New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-22
Sibert Takes Them on In
spection Tour and More
Officers See Maneuvres
Men EnjoyC Champagne
General Staff Decided to Let
Them Have Wines Presented
by French Government

American Training Camp in France,
July 21.-Two high officials OF the
United States War Department arrived
at the camp this morning. They were
taken Immediately on an extended In
spection of the camp by Major General
Sibert.
Another large group Of American or
ficers left the camp to-day to witness
fighting demonstrations similar to those
attended by General Sibert yesterday.
So many officers expressed desire to
see the maneuvres that automobile
trucks had to be requisitioned to trans
port them.
The start was made at an early hour
and the officers expected to return 70
camp late to-day. When all the officers
here have been initiated into the latest
methods Of fighting the demonstrations
will be extended so that the troops can
see them and practise them.
Gifts of Wines Accepted
This was champagne day for the
American soldiers. After O long DIS
cnssion the American staff decided 10
allow the soldiers TO accept the cham-
pagne and red wines which the french
Government presented TO them on July
Il. Bastile Day. ,.-;..
The LIQUID delicacies were dlstriput-
II 49, tbo forenoon and proved
welcome variation from the customary
fltared water, with its slightly saity
taste, Gift wine, however, was not
tho only wine drunk by the men, VINO,
their rockets filled with tho money
from Yesterdays payday, soon exhaust
cd the normal wine supply OF the near
nv city except for champagne, wnich
was cheap and plentiful.
The greatest need of the American
soldiers appears to be reading matter
Magazines. newspapers and books are
not obtainable here. A movement IS
unIer way to interest Americans IN
PARIS in sending old magazines ana
hooks to the camp. The representa-
tiyes here of the Y. NJ. c. A. nope 70
he able TO partially make up the GEN
cheney in reading matter before long
In their spare time-whlch is not
surerabundant-th men have deVei-
oped a veritable passion for letter
writing, which has swamped the COM
pany censors. Many soldiers turn IN
a dozen letters daily, most, OF them
written. as one censor explained, 70
"everv queen the men have met on
their way here" A rule has been MADE,
therefore. that the letters must be IN
closed in a blue envelope and sent 70
Paris for censorship.
Bomb Throwing To Be Practised
The American troops here will eS-
tend the scope of their training on
Monday by beginning to practise Domo
and hand grenade throwing. The ma
iority of the officers, including even
some from the General Staff, have al
ready experimental successfully along
This line and, with the aid Of expert
French assistants, will be able to in
struct the men.
From all appearances to date the
Americans should be able to become
speedily very proficient in this mode OF
warfare. The majority of the soldiers
have PLAYED baseball more or less and
naturally throw well. AS far as the
officer as a whole have pitted their
skill against the trained and expert
trenchmen they have easily outdis-
tarced the French throwers and have
shown quite as much accuracy In hurl-
ing at marks.