Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 91.djvu/537

 Popular Science Monthly

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��A Shock Absorber for the Soldier's Kit

��NOT all the difficulty that a soldier has in carry- ing a pack on his back is due to the sheer weight of it. An equal, if not a greater strain is caused by the con- stant jolting of the equip- ment as he walks along.

To ease this strain, «an Englishman, James A. Pugh, of Cardiff, Wales, has in- vented a pneumatic shock absorber for the soldier. The incessant jolts of the soldier's pack are cushioned on this, and the strain of marching is correspondingly lessened.

Two small pads Of rubber are sewed in pockets at the shoulders of the man's tunic. Another similar, but larger pad is sewed in the back of the tunic, just above the belt. Corrugations on the under side of these pads allow the circulation of cool air, so that the soldier's back will not feel the heat of the pack. By inflating all three pads through the small connecting tubes and their check-valves, they are converted into veritable cushions which will take away all the shock of the heaviest pack. The pack is fastened on in the usual manner, and is then inflated through the mouthpiece shown in the photograph below. The two ends of the mouthpiece fasten together across the front when not in use. When unclasped, the pads be- come deflated automatically

���lid Brown and Dawson

��A life-boat drill on board a coast liner. All on board must don life-preservers when a bell rings

The Life-Preserver Is More Important Than Meals Aboard Ship

THE life-preserver is your best friend when you travel on ocean liners these days. Even the captains of ships that steam along the coast insist that you get acquainted with the life-preserver the first hour or so you are on board.

Lifeboat drills are now regularly held on all liners. At the sound of a bell the passengers and as many of the crew as can get away from their posts, rush to positions on deck previously assigned to them. They immediately don their life-preservers and then wait for the next signal, which may direct them to get into the boats or order them back to their staterooms. A certain number of pas- sengers are assigned to each boat and an officer is appointed to take charge.

Sometimes drills are held every two hours dur- ing the day to acquaint the passengers thoroughly with their positions on deck and to get them used to the warning bell which usually sounds when least expected. The life-pre- These air -filled cushions keep the servers are made of

back cool and protect it from jolts canvas-COVered Cork.

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