Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-17
|U.S. TROOPS TAUGHT
| OFFENSIVE FIGHTING
Training of Soldiers in France
Emphasized Along Lines In {
dicating War Program.
AMERICAN METHODS USED

bS tnr ASSOCIATED frtSs-
AMERICAN TRAINING CAMP IN
FRANCE. October 1.-THE more one
studies the training OF the American units
already in France and analyses the plans
for those that are yet to come. the moro
ingrained becomes the knowledge that
all the instruction contemplates the as
sumption of a vigorous offensive when tho
United States forces eventually are ready
to take their place with the French and
British armies on the western battle front.
This purpose Is being and will continue
to be emphasized in every value Of train
ing until 1t becomes a settled habit and
thought with officers and men alike. One
comes also to realize that when the Amer
lean soldiers assume the offensive there
will lie back Of them the necessary weeks
or months OF distinctly American train
ing. There is much to be learned from
the experience OF the French and much
from the British. and possibly something
from the known training policy Of Ger
the methods to be employed with the
American soldiers must remain or become
clearly our own. Different temperaments
require different rsethods. The training
the first American contingent has had
with French divisions has been invalu-
able The instructions they now are get
ting In various specialties from British
officers and men will equally leave their
| impression on the entire American army
But. as British methods differ from
the French. SO American methods must
diner in many details from both the
British and the French. The longer
war in close proximity to the firing
line. however. the more they are con-
WINGED that the general principles gov
erning martial combat remain UNI
changed in their essence.
Special Training Necessary.
This war has developed special
of training. but the fundamental ideas
enunciated in the pre-war drill regu-
lations. small arms firing. manual.
field service regulations and other serv-
ice manuals. appear more and more to
remain the guide for both officers and
soldiers and to constitute standards by
which their efficiency is to be measured.
There There have been modifications, OF
the war has ended. Methods of APP
plication constantly are changing, and
improvements of all sorts constantly
are being carried out. But the effort
for the higher training of the officer
is being directed just now toward as
surfing the younger charges more re-
Gently arrived from America that II Will
not be necessary for them to scrap"
warfare they learned in the United
States.
AS a concrete illustration of their line
OF reasoning the training officers point out
the fact that, notwithstanding all tho
bombs and grenades invented and EN-,
ployed during the three years of the Eu-
ropean war, the rife itself and its bayonet
remain the principal weapons Of the In
posed that the American infantryman
shall be trained to high degree Of skill
as a marksman, both on the target ranges
and in field firing, while at the same time
an aggressive spirit will be developed In
him until he feels himself as a bayonet
fighter invincIbie in battle.
Although troops are used in mass in this
war as never before. the American COM
manders are going to make the effort to
preserve in their men thee spirit Of Amer
lean initiative and American sen-reliance
They viii impress upon the men that each
one Of them has personal responsibility
in the war and must himself get at the foe,
II it is humanity possible for him so to do.
As the magnitude of the task before them
comes gradually nearer and nearer to be-
ing q reality. officers and soldiers alike
Of the American expeditionary force re-
alize that at no time In our history has
discipline been so important Imbued with
this spirit, the standards for the American
Army are likely to become those Of West
Po!nt--rigid attention. upright bearing
the cadet is being required Of every officer
and soldier in our armies in France.
Comfort of Men in Mind.
1t is another doctrine of the expedi.
tionary force that in striving to Sc
cure proper standards of discipline the
officers do not lose sight of their per.
sonal obligations to provide for the
comfort of their men. No proper Cd.
portunity is lost to improve their con.
ditions and surroundings and to create
a spirit of contentment and confidence
for the future. Each unit OF the new
army arriving from America will fnd
a detailed program of training already
made out for it. the general training
policy being directed from Gen. PERISH
ing's headquarters.
To coordinate all this work and In
order that general training principles
with logical amplification from time
to time may be quickly propagated, Q
far-reaching project for the American
forces has been approved and will be
put into execution as rapidly as pos.
sible. The plan contemplates q group
of army schools and centers Of in
struction for each corps. At the army
school the student personnel will be
trained for duty as instructors In corps
schools and as staff officers for division
and higher units.
Al the corps schools student officers
will be trained for duty as unit COM
which they are drawn.
The doctrine Of combat announced by
the commander-in-chiefw will be taught
IN ha nd