Weekly journal-miner., 1917-07-11
MIMIC WARFARE FOR 'ROOK|ES"
 AT PRES|DIO
REPLICA OF TRENCHES ON WEST FRONT TO GIVE BOYS A TASTE OF WHAT ACTUAL VAR FARE WILL BE LIKE.
By Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
 SAN FRANCISCO, July ,. - De- spite the fact that the regulations mean as much to the rockies at the reserve officers training camp hero as the Koran means to the Moham- medan, there is much speculation as to how these regulations can be followed in certain emergencies. As a consequence, Lieutenant Colonel Fred W. Sladen is having more ques, tiOns to answer than a railroad intel ligence bureau.
 One rookie wanted to know # he should keep right on marching ii his shoestrings came loose. Another wanted 10 know if it was against the rules to chew tobacco on a forced march. A third wanted advice as to whether he could hang his handker. chief out to dry on musket stack.
 Other inquirers asked what they should do if their hats blew off dur ing a charge. or if the mess call came while they were tangled up in a hand-to-hand affair with the enemy,
 Wrist watches have caused all sorts of perturbation. The rockies seek advice on whether they can carry these into action. Some have even asked if they can distribute litera- ture boosting their home towns on their way to the front.
 Sladcn has advised these inquir- CTS that they will not be subject to court martial if they keep right on fighting after mess call, or do not secure flying shOestrings on forced march He is pleased to see the reg ulations being studied SO closely. and declares the emergencies will take care of themselves
 The larger question of conduct while under fire is also expressing the attention of the men. They seek all the information they can get on that topic, and nothing is being with held from them
 Toward this end the men are grad ually being introduced to trench war fare, the operation of machine guns. the throwing of hand grenades and bombing and mining operations It IS hintcd around the camp that the gas mask will soon make its appear ancc, and the men will be initiated into some of the ways of avoiding [ the horrors of the asphyxiating | fumes. If this is to come 1t will doubtless make it's appearance when [ thc actual trench fighting begins soon.
 No Mans Land" will be a fea- turc Of the camp. for two opposing ! lines of trenches are to be construct ed. with all their impcdimenta of dugouts. latcrals. and individual shcl- tcrs Here for several days actual war will have an equally grim reflec- ton There will be bomb attacks and bayonet charges. There will be every feature that goes to make up a twentieth century engagement. The men will rig the ditchcs and live in them. Above ground warfare will play second fiddle
 The rockies will dash across "No Mans Land" n efforts to force the opposing companies out of their shelters and into the open. They will fight at long range and hand to hand, and then their question will be answered as to how they should act under fire.
 This trench fighting IS expected to be the supreme effort of the camp. Most of what has gone bcfore has simply been preliminary to this final test. As near as possible the prcSidio will be made to mirror the west front and the engagements will have every appearance of a detached melee be- tween the forces of the allies and the Germans The trenches will he an exact replica of those on the west front. and the methods employed in attack and defense will be identical.