Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-28

l1AlGTy, IN WHICH COUpLctc lAol1 uSl4oA
is offered in the management and tao
tics of all kinds of heavy guns. There
are schools for stable sergeants and
stable crews; for mess sergeants. bak-
ers and cooks; for company mechan-
les; equitation, or Workmanship; sup
ply officers; clerks; saddlers and cob
blers; court-martial; bandsmen; sing
ing; hygiene and sanitation; veterin-
airy; visual instruction; staff lectures;
officers schools, etc.
Naturally, no one man attempts to
take all the courses offered, but some
Of the officers know are taking sew
eral different courses at one time, and
they are also teaching their men. Be-
tween their studies for teaching prep
aration, and their work in their own
courses, busy Is a weak word to use
| in describing their condition.
| Much Of the instruction is carried
On in the open and as one strolls about
the camp during the day, one is con-
tinually running on to groups Of men
or officers undergoing instruction. The
work is exceedingly practical in its
application, and the methods would
delight Mr.. Squeers, of "Do-the-boys
Hall" That is, the men are first
taught what trench is, and then
they are sent out to dig one. They are
given lectures on the use Of the. bay
onet, and then set to work bayOneting
! each other. And suspect that In
the schools for stablemen, they very
nearly follow out Mr.. Squeers' own
plan Of teaching how to spell horse
and then sending the pupil out to
curry horse.
Spectacular Bayonet Work.
| Many of the things taught in the
camp are not supposed to be de-
scribed in the public prints, but !
suppose l shall not get into trouble
if 1 give you just little about the
spectacular bayonet practice which !
see when l can spare little time. The
, city waterworks is right next to the
| camp enclosure, and there is one old
reservoir there which has been aban-
, doned for some season. 1t is dry. but
the high banked walls of earth are
standing in good condition. This nat
[ ural amphitheatre has been appropri-
] ated for use in trench and bayonet
: work. Several lines of trenches, with
, obstacles quite like the real thing.
{ have been constructed. There are dunn
mics at the trenches to represent the
, enemy, and no detail has been over
| looked in making the whole construc-
| ton realistic. Here the men in large
, squads. or companies. are put through
/ the evolutions of 'going over the
; top" And it is stirring sight to see
a line of fifty or more men, fully
armed, even to the steel helmets and
gas masks, leaping over the wall Of
| their trench at the word of command
| and sweeping across the field with
) bayonets fixed, making an assault or
/ the enemy trenches, and taking them
| one after another, with horrible yells
; of triumph. The precision and tech.
!, nique of the drill are interesting, but
Z unpleasant thoughts persist in com
/ ing to me as l watch. One Of these
} days, some Of these same lads are go
t ing to be doing this stunt, but not il
fun, over in France. They will DE-
, their duty, no fear, but some of then
' Twill not come back when the fighting
is done.
Of The Next Place To Home.
1 After a hard day of drill in somt
Y one or more of these schools, the mel
r come in at evening tired and dirty ant
e hungry. A good wash-up in the tent
4 or a bath in the showers, which arr
e provided for all the men, and thel
/, supper, and then the Y. NJ. c: A. is thu
i program followed by thousands ever.
: night. And everything about the Y
f M. c. A, so far as we can make it
}. speaks to them Of home and peace ant
: normal life. Lots Of the boys do no
: realize it, or cannot put their feeling
Z; into words, but those who can analyz,
e their own reaction to our work ar,
y frank to say that it is the Nome touch
: and the homely service, which mean
d most to them.
i We Y. M. c. A. secretaries hav'
: caught the contagion of school work
n and we ourselves have been going t,
e school this week. A training schoo
: has been organized. meeting eacl
). morning. for the study of the princi
O Piles and methods of our work, an,
:, some excellent results are being OBJ
k tanned. This course will last abou
5 three weeks, five mornings a week
and we hope ii. will greatly increas
: our efficiency as workers.