The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-27
British Drill Master Compile
ments Athletic Sammies.
eve Can't Give EN- Too Much
They Eat 1t Up"
EMPHASIZE BAYONET DRILL
"Sir, low We Made EN- 'Ustle!
See 'Ow We Do it,"
Over the Top and Plunge Bay
Onets Thru Dummy BOches.

American Training Camp in France,
Sept 27.-The Paris correspondent of
Reuters, Ltd, writes the following ac-
count of his recent visit to the train
ing camp of the American expedi-
tionary force:
II asked an English drill sergeant
who had just given a bunch of six
teen American subalterns a breathing
spell after some particularly strenu-
Gus exercises what he thought of his
charges.
What do I think Of these ere
young gentlemen, sir? Why, sir
we've just had 'em in six days and
look at 'em. They're training on
beautiful.
% The best thing about 'em sir he
went on with professional pride, is
that they're keen as mustard. We
can't give 'em too mucL--they eat it
up. At it eight hours day and ask
for more and you could see for your
just letting 'em see, 'ow we do it in
our little army
II went on a visit to one of several
camps somewhere in France where
the American army is in training. Aft
err luncheon with the division COM
mander, a simple but ample meal
with a water washdown as l am told
it is in every mess-he invited me to
come with him to see how your Eng
fish sergeant-major takes my aide over
there and the rest of the school of
officers and makes them run around
Has Baseball Skinned.
" Yes said an alert young officer,
come and see me sweat. The drill we
get has baseball skinned at the post
as an exercise but. it is great stuff
I'VE stood later on hillside while
the general pointed out where there
hpan constructed a
short lines of trenches ending at a
rise some hundred yards away.
" These points you see in the sun
on the opposite slope he said, are tin
cans on sticks. You will know their
use in a minute or So
" Ready, gentlemen said the drill
sergeant Prepare for trench bayo-
net practice by half sections. You're
to take these three lines of trenches,
and go to cover and fire six rounds at
them ERE tin ats. Don't waste
shot, gentlemen, every bullet a Boche.
Now then, ready-over the top and
give 'em ell right in the stomach.
FRITZ likes his victuals but not that
sort Get at EN-
over the top they went with what
must have been some wild college
yell. They ran some ten yards and
dug their bayonets savagely into dunn
my Germans made of sacks who
swung in the wind to meet them and
disappeared in the first trench.
I'VE could see the rifle butts lift
and fall as they lunged desperately at
the supposed foe. Then up they came
and on again until we could see them
spread eagle beside a shallow trench
blazing away at the cans which rat
tied down. Then as they marched
back the second section got ready to
begin its stunt
Cleaning Up a Trench.
Afterwards we watched what was
an extremely interesting bit of train
ing. A section of communicating
trench had been prepared with side
pockets, so to speak, at intervals of
five yards or so in each of these was
supposed to be one or more Germans,
represented by sack. The object les
son was to teach the young officers,
so that they might afterwards teach
their men, the best manner in which
to take the occupants of such trench
by surprise with bayonet in hand and
to clean it up.
Now, remember, gentlemen" said
the drill sci geant there's a Fritz in
each of these ere cubby holes and
'e's no dub, is Fritz. Els got ears
all down his back. We taught EN-
that trick. so see that your feet are
sneeze or his nibs will sling you a
bomb like winkin' and there'll be a
nasty mess.
Ready. number one, cad down,
bayonet up. It's no use sticking out
your neck to try to get a sight of
Fritz in his ole. Why if old Fritz
was there. ed just down your point,
and where'd you be? Why a blinkin'
casualty, and don't you forget it,
Ready again, bayonet up. Now you
see 'em, quick. down with the point
and at 'em. Tickle is gizzard Not
so bad, but l bet you wakened is
nibs in the next 'ole. You see, when
you pulled your bayonet out of his
little Mary, you it the butt of your
gun against the opposite side of the
trench. That's fatal. Keep in your
mind you're fighting for your life.
Clean and quiet KILN is the word"
From n Fighting Stock.
1t was good to see the earnest way
in which these young Americans got
down to their work. They are all
right, these lads, and when they get
their chance they will show it.
Good progress for a week, sir, amt
it?" asked the sergeant with pride
before he left. They've come from
fighting stock, these young men, and
God help the Boches when they get
goin'."