The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-06-21
Course Of Training 10 Really an "Ins
tensive Course" to Fit Men IN Short.
III est Possible Time to Take Com.
mand Of Transports.

q week ago. The course is exactly
the same for French and Americans,
but the Americans are kept in spe.
cial class for. the sake Of those that
need English-speaking instructors.
At $50 in the morning everyone Is
up and must be dressed, have made
his bed and had breakfast in time to
answer his name at roll call at 6:25.
AS regards breakfast, the American
stomach found that it could not do a
mornings hard work on the regulation
French breakfast Of coffee and bread,
so eggs and bacon have been added.
From $50 to 80 theory is studied,
and from 1870 to $50 lectures on au-
tomobile technique are given, followed
by practical work in the workshop,
.such rs soldering metals, tempering
steel and all sorts Of forge work.
F. Busy Session In Afternoon.
Luncheon Mt eleven is taken in the
mess shed, and is, like dinner later, an
excellent example of that proficiency
In cuisine for which France Is unrl-
vailed. At first the IS Americans sat
together, but on the second day their
French comrades gave dinner in
their honor, and after that the Ameri-
cans (who still wear their field section
uniforms) divided up among the other
tables.
From IL AS to 5 80 p. m. on three
afternoons a week, work is done on the
bodies of camions military trucks) !;
they are dissected and put together
! ngain, etc. On the other three after
Moons the convoi (train) Of camions,
generally eight, are taken out as If
they were on actual service. Each man
In turn is named head of the section
land is in general charge for the day..
Orders are given him to take a hypo.
thetical load of munitions to some
point some miles away, and he has to
conduct his train by the map, set the
pace, keep them together, and show
them how to overcome difficulties that
arise. These difficulties are; at present
chiefly imaginary, but hypothetical
cases Of broken axles, Of towing cars,
etc, are treated.
The lieutenant attached to the Amer
lean group, Lieutenant dc Kersauson,
whose long residence in California has
;'iven him perfect mastery of the
American language, accompanies the
train, but gives no advice, only OBJ
serves. If the officer of the day mis-
takes his route, he has to find out his
error and rectlfy it himself. After
the return at 5 AS, the lieutenant gives
half-hour criticism Of the convoi's
work and points out mistakes made
and how to avoid them.
Evening Spent In Study.
Dinner is Mt $50, and more study
follows till 10 p. H., when all lights
are put out. Such q program, with
plenty of manual work in the open air,
provides enough exercise, but regular
army drill is put in three times a
week under two veteran quartermas-
ters, who see that the hour allotted is
well employed.
Sunday is a day Of rest, or would
be- only that many-in fact, all-tind
it necessary to catch up the weeks
work, read up notes, make or finish
diagrams and such things, which they
have had only the time to 40 hur'
riedly during the week.
The course is really an Intensive
course" somewhat forced, as it Is
hoped that after three weeks study
the Americans will be prepared for ex'
aminations which will allow them tr
be made subGeutenants in the trans
port service and be put in charge OF a
section of 50 men. Five weeks Is the
time allowed their French comrades
for the same work..
7 Everyone knows what automobile
TRANSPORTATION means in modern war
fare. and it's importance has been plain
to the least military mind ever since
It saved Verdun. A section of so Amer.
leans is already at work at the front
conducting cmiOns moving ammunl'
ton from railhead to the ammunition
stations, and the new school at Meaux
will provide Americans to officer these
sections and the new ones that Will
follow if Pratt Andrew, inspector gen.
eral of the "American field service In
France" is justified in his hope of see
ing a hundred men arrive each week
from the States for this service.
American Flag on the Gate.
The officers in charge Of the auto
mobile instruction center at MeauS
(thcre are other schools for drivers
mechanics, etc.), from Colonel Borsch
mex down, are all keenly interested ir
1.-THE coming of the Americans, and tn
lcolonel spoke highly of the. serious We
they had settled down to work. The
gate into the camp Of 1e barrack
sheds has an American flag on ono
post and French one on the other.
When the New York Suns CORE
spondent visited the school recently,
the convoy was sent to the village Of
Crecy, where all the trucks were to-