New-York tribune., 1917-10-06
16.Week Course
Before Sailing Is
Planned for Army
Training in Trench Raiding
and Scouting at Night
Feature of Programme

WASHINGTON Oct s. Training
work mapped out by tho War Depart
ment for National Guard and National
Army divisions. before they will be re-
Oarded as ready for duty abroad, is
based on q sixteen-week course OF the
most intensive kind Of work In me
open, varied with lectures by American
and Allied officers who are experts IN
modern warfare. To insure uniformity
Of training throughout the entire army
divisional commanders have been urged
to see that the schedules, announced
to-day. are followed closely.
Great stress is laid upon the neces-
sta for night training. Trench raiding'
scouting, trench building and operations
OF all kinds which may be called lot IN
actual combat will be duplicated a. tne
camps through the night hours. 10
give the men some respite their "ednes-
day and Saturday afternoons WI De
kent free. except in the case OF oacH-
ward individuals or units. Target prac
tice runs through the entire course. ana
the schedules call for forty hours
training each week.
Features of Programme
A striking feature Of the prog:ame IS
the fact that practically the entire siA-
teen week. will be devoted 10 training
individuals, platoons and companies
Brigade. divisional and even regime p tal
exercises are reserved for liter
pcriod. with some minor eNceptlons'
during the last weeks.
since tho platoon, commanded oy
lieutenant. is the actual fighting unit
. n trench battles, the new regulations
fv unon The lieutenants of each com.
many the responsibility for training or
ioss than company units, 80 that they
NAV get in close touch with their men
and 70 sc, up an understanding OF escn
ether that will be invaluable "neh 'ney
finally "go. over the top
RIGID requirement is made that OF
6cors he present with their commands
at all drills. and clocklike regularity IN
carving out training schedules IS IN
sisted uuon. The whole system IS 70
be coordinated and prepared IN az,
vance so that each officer and man VIII
know lust the work 70 be done during
the day and night before HIM.
What the Lectures Will Teach
New elements will be injected into
the training each week so tnat e'erS
phase Of modern trench warfare VIII
be dealt with. The lecture programme
Is calculated 20 show the soldier not
only lust what he is 20 expect at tne
front' hut also what will be his duties
under all circum stances OF war. Lect-
ures with graphic illustrations VIII
show all that three years OF war nave
brought Of gas attacks, bombing ana o.
bayonet work. First aid instruction
holds high place, for wounded SOL
Giers today must depend largely upc"
themselves and their immediate nelgn
bors in shell torn trench Tor hrst
treatment.
The instruction starts ~lth that OF
individual soldiers. changes gradually
urtil tho squad o. eight men spend
most Of their time in joint drill, when
merces into platoon operations ana
finally into the school or the company.
As The men harden 20 their work, the
hours Of vigorous physical exercises
increase and the marching manoeuyre'
ere extended. A. regular intervals re
view courses will be given and a Pro
gramme Of test courses 20 determine
Tie proficiency of each man IN each
rhase Of his work has been devised,
which will give a perfect line upon
every soldiers ability and be the step
ming stone 20 promotion.