South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-18
NEW VIGOR To MEN
WHO HEARD TAFT
Former Presidents Talk is
Cheered-May Have Tank
at Camp Taylor Soon.

Feb. 18.-Sew vigor seems TO have
possessed many members OF the
Lincoln division since the visit and
speeches here Thursday Of former
Tres't william Howard Taft. Grim
determination 20 push things
through seemed 20 be written On
every face as the boys hled out OF
the Liberty theater after listening
10 Prof Taft tell them what u
meant % have the burden OF bring
ing the war to a successful con
clusion and winning world peace
fal on them. "Big Bill" as the
khaki boys aGectionately called
him. was cheered to the echo dur
ms the course Of his three address
es
Tank practice may be next on the
program at the camp. An armOred
field monster is said TO be on it's way
here for use in the field The most
realistic battle that has been fought
in the infantry school OF arms
was staged Thursday i'm the Y VI.
o.. A. auditorium when 30 men. Is
on a side, met in vigorous conflict.
Bayonet men had challenged the
knob carriers" OF the physical Gull
ture class and the latter had accept
ed. a keen rivalry had developed
and the warriors went at each other
with the same amount Of zeal and
determination with which they will
night Huns During the struggle they
were protected from actual injury
by heavy leather gloves, wire head
gear and body pads. When ever a
man was "bayOnettcd" or 'swatte ]"
with "a "paralyzer.' ne was declar-
ed officially slain. At the windup
there were several bayonet men on
their feet and they were declared
winners.
March on Washington's Birthday.
The entire division probably will
participate in great parade
through the streets of Louisville on
Washington birthday. and in the
meanwhile officers at headquarters
are figuring out the distance it
would take 10 form the entire com
mand with fun equipment and
trains The soldiers OF a full divi-
sion. marching i'm columns Of fOurs,
probably would stretch out over D
miles. Two and one-half miles an
hour is considered good marching.
There is not a full division here.
however. and all trains and equip
ment probably will not be in line
az march. a certain number of men
also must be left at camp for guarl
and other necessary duties.
Members Of the Catholic faith at
camp need observe only three fast
DAYS during Lent. according to spec
ial dispensatiOu from the pope, no
tice of which was received by FIR.
Crasho0. post chaplain OF the
knights Of Columbus Ash Wednes-
day. Good Friday and Holy Satur-
day. until noon, are the days 20 ne
observed. Such action was taken be-
cause 10 was recognized that on ac-
count OF their strenuous activities,
10 might bee better for soldiers 20 en-
fov their accustomed fare OF meats
and other articles Of food whiCn
would have been denied them.
one OF the tw sanitary squads
which viii go abroad a month i'm
advance Of the main division has
been organized. It consists of "a
commissioned medical officer. four
eereeants two chauffeurs and 20
priyates The two sanitary squai is
viii Dee hilIeted i'm France and viii
have everything i'm readiness when
their comrades arrive The names
of those selected have not been an
uounced They were chosen from
among the members of the enlisted
personnel Of medical departments
at the camp who volunteered for
this service.
Train Field Officers.
Field officers are being trained IN
an manner Of war tricks at the
field officers school which is con
Quoted daily at camp. Minute de
tai . Of modern warfare as rracticed
on the western front are being
taught the officers. and added 20
general principles and the old army
manual governing military actiyi-
ties the latest tactics and forms 90
strategy are being studied from
books and pamphlets just issued
and bearing fresh news from Eu-
ropean battle fronts Every trick
invented hy the Hun is 90 be inn
proved on. OmCers are being taught
how 10 conserve their lives and at
the same time make an the forces
in he field most effective. COnser-
vatIov OF mau-u0ver viii be CON
eidere1 as important as conservd-
tlon in en- other directions and men
at the front should he used. officers
are being taught So that the great
est good may be accoupNs wiz n
The least number Of casualties.
Five thousand negro troops are
expected here next Saturday, the
first in any large number 90 arrive
az the camp. They will he assigned
to The FIRST provisional regiment. un-
der command of Col knight
Practice with Explosives.
From The standpoint Of noise the
environment resemhled battlefield
Friday ENpiosiors OF the greatest
mum beer and most heavily charged
Ereuades handled hy students OF the
infantry school Of arms. the rattle
OF machine gums and large blasts SCI
OF hy students Of the engineers
school kept up "a steady bonn bard
meut an day. The balmy weather II
the last week drove AN the snow and
ice away and the breezes in "a meas
Ure dried The ground TRAINING
schedules were resumed Tn,
freuche1 were drained and cIo ssa.