The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1918-12-20
TRAINING IN MOTOR MECHAN-
ICS FOR CRIPPLED SOLDIERS

crippled soldiers who are being re-
trained to become self-supporting,
seIf-respecting workers. In fact, the
trade is almost too popular, say di-
rectors of Canadian Schools in which
hundreds of disabled soldiers are to-
day being trained in new occupa-
tons.
Practically every Canadian soldier
who is asked to choose from among
the various trades in which classes
are operated, selects automobile me-
chanics. But most of the men have
to be dissuaded from their intention
and are turned into other channels
OF industry. Otherwise, every Grip
pled soldier in the Dominion would
be looking for job as automobile
mechanic after he had completed his
course of training, and the supply
would far exceed the demand.
Canada, England, Germany and
India are among the belligerents that
offer training courses in motor me-
chanics to the disabled men of their
own forces, and America, in line with
the program of re-education that she
has adopted, is teaching her wounded
and disabled soldiers automobile re-
pairing. At Fort McHenry, where
the United States operates a Lar ge
reconstruction hospital, one of the
trades taught to convalescent SOL
diers is automobile mechanics. A
one-armed or a one-legged automobile
mechanic will not be a new thing
under the sun once the general p'lb-
lie has been committed to the prin-
ciples of reconstruction.
In British Columbia gasoline-en-
CINE classes were organized soon af-
ter the wounded began returning
from overseas. Vancouver, Victoria,
Esquimault and Westhaven provide
instruction in motor mechanics. In
Victoria the Military Hospital Com
mission and the Board of Education
together operate a fully-equipped mo
tor repair shop in which men who
wish to become chauffeurs are taught.
Men trained in this course conduct a
we'll patronized jitney stand in the
town. Those who wish thorough
course preparing them as motor me
chanics are sent to Vancouver, and
later to the new workshops at
Esuuimault and Westhaven. The
Military Hospital Commission has
made an arrangement by which var
cripples at Vancouver are taught
driving at an excellent automobile
school in evening classes. Then, too,
through the generosity of the owner
of this school, any disabled soldier
may attend his day classes free OF
charge. Several men from other
parts of British Columbia are Kept
in Vancouver on a maintenance al
lowance while receiving training.
There is a big field for workmen In
this trade in Saskatchewan, as
through all the west, and thorough
courses are given for war crippleS by
the University of Saskatchewan. An
other course is at the Provincial In
stitute of Technology and Art at CAL
gary. Disabled men so trained COM
pete successfully with the average
sound mechanic. One soldier, who lost
his right arm, is preparing with MS
chum to have small flour and grlst
mill in one of the centers or the
Peace River district. His course IN
automobile mechanics and gas engi-
neering will enable him to take
charge of the power plnat stationary
gas engine), to run a wood-cutt'ng
plant, and to mend automobiles as
side-line. His chum will attend to
the milling proper.
While the wounds of English SOL
diers and sailors are healing at
Queen Mary's Convalescent Hospital
at Brighton and Roehampton, they
are afforded the opportunity of
learning motor mechanics. The
workshop at Roehampton is fitted up
as a model garage in charge of dis
abIed men who, besides being skilled
instructors, understand the special
problems of the war cripple. A "Bri-
ton" motor chassis, working models
of engines. three center drilling and
turning machines, a drilling machine
and benches fitted with the vises and
tools needed in repair work are in
cIuded in the equipment. An electric
motor gives power for the machines.
The class has a 1920 horse power
Darracq motor car for institution
purposes.
Germany, too, has excellent train
ing courses for war cripples who take
uu motor mechanics. At Usseldcrf,
ON the Rhine, by the cooperation OF
the provincial and city administra-
tions and local walfare societies, wal
cripples are being trained in many
skilled trades. Here the course In
automobile mechanics was establish
ed at the request of the motor-repalr
shop owners who needed workmen
and could not obtain able-bodied
men. Within a very few months the
pupils of the first-class had success
fully repaired fourteen differen,
types of motors whose mechanism
they understand thoroughly.
Even in far-off India, the trade OF
automobile mechanics takes hold oil
the Vaccinations of the natives. II
must be a curious sight indeed to SEE
midas disabled sons repairing an au'
tomobile or studying the intricac,es
of mechanics in the shops that are
operated at Queen Mary's Technica
School in Bombay. These curley,
bearded, olive-skinned warriors viii
not be left on the highroads to beg
after they have served their country
L. CO. ,ycofy11 TRADES