The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-09-28
Getting The Hun Is The Big
Thing In Handling
The Pin
THRUST is MET WITH
~. SIX-INCH MOVEMENT
Full British Course Is Given !;
Athletic Affairs Are
Being Planned
IBy Assoeiated Press TO The Bannerl

n. IBy Associated Press to The Bannerl
CAMP SHERMAN, CHIILICOTHE,
OHIO, Sept. 25-Bayonet lighting as
1t Is being taught at this military
training camp for Ohio and Western
Pennsylvania draft troops, knows lit
tie defense.
Offense, or getting the Hun" is the
one big thing in learning to handle
the pin" as instructors call the wick
ed knife or bayonet on the end of the
rifle.
The lessons have little about defend
ing ones self against attack. About
the only defense taught is to waste no
motion. Just very slight tilt of the.
gun when the enemy is coming upon
the bayonet fighter makes up the chief
mart of the protection end of this very
important asset of modern warfare.
Men here are being trained to meet
the enemy's jab or thrust with not
more than six.inch movement of the
iifle This is required because, when
the enemy is rushing to the bayonet
attack, he has but one chance-the
first lunge. If this can be knocked
OF with slight movement the assail-
ant is pinioned upon his enemy's bay
onet. 2,
.sSelective draft men will get the full
British bayonet course before they
leave Camp Sherman and it will be
80 wholly different from the old baN1
onet exercise as to compare little
With It inthe simplest 'manipulations.
The course likewise will include a GER
tain amount of wrestling, tripping. Jul
Jitsu and vast number of ways of
using the ''pin," required for various
circumstances under which attacks
are made-from above, from below,
from one side, around the corner of
trench, etc
One of the striking different"
things about bayonet fighting so far
assAmericans are concerned is that it
Will require fighting from either
foot The American army has al
ways fought with the left foot to the
fore.
Organization for athletic contests,
football in particular has been start
ship of Y. Nj. c. A. physical directors,
headed by Coach Connor, one of the
best-known outdoor sport directors in
this part of the country, and soon the
camp will be one of the greatest sport
fields the state has ever known For.
ty-three thousand physically perfect
fellows of athletic" age insure that
Major General E. T.. Glenn, camp
commandant soon will name an offic
er who will be the court of last resort
in athletic matters for the entire divi
sion stationed here. Then there will
be board of three army officers well
versed in sports who will be in gen
eral charge of all athletics. Under
these three will be one officer from
each regiment. Then under each regi
mental member will be company rep
resentatives. An officer will be des
ignated, probably lieutenant, to take
care of all athletic affairs in his com
pany. This officer in turn can picl
his leaders such as a man to handle
football, another to handle baseball
still another for boxing and so on
taking in all sports, such as tennis
hand ball, indoor baseball, basketball
quoits and other games.
Football practice already has beer
started by some Outfits" but it viii
not be on in full swing until some OF
the new recruits get over the effects
Of their vaccinations. Several organ
izations already are raising funds fol
bats and balls, footballs and the like
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