OFF TO THE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2687, 5 February 1916, Page 14

OFF TO THE FRONT

WHAT TO TAKE AND HOW TO ACT. The following advice comes from a returned officer to a friend going to the front as a private:— ■ Make your pack at light as possible. Bring as much gear as yoii like, but remember that kit-bags remain at tlie base, so that means good-bye to the contents while you are at the front. For the voyage have an old pair of sand shoes. ' -. . In Egypt you have your black bag with you. Label everything and every part of everything. These are necessary: Cloth bag, rifle cover, small scissors, razor, shaving soap, brush, glass, housewife, washing soap, towel.- spare underpants, singlet and military shirt, pair. sox, pencils, envelopes, paper, boot-laces, tin of Keating's powder, six packets baking nowder, ill in your pocket, a diary, tin of curry nowder, tho egg powder, carry cigarettes in tins, the tins make good shaving mugs; take quinine and ; aspirin tablets, a wristlet watch with luminous dial, reading matter, books and magazines; don't, bftak leave; allot money home 4s. a day. If aggrieved with N.C.0., you can complain to higher authority, but get an N.C.O. to parade you. Get vaccinated and inoculated. Bo sure and have well-fitting boots and equipment. The best way to wear vour pack i*- the field is to make two slings, with straps supporting. Carry it separate from equipment, like a girl's school bag. Save white tucker bags. Bring mosquito nets and a collapsible aluminium mug. . In making short rushes learn to get up and down quickly. Learn to dig in ouickly with' entrenching tools, and lie absolutely flat.' Learn telephone work and to repair a field 'phone. Bring only can (no hat) to trenches. • Be prepared for blisters. Learn to make biscuit porridge pancakes, and rissoles out of bully beef, biscuits and onions. Whatever price they ask you in Efypt, give only a quarter of it, or else go away without buying. They will not lose your custom, but will call you back. Remember \£l enuals 97A piastres. Tn tho street they only give 95. Go to the Anrrlo-Egyptian Bank—it,will pay von. Tf you send home any parcel register it. Tlnn't use a money belt. Bring an old shaving brush to clean outside of rifle and ammunition. When goinp into action you TTon't want to be overloaded. Yo» have a good chance of losing your pack. But carry the thinga I have said.