New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-26
Plattsburg Corps
"Slays" Dummies
In Bayonet Drill
Officers Trained in Mock
Combat Under Umpire's
Scoring
New Yorker Faints
Realism of Battle" Too Much
for Man Ordered to
"Kill" Manikin

fFrom a star Correspondent, Of The Tnbuncl
Plattsburg, \. Y, May 25.-This IS
the vivid picture Of actual warfare that
an observer at the officers training
camp here would have, could he have
watched bayonet practice to-day:
The American troops are charging
the enemy defence in mass formation
The bombardmont has failed to dis
lodge him, and he has weathered .hC
killing musketry fusillade and stands
fast in ranks. six deep with bayonct:
fixed, TO receive the attack. It's one
American against six foemen in a Kill
or be killed combat.
The Americans press forward at
walk with bayonets at 'ready' until
within striking distance of the first
rank of the foe Then each American
leaps forward and delivers LONG
thrust at the throat Of the foremost
adversary. lie withdraws his weapon
and grssping the rife near the muzzlc
aUAd anu NNUus ShOiA. EVhNi ~
jab into the abdomen of his second
enemy.
Two men disposed of. he rushes on
and, fitting his piece. catches enemy
No. square in the jugular with ms
upturned bayonet point and sweeps
him of his feet. Now the fourth foe
man is upon him. The American is
momentarily on the defensive. He
10 4brnaf apd rp-
coils a step. The adversary has him
TO disadvantage. No chance to use
bayonet now. He swings the heavy
through the opponents defence and
The Bayonet Lesson Complete
Now comes the fifth foe to reckon
with. There is no time to reverse the
rifle, so he repeats with lightning
swiftness the butt jab TO jaw on No. o.
The last man in the enemy line awaits.
lie has had ample time to study the
Americans style of attack and to pre-
pare to meet him. lie is fresh. while
much of the Americans strength has
been spent, but without a seconds
hesitation the American leaps over the
PROSTATE form of No. and marshal
ling every ounce of his waning strength
he lunges into the very face of the last
man and vanquishes him with a wild
slash at the throat.
This grim exercise was the days
bayonet lesson at the officers training
camp. With faces pale and features
tense the student commanders went to
it. The excitement Of actual battle
conditions was simulated to heighten
the effect. One New Yorker tainted
and several seemed on the verge of ex-
haustion by the time they had ac-
counted for their last imam" II was
a nerve tester for fair.
AT him, therel" yells the coach. "a
long thrust at the throat. Don't stop.
Look out there, man, there's number two
already on you. Jab him in the stom-
ach. Watch out, now, for the next
one; careful, take it cool but quick"
American Humor Prevails
And on the other side of the at
tacker would be a second coach, shout
ing constantly. to add realism to the
scene. But even in the sternest bust
ness the great American sense of
kumor can't be downed One New Eng
land company had its dummies lab
elled progressively. the Kaiser, the
Crown Prince. Won Hindenburg, Won
Bernstorff, Won Bethmann-Hollweg and
Won Tirpitz.
The first hike under arms preceded
the bayonet work. Each company
marched independently, covering five
miles in two hours. 1t rained most Of
the time. but that's matter of course.
Candidates H. A. Miller. of Portland.
and Thomas f. Joyce, of Waterville,
Me. of the first New England COM
pany, mixed it without arms in the
mess shack. A board of three officers
recommended discharges after hearing
the testimony Of both contenders.
The frs. written examination will be
held tomorrow morning, after which
the men will be free until Monday. The
subject will be infantry drill. Memo
rial Day will be given over to baseball,
tennis. basketball and field sports.
The 18th Company Coast Artillery
Band arrived from Fort Totten.