Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-28

can be good and efficient fighting
machine he must acquire n great deal
Of elementary knowledge, and for that
purpose there are training schools
whore selected officers and non-com-
missioncd officers are sent. SO that they
may in due course impart their knowl-
edge to their comrades.
"One OF these centcrs Is established
at large barracks. where arc also
puartered some hundreds OF regular
soldiers. and the sight of the latter at
| drill stimulates tcrritorials and mem
bers OF the new armies TO show that
they also can acquire that splendid
smartncss of movement and carriage
that distinguishes the British soldier
the world over.
The battalion OF pupils-composed
Of officer. and non-co.ns., from ma jors
down to corporals. all working cheerily
side by side--usually falls in a little
before o'clock in the morning. The
! Diatoons are then allotted their respec-
/ tive tasks. One goes off for bayonet
! lighting and physical exercise In the
gymnasium. another studies map read
ing in tho lecture hall. The others
! indulge in squad din. musketry and
other military avoca, ions. and are quito
|
rivcs.
EACH MAN GIVEN
CHANCE TO COMMAND
I'm the afternoon perhaps company
I drill Is on the program. Conpa mics
parade at small strength. il the class
musters only few hundred. and tho
! senior officer OF each takes command
/ under the eye OF an instructor, and
! moves his company about and through
the various evolutions beloved OF the
/ Red Book After few minutes the
company is halted and the crstwhIlc
glorious commander dcscends with a
/ Jerk to the humble position OF drum
; mer OF the rear platoon. The former
l second in command takes his place and
/ i5 himself replaced by the commander
OF the first platoon. and the move goes
! on right through the company, even
the section commanders moving UP one
/ q, each change.
I'm this way every man in course Of
I time holds dozen different positions
| Any one holding a position OF COM
mand is termed, for convenience, an
officer and when the command, Of
hcers change over is given 1t is a
pretty sight OF you are not personally
concerncd) to see the rush which en-
sues to get TO the right place before
/ the company is once more called to
I rigid Attention."
Sometimes two perspiring gentle
! men may be seen standing side by side
I in front of the same platoon, which
each Is positive II is his turn to com
mand. The matter is settled in hoarse-
; IS rcproachful accents by one OF the
. instructors. who seem to have been
supplied each with double brain and
four sets OF cyes--two of the latter
being situated in the back portion
OF the head.
This. however. is nothing TO the
! Joys OF battalion drill. The comInan-
dant' Of the school and his adjutant
With lsma!D legion of instructors
from a tribunal before which a man
I OF ffty seven. with a wooden leg and
glass eye. might feel nervous; no one
envies the officer whose luck it Is to
be the hrst 10 command the battalion.
/ The only officer ! eve: knew who mixed
up his companies in the most horrible
confusion. and yet got off without CEN
sure, was major, with a stentorian
| voice. but absolutely incomprehensible
articulation.
, MAJORS COMMANDS
NOT UNDERSTOOD
/ 1T is very necessary yell, so that
/ the whole battalion may hear the COM
/ mand. and this major yelled like a
, ships siren with cold, but no one
II.
| When this was pointed out 10 him he
! said that II soldiers could not under
/ stand an ordinary soldicrly comma nd
/ they must be, etc. Even the stern COM
mandant had to smile at his explana-
I tions. The major confided to me pri-
| ratcly afterward that he always did
/ that when he was not quite sure of his
! ground.
| "Eut behind the occasional humor
/ OF life in training school lies much
| hard and valuable work. The very
/ tai branches of military knowledge.
/ and the staff-who are experts at
/ their work-take a lively interest in
! Their pupils and encourage them in
everyway to master their profession.
! Special instruction is given FOR
example in map making and reading
subject OF great Importance. as on
! this often depends In" safety and
success Of whole brigade.
Night operations are carried out
| with thouroughness which is most
! instructive: il is Il more difficult mat
/ ter to lead platoon or company to
given place in pitch darkness than
can be imagined by any one who has
not tried TO do it.
Then there are lectures on discip-
line--that word which has such
| remarkable significance in the Brit
| ish army, Discipline does not mean a
slavish obedience to orders-it i'm
plies rather 4 ready understanding of
and Keen desire to carry out promptly
and effectively Instructions given for
the common good. Live intelligence
has taken the place of blind obedi-
onCc.
The modern private soldier Is
taught to use his head as well as his
hands, and IL is that which makes him
the superior of his enemy whom IT, Is
case for individual initiative Much
has been said of German iron discip-
line in the past, hut it has merely
produced body OF highly trained
machines, capable OF excellent work
when well led and pursuing a scheme
which has been laid down beforehand,
but worse than useless in face Of UNI
forSeen difficulties"
MEETS INSTANT DEATH
In ALTO ACCInISNn