The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
VARIOUS CLASSES AT CAMP WHEELER ARE BEING GRADUATED
Splendid Exhibition Given by Men of Dixie Division
 in Bayonet Drill

camp Wheeler, Macon Ga-, March 20. pecfal)-Instead of being graduated rem some high school or college the youths of Georgia, Florida and Ala nama are interested this year in the graduation exercises of some Dixie di- vision machine gun class. snipers' at Camp Wheeler.
 Such class has Just held it's gradu ating exercises on the division bayonet held. Special invitations in the form Of a request from division headquarters was sent each officer of the two infan- try brigades for their attendance. There had to be no entreating, for the off cers. were anxious enough to watch the men drive back the imaginary Hun Only too soon to suit many, the fel- lows would be holding back real live Huns while the same officers would be giving the same snappy commands.
 A long line of Dutchmen were sus- pended in front of the former boys of Georgia, Florida and Alabama Bayo- net in hand and teeth gritted, they ad- vanced on the imaginary Hindenburg line to jab in the fatal spot. Each man during his graduating exercises was as- signed a dummy opponent and if he didn't kill his man, bawling out was in store for him.
 THRILLS GROW LESS '
 When the soldier in the combat goes up against the dummy Dutchman he is to thrust to a given spot so that when the bayonet enters he may accustom himself to the thrills and abhorrent emotions attendant to the normal man. lvThe mon have been trained in this practice at great length so that they will be accustomed to such experiences. It is the purpose of the British and French instructors . to have them so hardened to the sensation that to think of the situation would be no more than drinking a "dope'
 The graduation class has been put through stiff drills and given all the tricks of offense and defense. Hours and hours have been spent in perfect ing them in the many lunges and reaches, in feints and guarding.
 MUST WORK REALISTICALLY
 They have also been taught to do their work artistically They have been taught to give their adversary only thrust that will kill him, no more and no less. If they give him too much of a jab the bayonet is liable to be stuck in his body and they will have a hard time extricating it. In that event, some of the instructors say, the only thing to be done is for them to discharge the rifle and blow sufficient space away to release the bayonet
 But before resorting to the trigger, if their victim is lying on the ground the men must put their foot on his chest and then make an attempt to extricate their bayonet. If that fails, their only alternative is to discharge the rifle.
 The graduates of the first division bayonet combat class are to become in- structors in their units, while other cla sses will follow, each with more ex- perience and better than the one be- fore.
 GAS INSTRUCTORS
 The following Alabama officers have graduated as anti-gas instructors:
 First-class instructors: Second Lieut. H. E. Pickett, 117th field artillery; Sec ond Lieut.. T. H. Hart, 106th ammunition train; First Lieut.. w. H. Williams, l06th signal battalion; First Lieut. G. R. Kabe, 1O6th ammunition train; First Lieut.. ODonald, 11efh field artillery; Second Lieut.. w. w. Nolan, 116th field artillery; Second Lieut.. W. R. Burns, 123d infantry; First Lieut.. J. c. Parks 117th field artillery; First Lieut. Angela Hill, fifth field artillery; Second Lieut. Hugh M. Cannon, 117th field artillery; First Lieut.. A. B. Graves 106th sani- tary train; Second Lieut.. H. A. Lange, First Lieut.. Seth J. Floyd, 123d infan- try; Second Lieut.. c. W. Smith, Second Lieut.. w. R. Joyner. 116th field artil- lery: First Lieut. Noah s. Sweat, 116th field artillery First Lieut.. John A. Stockwell, First Lieut.. s. G. Loring, 123d infantry.
 Second-class instructors: First Lieut. F. s. Braley and Second Lieut.. M M Rouden, 123d infantry; Second Lieuten- ant Fowler, ammunition train, and Second Lieut.. N. c. Rogers, 117th field