November 7, 19 14 
LAND AND WATER 
CHOOSING KIT 
Practical Hints 
(Continued from page 69) 
The Ubiquitous Cigarette 
STRICTLY speaking, the business of sending out 
things to men of our Army in France is not in any- 
way connected with the choice of kit, but, since 
several of our readers have already made inquiries 
on the subject, it is as well to accord it at least a 
passing mention. Many who have friends or relatives at 
that mysterious region known as " the front," as well as the 
charitably inclined, are dubious as to what to send out. It 
is always perfectly safe, of course, to send cigarettes, for 
even if the recipient is a pipe-smoker he can make currency 
of the gift and trade off his cigarettes for practically anything 
he likes. I remember how in the South African War the 
value of a cigarette would go up as the distance from a town 
increased, until one could trade off one cigarette for a tin of 
jam, and on an exceptionally long trek for far more than that. 
Both cigarettes and tobacco are very safe things to send out, 
the only point being to ascertain that the articles sent really 
get to the men for whom they are intended. 
Sending — and Receiving 
In this connection it is worthy of note that several large 
firms are making up hampers for sending out to the troops, 
and one benefit in connection with the dispatch of these 
hampers by relatives or friends is that the goods get there ; 
they are practically certain to reach their destination without 
trouble, and, in addition to this, they are packed by men 
who have experience in the needs and tastes of men at " the 
front." It is worthy of remark that to the average civilian 
mind there is no such thing as line of communication or base 
in the composition of the field army ; but everybody is at 
"the front," even though he may be fixed up at a wireless 
station a hundred miles or so behind the guns, or stuck away 
on the lines of communication with plenty of hard work and 
no excitement. His relatives always speak of him a<; " at the 
tront," wherever he is. 
Hamper Contents 
In selecting the contents of a hamper one should 
be certain that it contains a tin of vaseline, which is the 
thing most appreciated by the troops for preserving the feet 
in condition. Most firms in the composition of their gift 
hampers include a number of compressed foods, which are 
thoroughly popular with the men. 
Clothing Parcels 
If one desires to send out articles of clothing let there be 
a Balaclava cap in the outfit, for with the winter coming on 
some warm covering for the head at night makes all the 
difference to the sleeping outfit, and the man who is actually 
■' at the front " without a woolly nightcap has no chance of 
getting one other than by means of the kindness of his 
friends. Socks, of course, are always welcome, and it should 
be definitely specified in the packing of a parcel of clothing 
that boot-laces are included — two or three pairs of really 
strong laces, preferably leather ones. Undervests are almost 
as welcome as socks, too. 
Matches and Substitutes 
Almost as welcome as the man with a cigarette is the 
man who can supply a light for the cigarette or pipe smoker. 
After a week or so away from supplies matches begin to grow 
scarce, and the various automatic lighters on the market 
come to their own. I have no faith in the thing which 
presses open with a spring, lights itself, and is dependent for 
its usefulness on a supply of benzine — that is, I have no 
faith in it unless it is particularly well made and a supply of 
either petrol or benzine is available for the owner's use. 
Otherwise, the thing runs dry at the time it is most needed 
and one sighs for a box of vestas. There is also the dis- 
advantage of wind, which this class of lighter will not stand. 
One presses the spring and the thing flies open, lights itself, 
and promptly goes out, leaving the owner swearing. There 
is, however, a tinder lighter, made by various firms, which 
needs no constant supplies of benzine or petrol to render it 
efficient, and its greatest advantage is that the worse the 
wind the better it works. The idea is an adaptation of the 
old-fashioned flint, steel, and tinder dodge of our forefathers, 
and the new lighter is worked by a string of tinder stuff 
contained in a metal tube, which, when rubbed sharply 
against a prepared surface in the way a match is rubbed on 
(Continued m page 09) 
BLANKETS 
FOR 
ACTIVE 
SERVICE 
^S Winter approaches the necessity for really 
warm coverings in the trenches is obvious. 
Yf.^^t^S "°^ producing Blankets on the lines of our famous 
ULSTER FLEECE RUGS (THE EIDERDOWN OF CLOTH), 
made from pure high-grade wool, which gives more bodily 
warmth than two or more of many of the so-called Army Blankets. 
The iiize is ample. 60 by 90 inches, and the colours are 
srey. khaki, natural and dark natural. 
PRICE 18/6 
On receipt of 19 6 we will forward one of them securely 
packed to any Officer of. the Expeditionary Force. 
Our new Linen Hall in RttenI Street. London, will be oHened on 2nd November 
with a great Otening Sale of Linens, etc. 
Robinson ^LCleaven 
Regent Street, LONDON, And BELFAST 
SERVICE KITS 
—IN 48 HOURS. — 
Every detail guaranteed correct, in 
accordance with War Office regulations. 
Palterns and Eslimale post free. 
A large number of half-finished Service 
Jackets always on hand, which can be 
compl ted in eight hours. 
INFANTRY SWORD £4 14 6 
WEST & SON, Ltd 
Military and Sporting Tailors, 
151 NEW BOND STREET, W. 
(Opposite Conduit Street ) 
'Phone — Gerrard 8161. 
CIVIL and 
MILITARY 
TAILOR. 
(J^^^HITE 
CIVIL at>d 
-^r MILITARY 
lO Blenheim Street tailor. 
New Bond Street.W 
OFFICERS' SERVICE KIT 
Of the finest quality KHAKI, 
Correct in every detail, 
Supplied at shortest notice at the following reasonable prices : 
Service Tunic (heavy whipcord), from £3 3 
< „ Barathea) „ £4 4 
Bedford Cord Breeches, strapped 
buckskin - - - „ £2 10 
British Warm <lined fleece) - „ £3 10 
Service Great Coat - - ,,£4 4 
OVERCOATS 
My new Season's Models are now ready, and can be seen 
at the above address, together with new Winter Suitings. 
Slip Overcoats , - - from 3 guineas 
Town Overcoats - - - „ 3i „ 
Suits „ 3J „ 
Dress Suits - - - - „ 6 „ 
ALL GARMENTS PERSONALLY FITTED. 
During the present crisis I am charging the lowest possible 
prices in order to keep my staff of workpeople fully employed. 
TELEPHONE - - MAVFAIR 145. 
SAMPLES AND ESTIMATES POST FREE. 
67 
