Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-23
TEN weeks OF TRAINING
Makes T|PTOP SOLDIERS
British Civilians With This Much
Experience Hold Own Against
Continental Troops.
NO DEADLY MoNoroNY NOW
New System Docs Not Give n Man
Time to Get Bored-Switchcd
From Gas Instruction to Bombing,
and Then to Wiring.
international News Bureau)
BY "CENTUItION."

BIZ CENTURION"
Recently an honorable member OF the
House of Commons expressed horror
at the news that 10000 men who are
TO be withdrawn from farm labor would
be in the line within three months OF
appear to have been intensified on re-
ceiving the Information that they
would most likely leave England for
overseas after ten weeks training.
1t Will. therefore. probably come
news to the public to learn that this
is no innovation on the part of the
who have been fighting, our battles for
the last two years. and more particu-
Early against the Hun. Turk and the
speaking, not more than ten weeks
training at home. and when required
have gone into the trenches within a
into consideration the lights .hich
these rockies" have put up against
difficult to say which is to be the more
admired. the men who have performed
such marvels on their short training
or the system of tuition which has
enabled them to do
For more than two strenuous years
as skipper" OF training company
with training reservoir battalion. I
labored from early morn till late into
the dewy eve TO inculcate the prin-
generations of recruits. and my feel
ings OF amazement were ever fresh. AS.
matching each successive draft march
ing out of camp en- route to overseas.
or, as occasionally happened. marching
with them as conducting officer. | mem
tally compared that smart weli-set-up
pushed by the n. c. o.'s into a waver-
ing two-deep line on the parade ground
handed over to my tender mercies.
To the old regular officer. with fixed
idea that IL takes three years TO make
In RrSf hrn ,nr,tt A Of
this time must be devoted to turning
by numbers and marchin ing drill in
squads it came as shock to find
that one had to turn out the com
pleat" nghter In the latter period of
time. Especially when it is realized
that in addition TO the ordinary pre-
be given to instruction in bombing and
protection against gas, and the horror
ing compared to mine when l FIRST
glanced through the weekly programs
which have to be rigidly adhered to.
parades for his first marching drill,
before breakfast. on the morning fol-
owing the day on which he joins his
dismissed to load his PACK Tor ura-,
parade. every moment OF his training
Is mapped out for him. hour by hour
training. For the first fortnight not
more than half an hours and after
wards not more than one hours con
was given: and Potztausend. thought.
what a man learns in half an hour he
viii forget in nvs minutes when he
men who laid down the scheme OF
training knew their job. results
have proved. and too much credit cam
effort.
NO MoNoTONY NOW
UNDER NEW SYSTEM
No one who has been through the
Il III 81. 49, H..
training will ever forget how bored he
got with the squad drill, continued
from hour to hour and day by day.
time to get bored He is switched from
gas instruction to bombing. and from
bombing TO wiring: he learns his squad
jerks. and his musketry instruction
is made SO interesting and the train
ing is efficient that the men who
now go on the range to fire their course
in the eighth week OF training are
lengths in front OF the time recruit
after his long and arduous preliminary
grind. What Is the secret OF the sue
cess? To great extent, the elimina-
tion Of boredom. but. above all. spe-
Every y. C. o. instructor is trained
specialist in his subject. and all re-
cruits are encouraged to ask questions
on any doubtful point y battalion
instruction OF the squads in each
branch OF the training. over them are
after the training OF the four bat
talions.
divisional specialist, trots along
occasionally 10 encourage the brigade
man. and for all know. the Divisional
specialist may have still more exalted
specialist to keep him up TO the mark.
battalion there is Il trained specialist
in physical jerks gas, musketry.
bombing. etc, whose whole aim ami
object IN life is TO encourage the man
to make the training in each subject
as thorough as possible.
Great feas have little fleas upon their
backs TO bite them.
And N,tie feas have lesser heas. and
so ad intin.tum."
Then lastly we come to the most un-
lucky insect OF them all--viz.. the COM
pany commander, and | speak feelinsiy
had To endure for many Il month all
the trials and tribulations inseparable
from his duties. Every hea large and
ones which l have not mentioned. such
as adjutant c. O.. brigade major and
brigadier; has the privilege Of taking
company squads be TWO minutes late
for physical jerks" the youth in
charge of this department will very
likely threaten to report the matter to
the brigade merchant OF the same per-
suasion.
Whereas should a squad he taken off
bombing few minutes before time in
order to be marched to lecture on
musketry. the budding genius in charge
Of putting the weight" breathes fire
on the unfortunate company skipper"
and threatens similar action He is
primarily responsible for the discipline,
pay, clothing and feeding OF his COM
pany. yet. should he be wrestling in
his Office with one OF these abstruse
problems, he win. as likely as not, re-
tant to the effect that the brigade
major when riding round the squads
expressed regret that the company
commander was not on the parade
ground supervising the work.
Where, should he be experimenting
trench digging or wiring, he may pos
sibly receive n similar chit to say that
the briEadicr when walking through
the company lines expressed displeas-
nre at their appearance. y report is
sent from overseas on each draft sent
out, and woe betide tho unhappy o. c.