LIFE AT THE CAMPS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16546, 20 November 1915, Page 8

LIFE AT THE CAMPS.

EQUIPPING THE TENTH. SCENES AT THE STORE. RECORDS OF ARTICLES. Specially Written for the Otago Daily Times. By L. S. Fanning. ' From all parts of Now Zealand men of the Tenth Reinforcement have moved briskly into Trontham. this week, and some have stepped out sadly. The journey of jollity and song in coach and tram and steamer has ended in disappointment—rejection by reason of "medical unfitness." The system of examination is thorough at the camp. A defect which a district medical man lias overlooked, or has regarded as unimportant, may bring a sudden ston to a recruit's careej at Trenthanx. In some ciiscs a man passed as fit by a local doctor may have gone far in a rearrangement of his affairs, in anticipation of a long absence on active servicefor his oountry, and ho may run into tho word "unfit" when he is closely inspected at tho camp. The moral is that local mcdical examiners, in justice to volunteers, should act strictly in accordance with the military regulations. Any unauthorised laxity may prove to l>3 a very mistaken kindness to an enthusiastic rccruit. SIGNING FOR THE KIT. Tho first solemn reminder of the work ahead ia the oath which is administered by officers in four of the church institutes, including the Salvation Army's hall. Then the men aro marched bv sergeants to the store for the first issue of equipment. While wa ting at the door they unlace their boots, in readiness ior trying on tho solid military footwear. Inside, skilled hands are deftly spreading blankets on the floor, and the articles are quickly assembled. A genial officer has a little table near the door, and he has a card for cach man as ho enters. The officer | rapidly runs over the items of the first issue, thus: —• "You have a great coat, a hat, a palliasse, a kit, three blankets, one pair of boots, two pair of drawers, two working shirts, two undershirts, a working suit (denim), three pairs of socks, one jersey, one knife, fork and &:ioon, and one plate and mug (a tin plate and a pannikin in civilian parlance), two towels, one waterproof sheet. Sipn here." Now and then the advice is: What you don't get, you have to buy," and these words cause a few cautious men to fossick in tho heap; they are keenly agog for a shortage. Then oomes a pleasant assurance from the officer that no mistake has boen made at the' store since the camp began. Some men feel a little nervous, but the officer soon puts them at case. He throws in a "laddie" between the kit and the palliasse, or between the blankets and the boots, and finishes with a benevolent flourish of "laddie" as a steadier for the signing. Others have the proverbial colonial coolnta One grouin marching off to quarters beat a tattoo with tho knives on the tin plates, and kept stop with tho tinkling. SUITS IN THIRTY-ONE SIZES. After this first issue, a requisition sheet for field service uniforms (with details of measurements) is filled in by the officers in charge of companies, and the men then have their second visit to the store. The sizes for suits are in 31 grades, ranging from the man of sft 4in, with a jacket measurement (not bare skin.) of 35in, to the stalwart of 6ft, with a ooat chest of 42in and a waist of 40in. No. 1 size '(bantam) has been rarely requ red so far. In the first three drafts of reinforcements there was not ono man on the No. 1 line. The numbers of sizes for the various builds of the same height are: —sft 4in (three), sft sin (two), sft 6in (three). sft 7in (four), sft Bin (four), sft 9in (four), sft lOin (five), sft llin (three), 6ft (three). At this second distribution each man receives. one jacket, one pair of putties, one puggaree (band for the hat), two brass titles (for the shoulders, indicating the unit), one pair of boots, one "housewife" (containing needles, safety pins, wool, thread, buttons). The' third and final issue of clothing is one jacket, one pair of trousers, ono cap, one pair of braces, ono pair of shoes, one cholera belt, ono holdall, one sea kit,' one balaclava cap This completion of tho uniform takes from a- week to 10 days, during which time tho recruit is not,allowed leave from camp. WATCH AND WARD ON THE PROPERTY An exact tally of every article is kept by Captain M'Cristeirs office There, is a complete index, so that every soldier's card can be looked up quickly. If he is ordered into hospital his whole kit has to be delivered at the store, and. it is checkcd against the original.list. The man goes to hospital with hisT civilian clothes, his books (his " devotional books," an officer remarked), and h's toilet articles. AlWays every precaution i 6 taken to ensure a right _ use and safe custody of the things provided by the State. A daily summary shows the exact number of articles issued, received, and in stock. Before men , leave camp for the front the officers sign receipts for the totals, of all details in equipment and arms. Before a man receives any payment due to him on his discharge his kit is checked, and deductions are made for anything missing. THE BOOT "HOSPITAL." Near tho store there is a complete array of workshops (blacksmith's, plumber's, siddler's, boot repairer's, carpenter's). " Fair wear and tear" of boots is mended free. An odd man will make a problem for the cobbler by neglecting to bring in his boots till he is almost on the uppers, but this counts as " fair wear and tear." The boots of discharged) men are disinfected, reconditioned, and issued as new. "They are better than new," said Captain M'Cristell, for they have lost any pinching propensity. This renovation save the Government many pounds. The clothing of men who have boen attacked by infectious disease is thoroughly cleansed and fumigated in a manner to kill the toughest germ before it is_ reissued. The varied operations go with clockwork precision in well-appointed buildings, on a site which was a bare field a year ago. "On October 20 last year I came here," said Oaptain M'Crist'elf, " and the same day 2500 men marchedi in. There was not a tent up then." Some of the officers had very hard work then, night and day. It was a snatch of two or three hours' sleep in tho 24 for days at a stretch, but they went on cheerfully, and won. WASHING AND MENDING. The State takes no liability for washing and mending, but the military authorities require each man to parade in clsan, tidy raiment. If the soldier sends his socks and garments to a laundry, any necessary darning is done without extra charee. Many choose to do their own washing and mending. Some take advantage of the bathing parade at the river, and there they swish their socks and l shirts in tho manner of remote ancestors. Others have this exercise j at the camp, and the performance is well worth seeing. The loaded drying lines near the hutments give a homely touch to parts of the camp.