New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-16
b. S. Officers Undergo
Grim Training In France
Vigorous Exercises at Camp There Better Than
Those at West Point, Says General Pershing-
Every Phase of Trench Warfare Drilled Into Them
BY Henri Bazin

e..;ol respoRdence Of the Nelc
yort Tribune and Philadelphia
rrering Ledger. Copyright, 1917.
an rights reserred.
,vyRICAN FIELD HEADQUAR-
-rpS Oct. 2l.-The training of young
,.., officers that l witnessed in
80 camp to-day has grimmer
- and intent than can
'.,;rs ANYTHING Of the sort could as
nn =. PIattsburg, Fort Sheridan or
.,r,,'ar camp in America. There
- at the Psychological reason that
p. embryo leaders Of the Sammies
=. ~srks are receiving instruction
. The soil Of France, and that the
r..o,men. surrounding them smells
.. rssl war than would be possi-
-. 400 miles away across blue water.
rbsre is also something OF that in
Zion and quality coming from con-
:. With tho French people, those IN
- blue about them, those in
'-nss, clothes who are doing their bit
- .ts lines. For France stands
.,oor All nations that are taking
d, this var as an example IN de-
- courage and fortitude beyond
:, he school Of which l write sew
al hundred embryo officers are doing
s,,,vtbinc and learning everything
-, The enlisted man has TO perform
"a bringing it to a degree Of perfec-
- ave no can be truly listed as
.,Esr of modern warfare. There is
Thing Of the kid glove, freside' easy
49,, .iSe Of their work, and when taps
.ogDd a, night their unframed muscles
,.be snd the cot is welcome tning'
No Textbook Courses
There is nothing either Of textbook
..,.s. or Of dignihed drills. It's
,,,,,iesl hustle from morning to night
-s.r are digging trenches, learning the
-. A. machine guns and V. B. rifles
. :, live grenades, diseharging
az. shells, going through attack
,.--,,;on and jabbing imaginary
v..ss. in the eye, the throat the heart
- the stomach; taking gas tests
=, through every phase Of hard
80 that involves trench warfare.
Thsre Is an old regular army adage
-. orv sort Of man physically Mt
h rounded into a soldier, but that
10 officers are especial creatures en-
lowed from the gods. This, as many
=, ancient belief that existed in the
DAYS Of civilized in-the-open warfare
- cone by the board. In its place has
49, ,se Certainty Of knowledge that
-" - difference between the SOLDIER
IN tie ranks and the orieer eonlhlai'S-
ING hin is truly nil-that one -
FOOD As the other IN the stun tnaS
makes tre fighter. ha' - nv -,
NEW important, in order TO. properly
cor,mar9 rcn and inspire them win
confidence. what is needed Is nov nc
orv on abook larnin'" or a better qual-
nv Of elo.h in q blouse, but actual eN-
perienee ard knowledge OF the "orA
itself pa;,.
This +. General Pershings OPINION
&. well as that Of General Robert bui-
lsr, veteran infantry onieer, IN
ssSrge Of The camp Of which | write;
he Informed ne to-day, in tones OF
genuine enthusiasm, that the eommls
stoned men when leaving TINS schooI
10 undertake commands Will De pet.ef
soldie-s than they even know mem.
elves. and that they will go up agaIns'
,5e Boche with q knowledge and con-
fderee impossible were they merei!
,rs6ustes o. West Point.
This school is purely FOR inl all
officer. Who, in the main, Will bee0ne
,seord and first lieutenants when they
-vaduate.7 Z the term may De used'
Il Is an established French INSTITUTION
,ombinirg permanent barracks and 70
4 eertaio degree, modern comforts ior
he men when of duty. As It IS the IN
,sntion % Greatly enlarge i, NUMBER