The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-12-11

TRA|h|hG FOR
MANNED TROOPS


Motor mechanics has proved most
popular subject of instruction OF GRIP
pied soldiers who are being returned
to be self supporting. self-respectlnS
workers. In fact, the trade is almost
too popular, say directors OF Canadian
schools IN which hundreds OF dlsaD-
led soldiers are today being trained
in new occupations.
Practically every Canadian soldier
who is asked to choose from among
the various trades in which classes
are operated, selects automobile me-
chanics. Nut most of the men have
to be dissuaded from their intention.
and are turned into other channels OF
industry. Otherwise every crippled
soldier in the Dominion would be
looking for a job as automobile me-
chanlc after he had completed ms
course OF training, and the supply
would far exceed the demand.
Canada, England, Germany and In
dia are among the beiIigerents that of
Ter training courses in motor mechan-
les 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 repair
Ing AT Fort MeHenry, where the
Unite States operates a large recon-
struction hospital, one OF the trades
taught to convalescent soldiers is au-
tOmoblle mechanics. A One-armed or
one-legged automobile mechanic
not be new thing under the sun
once the general public has been COM
mitted to the principles of re-euuca-
ton.
In British Columbia gasoline-engine]
classes We're organized soon after the
wounded began returning from over
seas. Vancouver. Victoria, Esquimauit
and Westhaven provide instruction in
motor mechanics. In Victoria the
military hospitals commission and the
board of education together operate
fully equipped motor repair shop,
in which men who wish to become
chauffeurs are taught. Men trained
in this course conduct well-patro-
nized jitney stand in the town. Those
who wish q thorough course prepar.
ing them as motor mechanics are sen: !
to Vancouver, and later to the new
workshops at Esquimault and West |
haven. The military hospitals COM !
missions has made an arrangement by |
which war cripples at Vancouver are |
taught driving at an excellent auto |
mobile school in evening classes. |,
Then. too,s through the generosity OF |
the owner OF this school, any disab- |
led soldier may attend his day clas- |
ses free of charge. Several men from |
other parts of Columbia are kept in |
Vancouver or a maintenance allowed |
while receiving training.
There is a big field for workmen in |
this trade in Saskatchewan, as thru |
all the west and thorough courses arc |
given for war cripples by the univer-
sity of Saskatchewan. Another course |
iC of no Drnx al if1,fo of |
nology and Art at Calgary. Disabled |
men so trained compete successfully |
with the average sound mechanic. One |
soldier, who lost his right arm, is |
preparing with his chum to have a /
small flour and grist mill in one II |
the centers of the Peace River dis |
trict. His course in automobile me- |
chanics and gas engineering will en-
able him to take charge Of the power
plant stationery gas engineo to run
a wood-cutting plant and to mend
will attend to the milling power.
While the wounds of English sold
iers and sailors are healing at St.
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 disabled men, |
who, besides being Skilled instfuctirs.
understand the special problems OF
the war cripple A 'Briton' motor
chassis, working models of engines.
three center drilling and turning m,.-
chimes, drilling machine and bench
csc fitted with the vises and tools
needed in repair work are included in
the equipment. An electric motor
gives power for the machines. The
elias has 1920 horse power Darrac4
motor car for Institutional purposes.
Germany, too has excellent train
ing courses for war cripples who take
up motor mechanics. AT Dusseldorf,
On the Rhine, by the cooperation OF
the provincial and city administra-
tions and local welfare societies, war
cripples are being Grained in many
skilled trades Here the course in
au. mobile mechanics was established
at the request of the motor repair
shop owners who needed wOrkmen,
md could not obtain able bodied men.
Within a few months the pupils of the
first elias has successfully repaired
fourteen different types Of motors,
whose mechanisms they understood
Even in far-off India the trade OF
automobile mechanics takes hold OF
the imaginations of the natives. 1t
must be a curious sight, indeed, to
see India's disabled sons repairing an
automobile ar studying the intricacies
Of mechanics in the shops that are
operated at Queen Mary's Technical
school in Bombay. These curly
olive-skinned warriors will
lot be left on the righ roads to beg af-
er they have served their country.
Tut will be trained for useful trades
q which their physical handicaps dol
lot prevent them from competing