636 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[August 1, 1917. 



To-day, because of the lessons learned on tlie battle-fronts 

 abroad, particularly those taught by trench warfare, rubber 

 equipment of a variety of sorts is now recognized as indis- 

 pensable. Owing to the well nigh continual presence of water 

 in the trenches, rubber hip boots have become a regular part 

 of the soldier's equipment, and in many cases the rubber stock- 

 ing, worn between two woolen or cotton socks, meets the aver- 

 age need at any time but stormy weather. The ruliberized ground 

 sheet, with which each fighting man abroad is sup|)lied is the 

 European substitute for our poncho. It not infrequently has 

 served as a shroud when the soldier has fallen on the battle- 

 field. The wastage in trench boots, rubber stockings and ground 

 sheets is enormous; in fact, it has been estimated that the total 

 wastage of all rubber goods at the front, 18 months ago, was 

 in the neighborhood of 4.000 tons daily. This destruction has 

 unquestionably greatly increased in the interval, and will be a 

 good deal higher after we join forces with our Allies. 



Tlie officer boasts some additional rubberized articles, such 

 as a waterproof valise, a sleeping-bag and a collapsible rubber 

 bathtub or basin. StafT officers also are provided with rubber 

 fabric motor- 

 ing-rugs, and 

 all of the men 

 of t h e motor- 

 ing-service 

 have rubber 

 garments, while 

 motor cyclists 

 have proofed 

 overboots and 

 leggings c o m- 

 bined. Rubber- 

 ized cap-covers 

 are well-nigh 

 universal, and 

 a combination 

 hood and cape 

 of waterproof 

 material is 

 growing steadi- 

 ly in f a V o r. 

 The gas mask, 

 in which proof- 

 ed fabric and 

 rubber sponges 

 play a prime 

 part, is a uni- 

 versal article of 

 equipment. 



Every man and officer must have one, and a substantial reserve 

 should be available to take care of wastage. With every mask 

 there should be a waterproof wallet in which to keep the respi- 

 rator which neutralizes the action of the poisonous atmosphere. 



The foregoing equipment of rubberized articles or garments 

 is necessary, in fact is the regulation outfit abroad; and we 

 shall have to provide our troops accordingly. In addition it is 

 optional, especially among the officers, to supply themselves with 

 waterproof toilet cases, pocket filters with rubber tubing, and 

 goggles that call for more or less rubber in their make-up. 

 Rubber gloves are extensively in demand in certain branches of 

 the military service, particularly where live electrical circuits 

 have to be dealt with and also in the handling of certain ex- 

 plosives. This is notably the case in the charging of mines, 

 floating and otherwise, and wherever guncotton is used for the 

 bursting charge. 



Regarding the need of rubber in its protective capacity against 

 the attack of acids, the manufacture of smokeless powder, gun- 

 cotton, nitroglycerine, dynamite, etc.. calls for rubber gloves 



The Rubber-Tired Wheels of ai^ .'^rmy ..Airpl.^ne. Showing the Rubber Cushioxs ix 

 THE .A..XLE Shock Absorbers Where the R.adi.^l Supports Converge. 



and rubber aprons, not to mention boots. Every pound of these 

 explosives utilizes sul|)huric and nitric acid at one stage in their 

 preparation, and it would be impossible for the workers to 

 perform their tasks without the aid of rubber garments. Many 

 hundreds of thousands of tons of explosives have been pro- 

 duced since the war began ; enormous quantities of nitric acid, 

 sulphuric acid, and other chemicals have been manufactured in 

 the last two years and a half ; and in the whole of this grim 

 industry, rubber in one shape or another has been indispensable. 

 This business of providing munitions has grown to tremendous 

 proportions in this country, and the factories will work to still 

 greater productiveness in order to furnish our army and our 

 fleet with its needful explosives. 



An integral part of modern warfare is the extensive use of 

 the telephone ; indeed, fire control is well-nigh universally regu- 

 lated in this way. Everyone knows how important rubber in 

 one form or another is to an efficient telephone service, and 

 on the battle-front that service absolutely must be efficient in 

 every particular. Therefore, insulation is insi.-^ted upon to an 

 extent that is not deemed needful ordinarily, and mainly be- 

 cause the physi- 

 cal conditions 

 are infinitely 

 more trying 

 Nothing an- 

 swers like rub- 

 ber for this 

 purpose, where 

 wet ground and 

 continual moist- 

 ure have to be 

 contended with. 

 Again, there are 

 the circuits of 

 mining and 

 c o untermining 

 operations, im- 

 provised light- 

 ing and power 

 systems — par- 

 ticularly where 

 searchlights are 

 employed — and 

 wire entangle- 

 ments are 

 charged with 

 high-v o 1 1 a g e 

 currents. Thou- 

 sands upon 

 thousands of miles of insulated wire have been and will be re- 

 quired. Our own fighting force in Europe will have to be supplied 

 generously in kind. 



As part of the transport service and the "supply train" 

 equipment, we must not forget waterproof motor hoods, cart 

 covers and collapsible rubber horse troughs, water buckets and 

 tanks. And that the powder shall not fail in the hour of 

 need there is also provided a vast array of rubberized powder 

 bags. The treads of the "tanks" and the heavy guns and mor- 

 tars also need rubber blocks to make them equal to the varied 

 conditions of the roads or ground over which they have to 

 make their way. .'\nd, finally, in considering the army's needs, 

 those aids to eflfective fighting, field glasses, range-finders and 

 telescopic sights must be included. In all of these optical auxili- 

 aries either hard or soft rubber, or both, are required, and while 

 quantitatively the amount of this material is trifling compared 

 to rubber's other uses, still its service is important. 

 RUBBER REQUIREMENTS OF THE N.WY. 

 Our navy has long been a big consumer of rubber, and even 



