The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-27
VIVID PICTURE OF TRAINING AC.
TIVITIES OF YOUNG OFFICERS
IN FRANCE is GIVEN.
MAKE EXPERT KILLERS
English Drill Sergeant in Command Of
Unit of American Subalterns in
Trench Attack Gives Quaint and Live.
~ Opinions of His Charges.

American Training Camp in France
Sept 27.-The Paris correspondent of
Reuters Limited writes the following
account Of his recent visit with the
American training camp:
! asked an English drill sergeant,
who had just given a bunch Of sixteen
American subalterns a breathing spell
latter some particularly strenuous ex.
ercise, what he thought Of his charges
What do think Of these ere young
gentlemen, sir? wy, sir, we've just
had 'em three days and look at them,
they're training beautiful.
The best thing about EN-" he went
on, with professional pride lis that
they're as keen as mustard. We can't
give 'em too much. They eat it up.
At it eight hours a day and ask FOR
more
was on visit 20 one Of several
camps somewhere in France where the
American army is in training After
lunch with the division commander. "a
simple but ample meal with a water
washdown. as ! am told II is in every
mess, be invited me to come with him
80 see how your English sergeants ma.
ior takes my aide over there and the
rest of the school Of officers and make
them run around"
We stood later on hillside while
the general pointed out where there had
been constructed i'm a dip three short
lines Of trenches ending at rise some
hundred yards away.
Those points you see in the sun IN
the opposite slope" he said. "are tin
cans on sticks. You win know their
use in a minute or So"
Ready, gentlemen" said the drill ser.
geant Prepare for trench bayonet
practice by half sections. You're 10 take
these three lines OF trenches. go %
cover and fire six rounds az the tin
ats Don't waste shot gentlemen
every bullet a Fritz Now then. ready
over the top and give 'em ell right in
the stomach Fritz likes his victuals.
| but not that sort Get at EN-
Over the Top They Went.
over the top they went with what
/ must nave Nff.N N.'llAf VIII NNANfkf ANIIa
They ran some ten yards and dug their
bayonets savagelv into dummy Germans
made OF sacks who swung On the wind
To meet them. and disappeared I'm the
first trench.
We could see the rifle but this lift
and fall as they lunged desperately a.
the supposed foe Then up they came
and ON again until we could see them
spread eagle beside shallow french.
blazing away al the cans which rlttled
Gown Then as they marched back.
the second section got ready to begin its
stunt
Afterwards we watched what was an
extremely interesting bit OF training.
! a section OF communicating trench
had been prepared with side pockets.
so TO speak, at intervals Of five yards
or so. In each of these was supposed 90
Doe one or more Germans. represented bv
@ sack The object lesson was to teach
the young officers, so that they might
afterwards teach their men. the best
manner iu which 90 take the occupants
Of such "a trench 10y surprise with bay3.
net in hand and 10 clean Il up.
Fritz ia Each Hole.
Nov. remember. gentlemen" ssid
the drill master there's Fritz in
each of these ere cuhby holes and 'e's
100 dub Is Fritz Yes 'e's got ears AN
down Is back. We taught 'em that
trick so that their feet are pneumatics
And tor 'eaveu's sake don't sneeze. or
his nihs will slip YOU bomb like wink.
I'M, and therein bo nasty mess
Ready. number !, cad down. bayouet
! mp. It's mo- use sticking out your neck
90 try % get "a sight OF Fritz In his hole
Why u old Fritz was there. ed ust
Gown your point, and where'd YOU be?
Why a blinkin' casualty, and YOU for
get H.
Ready again. Bayonet up Now. YOU
see 'em Quick down with the point
and az 'em. Tackle Is gizzgTd Not
SO had, but ! bet YOU wakened rs nibs
| In the next ole. You see. when YOU
pulled your bayonet out Of his little
Mary, YOU 10 the butt Of your gun
against the opposite side of the trench.
That's fatal Keep in your mind. you're
fighting for your life Clean and quiet
! killin' Is the word
Serious and Modest.
The last supreme Impress which the
visit made upon me was that OF the
immense seriousness and modesty Of
officers and men In the face of their
task. We heard In France, as YOU doubt.
less have heard In England. that the
Americans had come over boasting that
they had come 20 finish a job too biz
Tor MS. ! have still TO come across such
an American. I am convinced that the
tales are a myth.
These men had left their homes. their
business and their amusement TO come
three thousand miles for-what forY
some silly schoolboy idea OF bravado
and bounce? They are not fools. and
the Boches win know Il when they got
to work When all the weary hgh,lng
Is over and done with. II will be that the
two great Anglo.Saxon races viii he.
come sword and blood brothers for all
| TINA