South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-04

for instruction OF students in rife
and pistol was essential. There was
no appropriation for IT, But Col.
Wise did not want an appropriation.
What he required was a rifle range.
He told Capt. A. J Perry OF the
333rd infantry, who is instructor Of
the rifle and pistol section, this and
he delivered the goods
Col. Wise is we'll pleased with the
range. He likes and wants results
and that is exactly what he is get
ting. He absolutely refuses to ac-
cept anything else.
Near the school headquarters was
a large stack OF scrap lumber, piece.
Of planks and timbers Of different
sizes which the contractors, who
built the cantOnment, found unable
10 use. A part Of this stack OF lum-
Der Will be the backstop OF the bull
lets. The rest Of it has been used to
erect Shelter houses and firing pits
so that the students may continue
their training regardless of weather
! conditions. This same scrap lumber
] pile provided the materials from
the target handlers and scorers were
made.
Here the students will be taught
the proper aiming and shooting Of
rifles and pistols. The firing station
contains adjustable apparatus for
sighting, arrangements for rapid
/ firing and sandbag rests
! Dummy gTenades are a necessary
part Of the school equipment. There
were none on hand. An officer was
directed to get them. AS in other in
stances. no appropriation covered
this item Col. Wise ordered tina
they be obtained at a cost not To-
I exceed five cents each. They have
been delivered and when Uncle Sam
pays the bill he will learn that each
grenade cost about II cents.
/ Gets French Site.
A site appropriate for trenches
was found on a knoll 1000 yards off
the Poplar Level road. Col. Wise did
not know whether it was within the
reservation. There was no time 10
stop and ask questions. He ordered
the trenches outlined and dug there
40 complaint has been made It
does not really matter a great deal,
anyway. 1t was a government neces-
sity.
Students set 10 the task Of re-
moving 900 cubic yards of earth.
and the trenches are ready for the
opening OF the school They are TO
have sandbags and Will be re-enfOrc-
ed with wooden walls and floors.
Discarded timbevs in one OF the
many heaps OF lumber again Will
furnish material for walls and
floors
There is no need Of going too
deeply into the details Of the trench
es. The laymen might not under
stand the technical points and the
censor might object II suffices 10
say that a miniature battlefield of
one Of the theaters of war in Eu-
rope is being reproduced and that
the students will go over the top"
oharge mo mans land" encounter
antanglements, hurdle fences, stab
dummies with bayOnets, pass
through four lines of boyaux Gig
Tag trerches) and finally reach the
reserve trench. provided he has not
become too exhausted from the
strenuous effort.
One thing is certain. He will tes-
tify that he has done the hardest
DAYS work in his life and Will be
ready TO drop into the arms OF
Morpheus as soon as he reaches his
bunk.
Specialize i'm Athletics.
In the physical culture section of
the school. the student not only will
receive a course in calisthenics, hut
Will be required to specialize in one
branch Of athletics. He also will
box. wrestle and get into rough and
tumble fights TO prepare himself for
the hand-to-hand encounters with
the enemy Sometimes he and his
rival will he entirely unarmed. At
other times the one he attacks will
he armed and ne will not.
Col. Wise was anxious that only
those physically fit should take this
training. He met with a situation
that threatened a delay The divi-
sion medical officers were tied up
with other work. Col. Wise made in
uuiries among the personnel of his
staff and found four physicians. He
assigned them to examining candi-
dates for the physical culture course.
The instructions will be so
thorough in the department OF ma
chine guns that the student will be
able TO take apart and assemble a
machine gun while blindfolded. He
will know the name Of each Of the
many pieces and VIII place each
where il belongs Ii is probable that
in the future. somewhere in Eu-
rope it will be advantageous for him
20 take apart or assemble machine.
gun in the dead Of night
Builds Gas Chamber.
Col. Wise noticed a smokehouse
of stone in the rear Of the school
headquarters He readily recognized
that il would make good gas
chamber. Every member Of the d.
vision will go into this old build
ING. Then when the men see "A cloud
of gas rising before them on the bat
tlefield they will not be terrorized.
He will just say 10 himself: That is
not going 10 kill me; I have expert
erced il before" He will adjust his
Gas mask and helmet and so