Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-08-25
Thousands Of Boys Given Pre-
limlnary Drilling for Serv-
ice as Soldiers.
RESERVES Of THE FUTURE
Work Is Carefully Laid Out to Avoid
Strain, Physical or Mental
Education for Those
Needing 1t.

London.-Great Britain has some
thing like five million men in its mill
tary forces. General Robertson an
nounced that another half-million must
be provided In order to maintain re-
serves and keep the fighting units up
to full strength. When this 100000
have been provided there will be an
other demand for further augmenta-
tons later.
The memorable demands from the
trenches must be met somehow. How
they are to be met how man pcwer
is continually to be provided to- meet
the wastage of war is indicates ,Jy the
progressive organization of tie coun-
try's youth for training in anticipation
of the time when they shat arrive at
military age.
All over the country battalions of
boys, none of them beyond the age of
eighteen years and eight months, are
being Systematically trained for the
army. Schoolboys, college boys, APP
prentices-youtho Of all classes-as soon
as they are physically capable Of I'M
dertaking the work of training, are
put into the organizations for prepare
tion.
Strain Carefully Avoided.
Careful measures have been adopted
to insure that they shall not be over
trninad on1 nitbar phvSicolIy ap mon
tally injured by the strain. officers in
charge Of these organizations Of boys
have been provided with special in
structions as to the service that may
safely be demanded. A good deal of
discretion In this regard Is left to com
manding officers and drill masters but
after all the purpose is to equip the
pational youth for soldlerly service as
'apidly and efficiently as possible,
l. Much lighter requirements, however.
are imposed on the youngest class of
prospective soldiers, They are given
&raSuated instruction In various drills
for the purpose of hardening their
physiques Games, lectures and educa-
tional work are provided In addition
TO ordinary military training.
There are twelve fortnlghtly periods
In the training course for youth of this
class. In the first period of two weeks
IA hours OF work are required. of |
which II hours are given to games and |
educational work. After the first De- |
riod IL hours are set aside in each
fortnightly period for these purposes.
Such games as cricket, football and
boxing are particularly priced for their
effect on the physique Of the recruit.
participation In these Is compulsory.
At the outset every young man "a
inoculated, vaccinated and given n |
thorough dental overhaulIng This |
limits the possible activities of MANY
OF them during the first six weeks of |
their training. After these preliminary
troubles are over, the organizations
settle into regular scheme involving
"a hours work per fortnight, or six |
hours work daily, including Sunday.
How the Work Is Divided.
AT this stage of his training the re-
crtlt gets in each fortnightly period |
ten hours of general physical training.
six hours of bayonet exercises. IS hours |
OF squad drill, Is hours of musketry
and range practice, two hours devoted
to interior economy, three hours on
night work, three hours on guard duty, |
TWO hours on antigas training. three |
hours of route marching without packs,
two hours for special lectures and IA
hours for games and education.
Every soldier must learn all about |