Evening star., 1952-09-03
Science Brings Changes
In All Phases Of War
Chemistry Aids Soldiers Task;
Maps Show Old Topography

N"eWIStIy AsoS SoIoieTS IoSks
Maps Show Old Topography
By Thomos R. Henry
Present-day chemistry is revolutions
izing not only some Of the major as
poets Of war but also many Of the in
finite details of military operations.
Some Of the most notable accom-
plishments in this line, the significance
Of which is likely to be lost, are listed
by the Chemical Manufacturers Asso-
citation with headquarters here.
A few cited are: -.
Non-shrinking wool fiber for socks.
sweaters and the like. The fiber is
its natural tendency to shrink with
laundering.
A lighter, tougher helmet made Of
aluminium shell and containing shock
resistant plastic liner is replacing the
Army's old steel helmet with its thin
plastic liner. The new liner itself af-
fords as much resistance to shell frag-
ment impact as the old model. It
has been designed for greater vision.
better protection Of the neck and skull.
and is IS per cent lighter.
White Plastic Sleds.
Plastic sleds nodded from glass
impregnated with resin covered with a
permanent white finish which helps
camoufiage are being used to transport
small supply loads over ice and snow.
Methods for treating chicken feathers
to remove odors and retain natural
resiliency have been devised. These
feathers, used for new Army sleeping
bag, save large quantities Of wool and
give twice the warmth Of q wool bag.
A new line Of plastic tableware is
replacing the heavy white china formerly
used in mess halls. ....
A disk-shaped container made Of
synthetic rubber is being used for aerial
free-fall delivery Of gasoline or water
to troops. When empty it Is about "a
inches in diameter and weighs five
pounds. It has q capacity Of five gallons.
Filled. it looks like an inflated pancake.
No parachute is needed to check its fall.
A new greaseless pack for rifles. ma
chine guns and other small arms
has replaced the coatings of heavy
grease. Soldiers no longer sweat over
the three-hou task of removing this.
Plastic piping is being used in Navy
mine Sweepers now under construction.
It saves a lot Of copper and nickel and
promises to be cheaper. 5000. .....
"Coveralls" for Equipment.
Vinyl plastic "coveralls" protect heavy
military equipment from corrosion dur
ing shipment or while in temporary
storage.
New, high-strength molding plastics
are being used for variety Of military
items ranging from canteen caps and
belt buckles to brackets for antenna
maStS.
Anew photo processing method prom
ises completely to eliminate the neces-
sity for washing films and prints. thus
solving a major combat photography
problem Of securing fresh water in com.
bat areas. -
A glass-reinforced plastic trunk locker
and a similarly constructed typewriter
case provide lighter weight. better dura-
bility and considerably more resistance
to weather.
Special cold weather boots have saved
men from having their feet permanently
manned or blown off. They absorb much
OF the shock Of explosives ~
A compact cellulose material has been
developed to replace the cardboard pack
age previously used In radioSonde ap-
paratus for probing the upper atrnoS-
phere. It has high resistance, to varia.
tions in temperature and humidity.
Time Maps Planned. 49,,
Maps of time are being planned by
the United States Geological Survey.
They will cover the present area Of
the country during Is geological periods
extending backward more than half
billion years into the mysterious, life
less pre-Cambrian era which preceded
the appearance of the first living animals
or plants on earth. ..,
They will portray long vanished seas
and mountains which at one time
covered what now are rolling plains,
and washed over ancient beaches that
now are bathed in flying clouds. Alto
gether these maps of dead times will
be as strange as maps Of Mars or the
moon, compared with the present to-
Biography Of the Nation. ss....
First there will be series of IS maps,
according to the announcement of DR..
w. H. Bradley, chief geologist Of the
Survey, showing the general layout Of
the area at the beginning of each
geological period. Next. DR.. Bradley
says, will be series of so-called isopach
maps. showing the presently known
thickness of all the rocks now believed
to have been laid down-either by
volcanic action or by erosion and deposi-
tion on sea bottoms-during each period
under consideration.
Third will be series of 'lithofacies
MAPS" showing the average rock COM
position of each unit.
Fourth will be series Of so-called
paleotonic maps showing, as far as
possible, the following features. The
source areas Of the sediments piled up
during each period, the areas Of VOL
canism and Of intrusions of rocks from
the earth's depths, and such features
as mountains. piedmont slopes, coastal
plains and marine features such as shore
lines. reefs and salt basins.