Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-09
40 TEACH TROOPS
!: MODERN WARP ARE
s
Intensive Training for Units OF
s National Army Before They
: Leave United States.
.r
PERIOD OF SIXTEEN WEEKS

;. Before the members of the National
ek3uard and the National Army are sent
abroad to fight they will be subjected to
,6ixteen weeks of intensive training in
sNhodern warfare. To insure uniformity OF
training throughout the entire Army. di-
:svisfonal Commanders have been urged to
DO that the schedules. prepared by the
War Department. are followed closely.
Night Training Essential.
Great stress is laid upon the necessity
for night training. Trench raiding. scout
.tn9. trench building and operations OF all
Kinds which may be called for in actual
combat will be duplicated at the camps
through the night hours To give the
men some respite. their Wednesday and
Saturday afternoons will be kept free. ex-
cept IN the case Of backward individuals
Or units. Target practice runs through
the entire course and the schedules call
for forty hours Of training each week
= A striking feature of the program is
the fact that practically the entire six
teen weeks will be devoted to training
individuals. platoons and companies.
Brigade. divisional and even regimental
exercises are reserved for later
period with some minor exceptions dur
mG the last weeks. Since the platoon.
commanded by a lieutenant. Is the
actual fighting unit in trench battles.
the new regulations fix upon the lieu
tenants of each company the response
-0ilfty tor training Of less than COM
5pany units. SO that they may get in
close touch with their men and to set
mp an understanding of each other that
win be invaluable when they finally
so over the top"
Officers at All Drills.
: Rigid requirement is made that Off
GERS be present with their commands
at all drills. and clocklike regularity
In carrying out training schedules is
insisted upon. The whole system Is to
be co-ordinated and prepared IN adj
XAnce, so that each officer and man
yin know just the work to be done
during the day and night before him.
- New elements will be injected into
fhe training each week, so that every
sUhase Of modern trench warfare will
ne dealt with. The lecture program is
calculated to show the soldier not only
inst what he is to expect at the front,
But also what will be his duties under
oil circumstances Of war.
-Lectures with graphic illustrations
vim show all that three years of war
have brought of gas attack. Of bombing
md of bayonet work. First-aid in
1tfuction. which holds a high place for
Wounded soldiers today. must depend
largely upon themselves and their i'm
mediate neighbors. in shell-torn
trench for first treatment.
Aetn0Q OF instruction.
Tile instruction starts with that of
xhe individual soldier. changes gradually
Until the squad of eight men spend
most of their time in joint drill which
Herges into platoon operations and
finally into the school of the company.
~ the men harden to their work the
hours of vigorous physical exercises in
crease and the marching maneuvers are
attended. At regular Intervals review
curses will be given. and program of
asst courses to determine the proficiency
- each man in each phase of his work
has. been devised which win give a
ueffect line upon every soldiers ability
2,id be the stepping stone of promotion