Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-17
KEYSTONE YOUTHS
START WAR DRILL
2sth Army Division Begins
Comprehensive and Rig
orous Training
NO CAVALRY SCHEDULE
Infantry and Artillery Plans
Separate Now, but Are Ex-
pected Finally to Dovetail
By a star Correspondent

CAMP HANCOCK. Augusta, Ca. Sept. II.
Pennsylvanta's troops. comprising the
TWenty-eighth Army Division, this morning
started training for service in France under
the most comprehensive and rigorous sched-
ule ever mapped out in the military his
tory of the country In the opinion of Of
fcers In the field the schedule Is vastly
superior TO that being used az officers
training olmps, because IL not only contem-
plates physical training and military tech
nique, but also the use of the most modern
methods and weapons of war
II Is considered significant that no
training schedule has been prepared for
the cavalry regiment. This fact has con-
WINGED many officers that the cavalry unit,
under the plan of reorganization to be an
nounced this week. will he transformed
into an artillery unit and will work under
the same schedule for the three artillery
unite on the field
The most important details OF the train
ing schedule were revealed 60 correspon-
dents this morning at division headquar-
ters, The two arms of tho service, the In
fantry and the artillery, have individual
schedules, both OF which are intended to
eventually dovetail. The most interesting
feature Of the whole course undoubtedly
will be the use Of gas masks and training
under gas attacks Second in Importance
is the occupation OF trenches BY day and
night, smoke bomb practice, bayonet
charges and tho use OF hand grenades.
This Is infantry work. In tho artillery
regiments the troops also will be taught to
survive gas attacks, TO protect infantry
regiments with barrage fire and learn
camounage and to build trenches and dug
outs for protection from hostile fire.
At 1880 o'clock, this morning, when the
personnel of the division. with the excep-
tlon OF the three Philadelphia regiments
marched out upon the drill grounds for the
first days training. the men claimed tho
honor Of being the first national guardsmer
in the country to get down to actual work
for overseas service. This and repeated
rumors to the effect that the New York
National Guard would be transferred here
| from Spartanburg for training convinced
officers and men that the Pennsylvania
division would he the first TO go oter tn,
! water for participation in the war for de
| mocracy
The new program OF training started
| with a period of settng-up exercises which
| brought every muscle in the body into
play. This was followed by calisthenics
| As the course proceeds, the men will he
| instructed in wall-scaling and other tasks
! designed TO put them In fine physical
shape, and at the same time increase their
| efficiency.
For certain periods Of each day they
will attend lectures by regimental COM
| manders, and they also will be instructed
| in the rudinlents of the French language
| The physical training work will be in
charge OF Captain j. S. Woods who has
, been on duty here in the Augusta Arsenal
| He is West Point man, with record
as n football player. He was a pupil o.
| Major Koehler, the academy's instructor
IN physical training 1t is hoped tha
! Major Koehler will come here to aid il
the work. Sports, which will aid the work
| will be encouraged and. as the weather
grows cooler, football teams willsbe formed
| II is understood that buildings suitable
| for such indoor sports as basketball ana
handball will be built and that the rugb.
| and soccer styles Of football will be en-
| couraged
| First Field Artillery, whose home is il
| Pottstown. received word last night tina
| his mother was dead. He will receive tel
| days leave.