The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-05-17
CUARDSMEN ARE
BUSY BUILDING
WAR TRENCHES
Rifles and BayonetS Discarded
for Picks and ShOyeIS,

FORT SILL, Okla. May H.-Cepe
oial)-RilcS and bayonetS were dis
cardcd for picks and shovels by the sol
derS Of the First Oklahoma infantry
Tuesday morning and the first big les
son on constructing trenches such as
are used in the European war, was
taught thoroughly and in such a mar
ner that it will remain in the minds OF
the construction crews or reliels.
Digging All Week.
RliStcred hands and aching backs
may remind the men in khaki OF their
lesson for several days and the course
OF instruction Is not yet completed by
any means The program Of digging
will last through the entire week and
certain phases of The work are expected
TO be taken mp during the several
weeks 10 follow
With an example set by Colonel Roy
Hoffman, the men of the regiment went
10 work with a will and made splendid
progress in spite OF unaccus,omed
hands and undevelopcd backs for this
kind OF cySrciSe Colonel Hoffman
was aniSng Me first to sink pick into
the sod and continued the work along
with the enlisted men through several
relleiS His example was followed by
other officers IN the command and the
development oi the trenches was fol-
lowed with the kccnc,t interest
Lectures Given
Lecture courses on trench work are
being carried cut along with the pract-
cal instruction with the picks and shoV-
els This includes theories of strategy
and tactics in building trenches showing
how they may be used in offensive as
well as defensive movements OF ;roops
and the great necessity for field ior'i-
fcatiors at all times when troops are
halted in front of the enemy, no mat
ter for how short time Even in the
most aggressive campaigns the ncccs-
sity for digging trenches is eyer pres
ent, according to the instruction given
Much realism was added 10 the work
OF the men in the trenches Tuesday
Only short distance away students
from the regular army were operating
battery OF machine guns al line oi
disappearing targets. The rapid sput
tering OF the pepper boxes antsthc
scattering dust in the path OF the hurt
q ling bullets as they spat death against
unfeeling canvass. gave clear idea OF
the ability for wholesale killing on the
modern battlefield and it was not with
out awe that the target practice was
viewed.
Models Constructed.
Obstacles and barriers against charg
ing troops such as barbed wire en-
tanglements and Sharpencd stakes III
pits behind concealmentS also are be
ing included in the work OF the schcd-
b ule. A dozen different ways OF caus-
ing charging forces TO become en-
tangled and subjected 10 deliberate de-
s,ruction by machine guns and muskct
ny are being taught The regiment is
taken out in sections to construct min
iature models OF the cntanglcmen,S and
barriers and later the men will be Civ
en- an opportunity to construct these
barriers and en,anglementS on an actual
scale with the proper materials before
the trenches which arc being construct
ed
Several different kinds Of trenches
are under construction Besides the
first line OF fire trenches there IS a sec
ondary line or intermediate line Of
trenches in which rcliefs for the men
In the fire trench are posted and IN
which quantities of ammunition and
supplies are stored to be moved for
ward at demand. Back OF this is a
third line of trenches for supporting
troops and these, as we'll as tho inter.
mediate line. arc connected with the
fire trenches by communicating
trenches.
Bomb Proofs Made.
On tho line Of fire trenches and be-
hind traverSes on the line are bomb
proofs under construction and certain
types OF cover trenches in which the
men will he protected from shrapneI
fire also will be built Listening post,
ou, in mo mans land in front OF IN,
fire trenches also are planned and wher
the work is complete il will be hard
10 distinguish from certain types o,
trenches in actual, use on the battle
fields Of Europe