Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-21
Receiving Training i
Trench Warfare and
Growing Proficient.
MAKE ATTACKS AND
4 COUNTER ATTACKS
Officers and Men Becoming Acquainted
With "operation Orders to Enable
Them 70 Work as Part Of Great War
> Machine Whose Work 10 Cut Out For
II in Advance-eood Progress Being
Made-Marines Participating.
lBy the Associated Press.1

American Training Camp in France
Aug. 21-Tralning in some of the Amer
lean battalions has progressed to such
la point that sham battles OH the tzc2ch
|systems are being carried out with q
degree akin to actual warfare. Thus fa1
artillery fire has been only theoretical
but before long the troops expect to
have the experience Of watching the ef-
feet Of real artillery upon the trenches
The marines are having some espe-
|cially lively engagements this week
with their French instructors. French
chasseurs acting as the enemy have
been making attacks on the marine
trench systems. with Dewey, Farragut,
Porter and Sampson trenches as the
battle detectives. The French also have
been attempting to block and hold COM
municationy trenches known as Ohio,
Mississippi, Delaware and Potomac. It
will be seen that the marines trench
nomenclature is based upon naval he
roes and rivers Of the United States.
The marines have been making
stout resistance and wherever the
enemy" penetrated their lines they
organized counter attack which
quickly elected the intruders. 4. ~: !
Getting Acquaintsd with Orders.
The object of these attacks fsy to get
the officers and men acquainted with
what are known at the front as opera
ton orders. 1t is the first step toward
learning the rudiments. of highly or
ganized part Of modern warfare where
every step and every detail is worked
out In advance by a pre-arrnged plan
and must be strictly adhered to.
One great difference from real war
fare, however, is the fact that in battles
with the marines the enemy" has ac-
commodatingly allowed a copy Of his
operation orders to fall into the hands
Of the defending garrison This will
be changed later and the American
trench garrison will be called upon to
resist surprise attacks in force
Another valuable feature in sham
battle exercise is teaching Americans
the great Importance Of what is known
as liason work-the maintenance Of
communication with supporting artil-
lery, with thanking forces, with aero
planes and with information centers.
Attacks are accompanied by a rocket
display, as IS. O. s." signals are sent
up for depending the curtain fire of the
artillery The evacuation Of wounded
under theoretical shell fire is another
feature of sham battles which is receiy-
ing attention.
Americans Please Chiefs.
General Pershing thinks his soldiers
are progressing satisfactorily in their
battle training. He said SO today after
a surprise inspection visit Of yester-
day.
II am entirely satisfied with what
have seen," the American command
er asserted. "One thing that i'm
pressed me forcibly was the spirit Of
the officers and men,
BugIes Sound Approach.
The first notice the American troops
had Of their commanders visit was
an excited burst Of bugle calls about
dawn. The men tumbled hurriedly from
their hunks and lined up at assembly.
Then the word few over the camp that
General Pershing and General Petain
had quietly slipped into the adjacent
town during the night.
The United States troops stood at
attention while dust cloud grew
bigger and bigger on the snake like
road, heralding the visitors approach
In automobiles. Then came the for
NAL reception at camp Headquarters
and the inspection. The two generals
passed between long rows Of the
American troops. General f'etain being
particularly interested in the sharp
shooter and marksmarship medals
won by numerous American fighters.
He stopped to examine them and to
talk to thaemen thus decorated.
Petain in Vivid 0arh.
General Petain and his sta1 wore
the French horizon blue uniform, cen
trasting viyidiv with the dull colored
20. d." Of the troops they were in
specting. French vi,lagera, clotfed IN
their Sunday best" watched the
whole proceeding with awed interest.
At one point In the inspection tour
a little red-haired girl from the VIII,
lage came to the official party and
General Petain with q bou-
cuet, The French commander stop
ped and kissed the child on both
cheeks. General Pershing hesitated,
then did likewise.
The American fighters were pleased
with their own showing at the In,
spection. It Afforded them an oppor-.
tunity to demonstrate thPt theY had
s3gss & # &;