South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-12
SCHOOL Of ARMS
A FIRING CIRCUS
Various Sections of Activity
of 84th Division Keeps One
Busy to See 1t All.
News-Times speciaI - !.

LOUISVILLE, KY, Nov. 12.-Spend-
ing a couple hours at the infantry
school OF arms OF the saith division
here is very much like attending a
seven-ring circus There are that
many sections 10 the school, each
having its own interesting features.
and ore must keep his neck con-
stantly craned 10 see what is going
on.
a fine collection OF gTenades is
now on hand, in the grenade de
partment including types in use by
the English. French and German
armies. There is nothing of beauty
about these death dealing devices.
but they are a source of interest. \
necessary evil Of modern warfare,
they might be termed, for they are
exceedingly touchy articles 10
handle. They are Of different sizes,
weights and shapes and each has
it's own merits and particular uses,
all of which are being explained to
the students of the school by the in
structors of the national army and
French officers assisting.
Grenade Work Hazardous.
Grenade work is very hazardous.
OF course. in the beginning students
are using dummies. but later, after
training and practice in throwing
and timing. the real live ones will
be handled. Some of the baseball
pitchers in the school were doomed
TO disappointment when grenade
throwing was taken up. Some Of
these young athletes are able TO
split the plate" with a baseball
with great regularity and expected
TO shine as marksmen. In this they
were altogether wrong. In fact the
instructors have more trouble teach
ing them than the others. First they
must be broken OF the manner in
which they have been accustomed
and taught 10 toss the grenade ac-
cording 10 proper form. The cause
Of this is that when a man throws
a grenade the way he throws a base
ball he usually wears out his arm
too rapidly Endurance is what is
wanted and 10 obtain il the man
must learn TO use his body as much
plosive.
The mechanical workings OF the
variety Of grenades are explained 70
the students at lectures. The charges
have been removed, but at one
recent lesson the students were given
scare. Although the charge had
been removed, a fuse remained and
as the instructor held it and set the
spring. it began sputtering. The stu
dents, all rockies, scrambled for
safety.
MishapS Not Unusual.
1t is timely To state here that un-
fortunate mishaps are likely TO oc-
cur despite the greatest care in
handling the grenades. Every pre-
caution will be taken TO reduce such
accidents TO the minimum, but q
premature explosion is possible. For
instance. if an employe at a factory
fails 10 adjust with minute correct
ness the mechanical parts OF a
bomb the grenade may discharge
instantaneously when il is set or be-
fore the man has a chance TO throw
it.
Students at the school Of arms are
TO have the experience of going
through trenches similar 10 those
which have undergone artillery fire.
Special trenches are 10 be dug in
which French officers will set off
charges of dynamite to form shell
holdes. The manner of fighting in
shell holes differs from that in
trenches which are intact.
Physical Culture Splendid.
The physical culture department
furnishes splendid amusement for a
sport lover. Here the system OF
training observed is TO develop the
mental faculties as well as the
muscles The idea is 10 reduce the
sense Of fear and increase a mans
/ confidence. He who hesitates is lost
in this section. Every man is taught
to rush into a hand-tO-hand conflict
and never waver- Certain exercises
are taken to quicken and strengthen
mans actions. Several games have
been originated 10 prepare the stu
dents for rough and tumble encoun-
tiers. In one Of these a man is used
for human ball and one side tries
10 push him over a goal while the
other seeks 10 keep him away.
In another game opposing forces
/ endeavor TO put each other out Of
a ring. One side has colored bands
on their sleeves. for the purpose OF
distinguishing them from their op-
ponents. If a player is forced from
/ the ring he is out OF the contest
although the person ejecting him
may return 10 the struggle. There
| is no regulation against a squad
I "ganging'' one man. The only rule
OF the game Is that the side having
A representative remaining within
the circle wins The players may re-
sort 10 almost any tactics--pushing
wrestling pulling. tackling OF
throwing
Boxing and Wrestling.
( Still another rough and tumble
affair is for two men 10 wrestle
while riding on the back and
shou: ders OF two other students
! Scientific boxing and wrestling is
taught. Jack Dunn OF New York
] city. a noted boxing teacher, will
arrive soon 10 become boxing in
structor. He is a civilian. Sergt
Dave Buttermore Of Fort Wayne
/ IA "a member Of the 18th nroyi-