November 21, 19 14 
LAND AND WATER 
CHOOSING KIT 
Practical Hints 
{Continued from page 81) 
Haversacks 
THE regulation - pattern haversack will bear 
improvement in several ways ; there is, for 
instance, a pocket at the back which, if the 
haversack be full or half-full, is absolutely 
useless — one can get nothing either in or out of 
the pocket, except when the haversack is so empty as to lie 
flat against the body. Then on lifting the flap a horizontal 
loop will be discerned inside at the top ; the use of this 
nobody has yet been able to determine. These things should 
both be discarded. The back pocket should be inside the 
haversack, which should be made throughout from water- 
proofed fabric, and the front flap should fasten with a buckle 
and fairly long strap in place of the button on the regulation- 
pattern thing, which, when the haversack is full, cannot be 
fastened in either buttonhole, since the button is too low to 
meet the holes. A West End firm is now showing a haversack 
with these improvements, designed by an officer with practical 
experience of field work, and made throughout of the very 
best material. It is worth while going to some trouble to get 
this detail of equipment quite right and satisfactory, and 
in getting a haversack made to order one should see that 
more fullness at the sides is allowed than in the regulation- 
pattern thing, to admit of distention to a greater extent. 
Spurs 
The old-time spur of D section metal has quite gone now, 
and the flat-sided spur has come to take its place. The idea 
of this was that the D section of metal wore the side of the 
boot badly, and caught on the ankle painfully at times as 
well. But the flat-sided spur is just as bad, in its ordinary 
pattern, as the D section of metal, and a West End firm 
which makes really serviceable accessories of equipment has 
overcome the trouble by making the flat-sided spur slightly 
convex on the inner side, so that a smooth surface is presented 
to the boot and wear is obviated. In the interests of the 
boots, which may be difficult to replace on Service, as well as 
for the sake of comfort, this kind of spur is worth getting. 
Charity — and Profit 
Reference was made in these columns some week or two 
ago to the hampers which various prominent firms are sending 
out to the troops at the request of charitable folk — an excellent 
scheme, especially in view of the coming Christmas season. 
But there is one " fund," ostensibly designed to supply men 
with pipes and tobacco, which is working not alone for the 
benefit of the men. If you wish to send a present of tobacco 
and a pipe you send up a sum to the fund and the tobacco and 
pipe or pipes are sent out. So far, so good, for there is no 
doufet that the goods are dispatched ; but the pipes are 
purchased at 2s. 3d. or 2S. gd. a dozen by the enterprising 
managers of this charity, and in making up the parcels for 
the " front " the pipe is valued at gd. Rumour has it that 
these pipes are part of the stock of an importer of briar pipes 
and fancy goods who despaired of getting rid of his German- 
made pipes until the " fund " very kindly came along to 
assist in foisting them on T. Atkins, Esq. The best way to 
send out tobacco and pipes is to go to a really reputa'. le firm 
and get the goods with directions as to sending them out, or 
to charter a first-class firm to send out the goods to a specified 
amount One can thus be certain that no " gd. for 2|d." 
trick will be practised. In quite a different connection, a 
certain " gd. for 4d. " trick was quite bad enough ; but this 
is worse. 
" Waterproof " 
Some weeks ago I was discussing the matter of water- 
proof clothing in these columns, and in many cases voted for 
rubber-proofed fabric. Since that time, however, a new 
factor has come into the matter, and that a factor which will 
increase as the months go on — the factor of frost. A rubber- 
proofed coat wet in the evening and subjected to frost during 
the night will not be proof in the morning, for the effect of 
frost on wet fabric is to expand it to a greater extent than the 
rubber-proofing will stand, and one wants a new coat against 
the next frost. Against this must be set the fact that neither 
rubber nor rainproof garments are absolutely waterproof at 
any time, for water will penetrate metal, let alone textile 
materials, if the pressure is strong enough. The best thing 
for winter wear is a rainproof, on account of that factor of 
frost just mentioned, and, as for a continued spell of wet 
weather, the best thine; to do on campaigning is to make up 
(Continued on pap 93) 
HANDKERCHIEFS 
The FinettTLinen Handkerchiefs in the world come from Belfail. which has been 
noted for its fine linen for centuries, 
^"•^ti Gentleman's Cam- No. 60. Gentleman-g Linen No. 50. Gentleman's Linen 
,/ApH nr .„VJ'''J'''k it Ca.mbric Hand-Em. Cambric Hemstitched 
taped or corded border, bro.dered Initial Hand- Handkerchief, about i8! 
Usual si« about kerchief, about igj in. in. square, Jin. hem. r /I 
21 in. Perdoz. ■ 1 IT. square, Jin. hem. Q/Q Per doz. - - - O/O 
Largest size, about '/^ Perdoz r\l-^ ' 
23 in. Per doz. 8/6 
:8/9 
We quote three handkerchiefs, we have others to suit all tsstes and all uurses. Price List and 
complete range of Pa tterns post free on application, 
I Khaki Handkerchiefs from 1/1 U per doi . I 
Robinson (^^Cleaven 
156-170 REGENT STREET, LONDON, «nd BELFAST 
ORRIS 
28a SACKVILLE ST., W. 
MORRIS reoognUes that the present situa- 
tion necessitates the inclusion of clothes 
in the general economy, and begs to 
inform his clientele and the public that the 
reduced price for a Lounge Suit or Overcoat is 
3^ Guineas 
For similar Garments the usual price is £5 5 
OFFICERS' KITS IN 24 HOURS IF NECESSARY 
TESTIMONIAL.-"! feel that I must thank you and v-ur 
excellenl fitter, too. for the great pains you took and the excellent 
results you achieved in htting me out in 36 hours, ^ou are 
perfectly at Iil>erty to use this testimonial if you wish.-^ours 
f.iithfuUy and gratefully. G. H. WEIGALL. Major R.^^.A." 
Infantry Trousers - £1 10 
British Warmer - 3 IS 
Nhakl Service Tunic £3 3 
Bedford Cord Riding 
Breeches - - 2 2 
THE "COR8TAY** FIGURE BELT (Reg) 
is invaluable to every oliticer ^oinR to the front, and 
a sure preventive against cold, da nip and exposure 
Telephones: Nos. 7H4. 728 Ke«ent. Telegrams: ■■Greatco 
15/. 
CIVIL Aod 
MILITARY 
TAILOR. 
lO Blenheim Street 
New Bond Street W 
CIVIL and 
MILITARY 
TAILOR. 
OFFICERS' SERVICE KIT 
Of the finest quality KHAKI, 
Correct in every detail, 
Supplied at shortest notice at the following reasonable prices: 
Service Tunic <tieavy 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 
ALL GARMENTS PERSONALLY FITTED. 
TELEPHONE - - MAYFTMR 145. 
SAMPLES AND ESTIMATES POST FREE. 
CHAMPION & WILTON 
457 A. 459 OXFORD ST., LONDON, W. 
MILITARY 
SADDLERY 
BRIDLES. WALLETS & SADDLE BAGS 
for immediate delivery. 
91 
