The Benson signal., 1917-08-11
Thousands of Boys Given Pre-
Iiminary Drilling for Serv-
ice as Soldiers.
RESERVES OF THE FUTURE
Work Is Carefully Laid Out to Avoid
Strain, Physical or Mental
Education for Those
Needing 1t.

LOndon,-Great Britain has some
thing like FIVE million men In Its mill
tary forces. General Robertson an
nounced that another half-milliOn must
be provided in order to maintain re-
serves and keep the fighting units up
to full strength When this 5OOOOO
have been provided there Will be an
other demand for further augmenta-
tions later.
The inexorable demands from the
trenches must be met somehow. how
they are to be met, how man power
is continually to be provided to meet
the wastage of war is indicated by the
progressive organization of the coun-
try's youth for training in anticipation
of the time when they shah arrive at
military age.
All over the country battalions OF
bows none of them beyond the age OF
eighteen years and eight months, are
being Systematically trained for the
army. Schoolboys, college boys, ap-
prentices-youth Of all classes-as soon
as they are physically capable or un-
dertaking the work of training, are
put into the organizations for prepara-
tiOn.
Strain Carefully Avoided.
Careful measures have been adopted
to insure that they shall not be over
trained and either physically or men
tally injured by the strain. Officers IN
charge of these organizations or DOys
have been provided with special In
structions as to the service that may
safely be demanded. A good deal OF
discretion in this regard is left to COM
manding officers and drill masters, but
after all the purpose is to equip the
national youth for sOldierly service as
rapidly and efficiently as possible.
Much lighter requirements, however,
are imposed on the youngest class OF
prospective soldiers. They are given
graduated instruction in various drills
for the purpose of hardening their
physiuues. Games, lectures and educa-
tional work are provided in addition
to ordinary military training.
There are twelve fortnightly periods
in the training course for youth Of this
class. In the first period of two weeks
"a hours Of work are required, OF
which II hours are given to games and
educational work After the first pc
riod II hours are set aside in each
fortnightly period for these purposes.
Such games as cricket football and
boxing are particularly priced for their
effect on the physique of the recruit.
Participation in these is compulsory.
At the outset every young man is
inoculated, vaccinated and given a
thorough dental overhauling. This
limits the possible activities Of many
of them during the first six weeks Of
their training. After these preliminary
troubles are over, the organizations
settle into a regular scheme involving
"a hours work per fortnight or six
How the Work Is Divided.
At this stage of his training the re-
cruit gets in each fortnightly period
ten hours of general physical training,
six hours of bayonet exercises, 19 hours
of squad drill, 18 hours of musketry
and range practice, two hours devoted
to interior economy, three hours on
night work, three hours on guard duty,
two hours on antigas training, three
hours of route marching without packs,
two hours for special lectures and ii
hours for games and education.
Every soldier must learn all about
taking care of his clothes, kit and
equipment and instruction in these de-
partments is referred to as interior
economy" Then it is necessary to
give very careful instruction in the i'm
portance of discipline as a military fac
tor, hygiene sanitation, first aid and
minor casualties, trench warfare, con-
cealment and cooperation of infantry
with artillery and aircraft.
The Importance of the educational
course must not be underestimated A
good many boys with extremely rudi-
mentary schooling are taken into these
organizations. Those who need it are
given the most elementary educational
opportunity, while the more advanced