The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-04-01

NN~CAANAiAdtG AACii page one
was waiting; bedding and blankets vera
soon issued: medical examination and
fitting of clothes then followed. SO com
pletely and thoroughly worked-out were
the plans. and so efficiently did the COM
pany officers work. that in many cases a
man was examined. indicted into the
service, and in uniform in less than half
a day from the time he entered Camp.
In some cases. mon were discharged.
paid and on ther way home before night
fall.
I paid particular attention to the
work at night" said an officer and IT
was certainly remarkable to note the
ease and dispatch with which they were
brought in and sifted out to their or
CARNATIONS. 1t certainly speaks well
for the arrangements which had been
made previously"
Probably more interesting than the
receiving Of the men is the extensive
plans which were made for the training
or the recruits Weeks ago, Col CIo-
man organized schools of instruction in
each group. in which the officers and
nen-commissioned officers were taught
the best methods of instructing recruits.
Lieut.. Col l.. r. Gignilliat, for MANY
years the commandant of the Culver
Military Academy, was placed in charge
of these schools
TO get the best results. the drill
master must know the fundamentals Of
teaching" Col Gignnliat told his
classes The instructor must have pa
dence, the ability to see mistakes and
must be trained especially in making
explanations. Recruits must not be
"bawled out" If they fail to understand
an explanation the first time. You men
who are to do this training must study
your men, learn their individual char
acteristics as much as you can. and see
that the movements are demonstrated to
them in such a way that they will un-
derstand them"
Ordinarily a recruit takes his first in
struction in marching to the count one
two. three, four" by the instructor. Col
Cloman. however. is a firm believer that
a man can learn to march more readily
by the music Of a band than he can the
other way So he has made II q part of
the daily program to have half hours
march each day to the music Of the
band
Even before the recruit is taught
Squads right" and Squads left" he be-
gins his marching exercises with the big
bass drum beating time for him. and the
music making him feel a pride in his
position The effect is Immediately
noticeable. Not only do the men learn
quickly how to march with rymth and
steadiness. but they unconsciouslv get
their heads up and their chests ont Col
Cloman didn't have any band provided in
his organization. so one was organized
from the musicians among the recr,,its
and II is great source of pride to the
Depot Brigade. for it's the largest hand
in camp. The forty-two members sun
Piled their own Instruments. and the ex-
pense Of the band up to date has been
1910. The method of training used has
also demonstrated that a recruit learns
much more readily through the eve than
through the ear An instructor does not
rattle off long winded technical ex-
PLANTATION of the simple movement right
face" but he executes it for the recruit
in some such manner as this: Lift your
right toe like do; turn to the right like
/ do, on your right heel Now go ahead
and try it, The recruit Immediately
sees what he has to do. detail by detail.
and 1t does not bewilder him. He i'm
mediately says to himself, Gee that's
easy" and is ready to tackle something
harder with confidence and interest
Few people realize the Importance of
this work in the Depot Brigade or the
high efficiency that is required to give
the proper instruction. Training of men
was the speciality in these schools of
instruction. and the officers of the
Bridgade have become experts and spe-
cialists.
There is no work on the battle front
itself that is more important" said Col.
Cloman. THE first few weeks time is
the most impressionable stage Of a
mans military career The impressions
he gets during this time are the ones
that stick. The foundation is laid there
either for a good soldier or an indiffer-
ent one. The men from the Depot Bril-
gade must go to their regiments started
right. They will be. with us but short
time but by our methods we hope to
have them go with no inaccurate slip
shod methods 10 unlearn; so that there
will be no lost motion and no com p1ny
commanders GUESSING out some drill
masters in the Depot Brigade because
they taught the recruit wrong It is
quite possible. and I think a sensible
thing. as the war progresses. officers OF
these brigades change places with Off
GERS from the front. in order that home
training will always be UP to date"