The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-08-06
BY FREDERICK PALMER.
Special Correspondent OF the Interna
tionAI News Service

EnEOGHINN pAIMeU
epec'ai Correspondent Of the interna-
tionaI News Service.
British Headquarters, France, July
2o.-lt was at a bombing school on a
french farm where chosen soldiers
brought back from the trenches were
being trained in the use OF the anar-
cnists weapon which has now become
as responsible as the rifle. Specialism
develops as the war goes on. There are
no M. B. degrees for Master Bombers
yet; out that may come any day.
Present was the chief instructor.
young Scotch subaltern with blue eyes
pleasant smile and Cock of the
North" spirit. He might have been
twenty years old. though he did not
look 1t. Also present was the assist
ant instructor, a sergeant of regulars
and very much OF regular-who
had three ribbons which he had won
in previous campaigns.
II you don't drop it. why, it's all
right, said the sergeant. "Of course,
If you do
We did not drop it.
The audience carried out instruc.
tons to the letter, as army regula-
t1ons require. We got behind the pro-
lection of one Of the practice trench
traverses. He threw the discard be.
yond another wall of earth. There was
shary report. burst of smoke and
some fragments of earth were tossed
into the air.
In a small affair of 200 yards of
trench the other day it was estimated
that the British and Germans togeth-
er threw about 5000 bombs in this
fashion.
do you men like to become bomb
ers?" one asked the subaltern.
Il should say so. 1t puts them up in
front. 1t gives them a chance to throw
something-and they don't get much
| class bombing detachment has a lot
Of pride, of course"
To bomb has become common
verb with the army as to bayonet. I'VE
bombed them Quit" means a success
sion of trenches taken. AS you know,
trench is dug and built with sand
bags in zigzag traverses.
"Be First" Chief Point.
ITS important that you and not the
Bosches chuck the bombs over first,
explained the subaltern. also that
you get them into their traverses, or
they may be as troublesome to you
as to the enemy
With the bombs bursting in their
faces, the Germans who are not put
out Of action are blinded and stunned.
In the moment when they are thus off
guard the aggressors leap around the
corner.
And them"
"Stick 'em, sir!" said the matter-of-
fact sergeant. Yes. the cold steel is
I best. And do it first. AS Mr.. McPher-
son said, it's very important to do it
first"
It has been found that something
short is handy for this kind of work.
In such cramped quarters-a ditch six
feet deep and from two to three feet
broad-the rifle is an awkward length
to permit of prompt and skillful use
of the bayonet.
Eyes, sir, you can mix it up better
with something handy, sir--to think
British soldiers would come to fight.
ing like assassins, sir said the ser.
geant.
you must be spry on such occa.
sions. It's no time for wool gather
ing"
What If a German shell should
strike your storehouse?" it was sug.
gested.
Then. sir. expect that most of the
bombs would be exploded. Bombs are
very peculiar in their habits. What do
you think, sir?"
1t was no trouble to show stock, as