RUSSIAN SNOW

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 22, 27 February 1942, Page 3

RUSSIAN SNOW

BOOTS FOR SOVIET ARMIES Fact follows fancy in the matter of the Russian Army and its boots. In the last war the rumour (lew around Britain and throughout the world that Russian soldiers had been seen travelling across Britain "with snow on their boots." This winter there is Russian snow on 3,000,0(10 pairs of British hoots. Part of the emergency aid-to-Rus-sia programme, first deliveries of these boots were being shipped within a wee!-; of the Nazi invasion. Half n million pairs were sent immediately, and by the end of August 1,000,000 pairs had been shipped or loaded. Britain is fulfilling 'he wlw'c Russian request, for 3000,000 pairs. The boots are exactly the same as those worn bv British soldiers, and, although taken immediately from the large stocks built up in Great Britain, their shipment created no immediate shortage of supplies. The capacity of Ihe industry is sufficient to meet any further reasonable requirements: in the last war no fewer than 112,000,000 pairs of all types of Service boots were made by United Kingdom manufacturers. Although full statistics of production in this war cannot be given, it is known that in one single Aveek the industry produced 400,000 pairs. The boots are armoured Avith heel tips, toe tips and reA r erse sole-bills. The new last used exactly the correct joint and tee room. Fitting has been specially studied, and three fittings to each size are aA'ailable. Sizes run from s's to 12's.