The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-04-16
Instructor Plans Full Fort
Ben. Training For
H. S. Boys
FRENCH METHOD OF
ATTACK IS INCLUDED
Students Resume Military
Drill; To Form Another
Platoon

The boys of the Mt. Vernon high
school-those in the military drill pla-
toon have resumed work and are
learning how to "strafe the Hun" at
Riverside park in good weather and in
the girls gymnasium at the high
school building on Wednesdays and
Fridays when the weather will not
permit outdoor work.
Military drill this year is under the
direction of Prof. w. G. Lawrence, Of
the high school faculty, who was in
training at the second officers re.
serve training camp at Fort Benja.
min Harrison, Ind, but who was given
an honorable discharge from the army
on account of physical disability.
At present there are so students en-
gagged in the work of learning the
many details of the military organiza-
ton of the United States under
former soldier. All. according to Prof.
| Lawrence, are taking an unusual in
| terest in the work and better results
could not be hoped for, says the in
structor.
The drill class was started two
weeks ago Wednesday work being
done on Wednesdays and Fridays af-
ter the dismissal of school on those
days. The work will be continued up
until June this year when the term
ends.
The class consists of one platoon,
but it is the plan of Prof. Lawrence
to organize another platoon, that body,
in the French army. constituting 43
men including officers. Seven boys
over the first platoon organized have
been secured and it is thought that
many more Will take up the work be-
fore many more drills.
The unit now is commanded by its
instructor, but has three sergeants and
several corporals. The sergeants in
charge of the three divisions of the
platoon are Robert Eastman, Donald
Goodell and Paul Poland
Up to this time the boys have mas
tered close order, the manual of arms,
doployment by squads and crawling
on the elbows and toes, a method of
locomotion used by the fighters of the
allies in going in patrols across No
Mans Land. Several of these mill
tary forms were acquired last spring
when the training was under the di-
rection of Prof. Hendrix. now in the
| service Of the United States.
One of the largest things which
Prof Lawrence hopes to take up with
the boys this spring and summer is
/ trench warfare in all its ramiiications
and details, II is the plan of Prof
Lawrence to have the members of the
drill class dig trenches If ii suitable
place Is available and then teach
them the French method of attack
from going in" to "ovcr the top" the
latter the method used altogether in
attack on the western front.
II these plans of the Instructor ma
terlalilc Prof. Lawrence expects to
have the men stay over night occas-
sionally in the trenches in squads.
giving them the real tests of warfare
which is needed to make the course
of training absolutely complete and
In accordance with that recognized by
the men in charge of the training ut
Fort Benjamin Harrison.
In connection with teaching the
class the methods of trench warfare.
1t is tho plan of Prof Lawrence to
teach the students the details and mo.
lions of grenade throwing. that
branch OF attacking in which the Am.
cricam soldiers in training camps
here and in France and ON the firing
line have proved 80 proficient.
SO far. in looking over the feats ac.
complishcd by the student soldiers.
Prof. Lawrence says that the cnthusi.
asm shown by them is more than he
expected and Is highly gratilicd at
. the rpsults hn hus nhf ninaI