Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-04
CAMP LEE PREPARES
FOR TRENCH ACTIVITY
Wen to "nig In" for Winter and Re
Taught Art OF Grenade
Throwing.
TRAIN ON BATTLE GROUND
In Mimic Warfare Rockies Go Over
Fields of Confederacy's Struggle.
Rihe Range Nearing Completion.
Practice Soon.
by a STAN correspondent.l


CAMP LEE. VA. November 3
Trench life and kindred war expert
ences viii not be new 10 the men of
the Eightieth Division when they get
on the other side. They will get it all
| mere. as far as 1t is possible and the
plan OF instruction already manned out
includes extensive operations with op-
posing forces and imaginary foes.
over the territory adjacent to the
camp proper. where fifty years ago
troops ciashed in real combat. armies
VIII again become engaged. and the
wooded areas surrounding the canton
ment will be filled with forces OF men
executing strategic movements
The training OF the men here has
advanced TO such an extent that they
will soon be digging themselves in for
trench warfare. and will be put to
other dutie5 that will bring them close
to actual conditions as they will be
found overseas. The men will take
their turns living in the trenches:
there will be instruction in the use or
the gas mask and in grenade throw
ing. and the troops will ''go over the
top and make bayonet assaults on
the trenches across "no mans land"
All this would indicate that the men
VIII rot leave the camp for France
between December 15 and January !.
as ii has been reported. The course
Of instruction will extend over a period
some time beyond that. 1t was pointed
out to-day that 1t will be useless to
send the men TO France now. when
they. can get the same training here
, that can be received there In addi-
tion. the question of getting supplies
In the way OF clothing and equipment
to the men is one that would cause
difficulty and require ships that can
best be used At this. time in getting
war supplies to the allies.
RIFLE RANGE NEARLY READY;
PRACTICE WILL BEGIN SOON
Rife practice for the men of the
camp Will begin about November 10
Already the range for this work is
nearing completion. and the Enfield
rifles which will be used by the men
in France, are arriving. There will
not be rifle for each man in the
division. but the shipments that are
| heirg received will furnish ample for
training purposes.
The rifle range lies just to the north
of the camp and extends all the way
TO the Appomattox River. 1t will he
three-quarters of mile in width. and
Will be equipped with 240 targets
provisions will be made for practice at
distances from $50 yards to 1000 yards
There VIII also be targets for revolver
! firing. Work on the range has been
in progress for several weeks. and IL
is believed that by November Is at
least the troops of Camp Lee will get
started on this important phase of
their instruction here.
Beginning next week. Captain Rob-
ert NJ. Dashicll, of Richmond, COM
manding officer Of Company K, of the
Three Hundred and Eighteenth Regi-
ment, will give his men instruction in
grenade throwing. There are no gre
nades available for the men, but Can
tain Dashiell will Nave them nodded
from cement pieces of the same size,
weight and shape. and these will be
used in perfecting the art of placing
the deadly missiles.
Grenades are not thrown like base
balls. In placing them the arm is
swung from the back, forward over
the head, without bending. and after
little practice, 1t is said that the men
can throw the grenades any distance
with great accuracy. At first Captain
Dashiell will give his men the instruc-
tion in the open field. but latcr they
will throw them from trenches which
arc being prepared.
OFFICERS GET TWO HOURS
WAR SCHOOLING EACH DAY
III preparation for the advanced
training in warfare that the men will
| receive. officers Of every unit In the
cantonment daily attends the schools
Of warfare which have been started.
at least two hours Of each officers day
Is taken UP in attending the schools,
where instruction is given by officers
who have been especially trained
and the French officers and men who
have been assigned to the camp. These
Continued on Thirteenth Page.)
TRUCKS D-E WORM DRIVE. Immediate
deliveries. All sizes. Continental motors
Kline lSar Sales Co., Inc. 322 w. Broad st.
ADV.