THE INFANTRY IN DEEP SNOW, - By Captain M.C.I&rfcin4 7th„ Infantry.
In the November issue of the Infantry Journal there is an article on,
"Infantry and Deep Snow", by major Ralph E.Jones, 2nd. Infantry,which should prove
of interest to the members of Chilkoot Ba.rra.oks. _
I&ijor Jones commands a battalion of the 2nd. Infantry stationed at fort
Brady, near Sault Ste.fferie, in the northern part of the Northern Penisula of Mich
igan and weather conditions there are similar to Chiikooc 3arracks. is a iCu.e
deals with the problems of moving and maneuvering Infantry in deep snow, under su
heads of, 1 .Means for moving men, 2.Means for moving the baggage, 3.seeping up wha
supply, 4 .Commuriicationo • .
It is assumed that there is no practicable way of moving men except thru *'
the medium of their own legs which means one of two ways snowshoes or s 18 •
Both of these nave their advantages and disadvantages, Snow shoes have the a van
tag© over skis in that the use of them is easily mastered and they do not retard
progress by slipping when tullinrr a sled* Skis have the advantage over snow s oe..
in that traveling by them is not' so fatiguing, they have more speed so that you
cover a greater distance in a day. However it takes one longer to master the use
of skis. Suitable harness is required for both. ‘
The conclusion of i^ajor Jones on moving the baggage is that the logical way
is the man drawn sled. After numerous experiments Fort Bradjr decided that the two
squad section sled was the suitable one. The sled when empty weighs 220 pounds anc
when loaded weighs 1654 pounds. The load of the; sled includes shelter, rations f->i
5 days, equipment, ammunition, rifles, automatic rifles, packs and 4 pair extra
snow shoes. The sled carries everything necessary to take care of 17 men for 5
days. The section is divided into sled-pulling teams and a 17 man section should
include 12 pairs of snow shoes and 9. pairs of skis. The sled team varies from 8 tc
12 men and if an exceptionally hard place is reached hook up two teams. Hach man
wears pulling harness but those not on duty in the team 3nould be mounted #n skis.
The pulling harness is so made that a man may pull either with his hips or shoulder^
or with both. One of the means of keeping up the supply would be for airplanes to
fly low and drop the supplies to small Infantry. If only a few miles from high?/ayd
or railroads the supplies could be brou^it ih by section sleds.
As to communications the following is suggested: *\1 .Dropping messages
airplanes. 2.Black panels. 3 .Wireless . 4..Dog sleds. 5 .Air propelled sledg
tions permitting). 6.-Messengers on skis. T.The buzzer.
THANK YOU, - By 1st .Sergeant J .3 .West, Company "5**, 7*kh. Infantry.
Webster defines "Thanks” as ”An expression of gratitude or obliga
tionT*. The child soon learns to thank you for every little favor but as we grow
older we put away childish things and "Thank you” is often forgotten. We may be
grat eful but fail to express, our feelings to'our benefactor, we accept his good
deeds as a matter of duty without considering the inconvenience and time necessary
for him to perform the service. Once a year on "Thanksgiving Day" we are reminded
by our President, I-.fe.yor, Governor and Pastor, to render thanks unto God for our
many blessings. Do our obligations for giving thanks cease with observance of
Thanksgiving ^ay? Not a day passes but that we could make some one feel brighter
by saying "Thank you” — just two little words but fraught with a "whale" of sun
shine for the other fellow. Lets get the "Thank you” habit. It i9 worth culti
vating* Try it daily and see how many smiles it developes.
A MODERN INTRODUCTION.
Jim: I didenH know you knew Edith until I saw you together last night
Sam: Oh, yes1. I met her in a revolving door, and began going around
with her. - Life.
WORTHY OF HIM. pat:
"That was a fine sintiment Casey got off at the banquet last night.”
Mike: "What s it,fT
Pat : wHe said that the sweetest mimories in loife are the ricollec
tions of the things forgotten”. - Paper Jfe^zine.