December 12, 
1914 
LAND AND WAIER 
CHOOSING KIT 
Practical Hints 
{Continuid from page 131) 
THESE articles are written from practical experi- 
ence of military matters, with a view to keeping 
our readers in touch with the variousrequirements 
of active service. Changes of climate and the peculiar 
conditions under which the present campaign is being 
waged render different items of equipment advisable at 
different times, and we are in touch with officers at the 
front and others from whom the actual requirements of 
officers and men can be ascertained. The articles are 
not intended to advertise any particular firm or firms. 
The Poncho 
The average civilised man considers a blanket as a 
blanket, and is quite content that it should fulfil the one 
purpose. Civilisation has its drawbacks. 'Way out in Mexico, 
and in Spanish-America generally, the average man is not 
content with his blanket as the European knows it. He 
punches a hole through the middle, and wlien he gets up in 
the morning he sticks his head through the middle of the 
blanket ; and, behold, the blanket is a cape ! So very 
simple and, at the same time, so very efficient is this idea of 
the poncho that it is a matter for speculation why it has not 
been more generally adopted, especially for campaigning 
purposes. It was adopted by more than one firm of equip- 
ment manufacturers during' the South African War, but 
since that time it seems to have been forgotten, and J own 
that, though I am talking about kit to ])ractical men for a 
good part of nearly every day, the idea had not occurred to 
me in connection with the work in Manders. 
The Poncho Improved 
I.ast week, however, I came across the poncho improved 
and extended almost out of recognition. It was no longer a 
blanket, but a fur-lined sleeping bag, so finely made and 
finished that the total weight was not more than six pounds. 
By means of a series of spring fastenings the fur-lined square 
:s doubled over to form the bag, and when these are 
unfastened a hole in the middle admits the head, and there 
is the cape, with a waterproof collar which closes up the hole 
when the cape is required as a sleeping bag. It is the 
warmest, lightest, and best tiling of its kind I have seen yet. 
1 could not ascertain how the waterproofing would be affected 
by frost, for that is a drawback, apparentlv insuperable, 
attaching to all rubber-proofed things ; but this particular 
proofing had been subjected to 270 degrees (Fahrenheit, of 
course) of heat without appreciably diminishing its usefulness, 
a test which speaks volumes for its quality. 
At a Present 
There is one point in this matter that is worthy of 
emphasis. The present postal regulations enact that no 
parcel sent to the Expeditionary Force shall exceed seven 
pounds in weight, instead of the more familiar eleven pounds. 
This fur-lined sieeping-bag-cape comes within the postal 
_ limits, and thus it is still available as a Christmas or New 
' Year's gift to an officer at the front — or thereabouts. And 
I know of no more suitable present, for, as already remarked, 
it is the last word in comfort and efficiency as a sleeping bag, 
while especially for mounted men such a cape would be 
eminently serviceable, in addition to a good rainproof coat 
or whatever outside garment the man in question is carrying. 
I saw the same idea carried ou{; in goatskin, and also with 
camelrhair lining ; but the six-pound article is quite the 
best of all of its class, and the only one which, as regards 
weight, can be considered practicable as a cape in addition 
to its other use. 
The Problem of Invisibility 
The conspicuousness of the ordinary Sam Browne belts, 
and the consequent danger to officers wearing this equipment! 
has more than once been brought forward. The junior 
subaltern joining his unit, of course, must have the regulation 
and conspicuous pattern of Sam Browne ; but on the field it 
is different, and if one can get web belts or any other belts 
he may wear them if it pleases him— and it would please a 
good many to get rid of the " marked man " feeling that 
accompanies the wear of these articles. Web belts, I under- 
stand, are practically unobtainable, but something even 
better is a set of the leather belts covered with waterproof 
' anvas of exactly the same colour as the khaki clothing, and 
indistinguishable from the tunic on which they are worn 
at a hundred yards— or even less distance. This may seem 
{CoHtinufJ on page M'jj 
THE FINEST LINEN HANDKERCHIEFS IN THE WORLD 
com* from Belfait, which hai been nottd for Iti fl.ae llncn for ctatiuriai. 
No. 58. — Man's llindkerchief 
in I.inen Cambric, hemstitched 
and with any hand -embroidered 
Old English initial. About 
9C ins. square with j in. I | /Q 
hem. 
No. 340.— Man's Handkerchief 
in Linen Cambric, with taped 
or corded borders. Usual 
size (about 21 ins.) l/T/'l 
Per doz. - lO/O 
Larger size (about 23 ins.), 
per doz. - 1 8/0 
We quote three handkerchiefs, we haTc others to suit all Ustes and all purses. Price List and 
complete range of Patterns post fr«e on application. 
Per doz. 
No. 41,— Man's Handkerchief 
in fine Linen Cambric, with 
hand-embroidered i in. mono- 
Sram (any two letter combina- 
on). About 194 ins. square 
with \ in. hem. ' " 
Per doz. 
^■. 13/11 
IChaki Handkerchief! from 1/1 1( per doz. j 
Robinson <?t^Cleavei! 
156-170 REGENT STREET, LONDON, and BELFAST 
BEST 
PIGSKIN HOLDALL 
For Toilet Articles. Lined Waterproof. In two sizes. 
28/- and 35/- 
Chamois Leather Towels 
Price - - 4/6 each. 
6/6' 
SILVER TINDER LIGHTERS '"" 
SAM BROWNE BELT 
Made from best BRIDLE Leather. 
Price 50/- 
. • Extra Large and Strong . . 
HAVERSACKS 
made from an OflScer's design. 
12/6 
Price 
WIRE NIPPERS 
Insulated Handles. Complete in Leather Case. 
12/6 and 15/6. 
Stnd for Full List of 
. . War Equipment. . . 
SWAINE iS ADENEY 
By ippoinlmcnt to H.M. The KinS 
185 PICCADILLY, W. 
FORTNUM A MASON'S 
SERVICE SLEEPING KIT 
Wolsev Valise 
Extra wide flaps 
Kapolc Mattress 
Triple Blanket 
Light Ground Sheet 
Pillow ... 
£ s. 
3 O 
10 
2 
10 
4 
d. 

o 
o 
o 

GENERAL CAMP EQUIPMENT 
Supplied at ShoHeat ISIoiice. 
MAKERS OF THE "FORTMASON" WATERPROOF BOOTS. 
Price Lists of Foods and Equipment for Active Service posted on application. 
FORTNUM & MASON 
Ltd 
181, 184 Piccadilly, LONDON, W. 
TrLCQNAMS : FONTNUM. LONDON. 
TrLCPHONC : l^rGcrtT At 
•47 
