Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-23
Train BRITISH
ROCKIES | Il: IN ART
OF TRENCHLIFE
Recruits Taught How to Throw
GrenadeS: Frequent Acct
dents in Practise

Trench warfare in real trenches TO
prepare officers and men of the Brit
ish army for the extraordinary tests
OF nerve, expert knowledge and skill
they have to undergo Oh the nattle
front in France is now part OF the
training in England. Complicated
systems of trenches have been built.
one set to represent the English
French line, the other the German,
and storming parties armed with sand
bag "bOnbs with real fuses are sent
out, first from one side, then from the
other, to try to capture the "enemys
works. So strenuous is this training,
which includes teaching how to throw
real grenades. that accidents are not
infrequent and sometimes fatalities
occur, according to the letter Of
regimental instructor officer OF the
British army, printed i'll The New
York Times
Tie letter pissed the censor, and
brings the first information Of how
trench warfare"'is conducted in Eng
land. The training is in charge OF
The Army Bombing School, and the
officer writes just after he had COM
pleted his course there.
st was absolutely CHASTITY weather
pouring with rain. showing. hailing or
freezing, but our work in the trenches
by day and at night was carried out
just the same, The writes. AT this
school one learns to throw the. differ
ent kinds of grenades, British, French
and German, and passes examinations
on their construction. Then, besides
the grenades (which make most ter
rifle noiSe) trench warfare is studied
and carried out in all the complicated
branches, such as StorminS parties,
barbados, etc Then there Is the
handling Of high explosives. carrying
out demolitions, and so on. In the
trench-fighting at night the bombs
used were small, hard sandbags,
weighing a pound and a half each,
with fuse sticking out that has to
ne lighted before the bomb is hurled
at the. opposing group or team. The
bombs catch Or a fearful bang in
the face, and any one hit is a cas-
ualty'
This night work is done with the
aid of Very Flares or star Shells Of
which the effect is very weird, light
ing up everything in the most brilliant
white light, then dying down and
leaving an absolutely inky darkness;
while the light lasts the attackers go
for each other like anything, with
bomb, hayCnets and rcvolverS. Real
bombs are used in stOrminG down
trenchG.; when the enemy is only i'm
ao - n no EhoE
had built up was literally blown to
smithereens right under me; it is a
wonder more accidents do not occur
at the school Officers are put in
of enc or more of these
parties, whom they
have to take into the trenches and to |!
lead to victory or defeat, according to !
how they or their opponents use their .
wits to the best advantage It is all
very complicated and difficult. | con-
slider. but the staff officers are look
ing down into the trenches and watch
ing all the time. and when an officer
has passed all the tests and examina-
tons they report upon him to his
Brigadier as to what sort Of a leader
and instructor he is !
The last course is the anti-gas
school. One has to pass examinations
i'll instructing the troops in all meas !,
Gres Of protection against poison gas
liquid fire, etc, besides ones
self being tested in marching, drilling
and generally living in a gas helmet.
including a killing route march in
helmets.
THE lectures are very long, necess-
tating working till the small hours
every morning., getting up and writing
notes. One has to know the thing
from the point of view of the general
light down to Tommy Atkins. actually
having to be gased with chlorine (as-
GhyXiant and Xylylbromide (blinding
achrymatory gas), so as to know the
sensation ones self. 1t is distinctly
unpleasant. This again includes a
ong written examination. besides all
he rest