboy
and his rifle and bayonet.
Can't Reduce Rifle Weight.
The American army rifle is still
about the last word in efficient. light
weight fighting tools. There is no
prospect that its weight can be further
reduced. So the experts are ponder
ing over each other article in the in
fantry pack to see what can be elm
mated or sent back TO the wagon
trains until needed.
Since the war ended. plans have
been worked out TO tighten the emer-
gency rations, the two days supply
each hiking soldier carries with him.
Several ounces can be taken out of
the container weights and few more
out of the mess kits, and ounces feel
like tons toward the end of a forced
march. 1t now seems probable. also.
that the pup" tents carried hereto
. fore, may be abandoned. or at least
greatly reduced in weight, and that
the extra shoes will go back TO the
escort wagons. Still another develop
ment is in experiments with new wa
PSsfs proofing methods to make rain
coats and, perhaps, overcoats,, unneceS-
sary and also to save the doughboy
from having to carry pounds of wa
ter in his soaking equipment after
march in the rain.
IL all of the individual fighting AMI
defensive equipment that is provided
for him was loaded on the doughboy's
back. he probably would not be able
to lift his feet off the ground and If
he did succeed in moving. he would
clatter and rattle like an old cook
stove.
Figure Out Weights.
In addition to his arms, ammuni-
ton. food and clothing. modern war
requires that the infantrymen should
have available as he comes to grips
with the enemy hand grenades, rifle
bombs. trench knife. day and night
fire works for signaling his position,
sandbags for quick entrenching, picks