Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-06-08
PENNSYLVANIANS AT NIAGARA
CAMP PRACTICALLY PERFECT
SPE GIN EMS OF MANHOOD

/ physically perfect, and IN fact far
above the standard physique of the
other camps is shown by the state
ment of Lieutenant Colonel John w.
Heavy, chief of the instructing staff
OF the regular army here. He stated
in commenting upon the number of
men to be dismissed from camp at
the conclusion of the tests now be-
ing made that not more than fifty
men would be let out here. In some
OF the other camps the number
ranges from 500 to 1000 men, the
largest number going from Platts-
burg, where two. units are in train
ing.
Few of the fifty men are to go be-
cause of physical defects, and the
remainder because of mental inca
pacity-slow to learn. The instruct
ore are endeavoring to make officers
OF these men in three months. They
are trying to do what requires four
years at West Point. OF course 9TH
er things besides soldering are taught
at West Point, while only the funda-
mentals of the army are taught here,
and the men are getting about six
teen or seventeen hours a day of
this, and they must learn quickly.
1t requires a quick mind to grasp
things and keep up with the men of
the class. There are exceedingly few
laggards here. Apparently all are
anxious to learn, and since the men
from the National Guard arrived
those who have had no previous mil
itary training are working harder
than before, in their efforts to quail
fy when the examinations are held
IN August. Colonel Heavy declared
in conversation with the HARRIS
BURG TELEGRAPH correspondent
that he expected a higher percentage
OF men to qualify here than in any
of the camps. There will be no trou-
BILE to get the required forty-five men
from each company he said
The men in this camp are an ex-
ceptionally fine lot and l am proud
to be connected with their instruc-
tion. Their quick grasping of the
fundamentals of military training,
their willingness in drilling and their
earnest efforts at study has been q
great source of pleasure to the off,
GERS of the army connected with the
camp" declared Colonel Heavy.
From early morning until late at
night they are on the go every min
ute, and every possible thing is being
done to make their few leisure mo-
ments as pleasant as possible. They
have found that there is much to
learn about the rifle and its many
uses in war, and they have learned
and are learning this thoroughly. BY
the end of next week they will have
learned about all there is to be
known about the rifle and its COM
panion weapon, the bayonet.
During the past week they have
been taught the art of lunging and
countering with the bayonet Sacks
stuffed with straw and, in fact almost
anything, hung from the branches
of trees. and marked, in some in |
stances to resemble a human, are the |
objects of their attacks. There is no |
half-hearted attacks, either, for they
are taught to throw all their weight |
into the attacks. They are taught
how to attack with the bayonet,
counter and then club with the rife
stock. The English method of using
the bayonet will also be taught. This
may come when they begin to learn
trench warfare, which will come
later in the course, and which will :
probably be taught by returned
officers-men who have
seen active service in France They
will also teach the English method OF
using the bayonet.
Up to the present, but little march
ing has been done by the student on
GERS. They have had a few short
miles being the longest
and that without equipment Later
they will march under heavy march
ing order. and the length of the hikes
will be doubled.
Rifle practice on the ranges will
also start in couple of weeks. The