The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-29
DDUeIboYS 1T
I|,ObLENz WORK
HARD every DAY


Coblenx.-If Americans ct home
imagine that the life Of the soldiers
composing the American Army Of
OCCUPATION on the Rhine il one Of
idieness they will be . long way
from the truth.
The little fighting force Of 10000
men has to be kept hard trained
and ready for quick action, and that
means work--eight hours Of 1t a
day at drill. study, target practice
or manoeuyers, for 1t is the pur-
pose OF the general stan here to
maintain union hours.
Most OF the American doughboys'
eight-hour day Is spent in drill
which occupies from three to five
hours daily, varying according to
the circumstances and needs OF the
different units.
A visitor to this American com
munity transplanted into the center
OF Europe would find the Ameri-
can boys Just now preparing for a
summer OF grim war manoeuvers,
for the open training season has
Just commenced and will continue
until October 81.
The regular target season. which
is now In full swing, will last I'M
til July 81. 1t is being held on the
target ground ranges built by the
Germans a few miles east of the
fortress OF Ehrenbreitstein. 1t in
cludes known distance practice,
combat firing and company profile
iency tests.
Problems, terrain exercises and
manoeuvers including night opera
lions and combat in woods for units
up to and including q company are
also part Of the days work.
Field work for the battalion will
commence as soon as battalions
have completed all firing.
Second Period.
The second period, from Aug. l
to Sept. Is will include battalion
regimental and brigade manoeuv-
ers and terrain exercises. During
this period, one week for each
brigade will be reserved for battal-
ion combat problems with live am
munition and In conjunction with
auxiliary arms. AS General Aller
puts 1t: I'VE do everything that il
done in war except kill men," Dur
ing this period, units will be re
quired to carry out exercises in.
volving movements on short notice
to distant locations, followed by thu
occupation or attack OF positions.
The third period from Sept. Is t.
Sept. 80 will be taken by manoeuv
ers of the full army Of occupation
and the result expected at the clos
Of the period is thorough prepare
ton for war of the American forces
in Germany.
During the fourth period, from
Oct. l to Oct. 81, brigade and sepa
rate unit commanders will correc
deficiencies noted during the prev
ious field training.
During the past winter month
special courses in educational an,
vocational training were taken b.
soldiers. They included CONNER
cial training, shorthand, typewrit
ing. and accounting: mechanical
training. including automobile driv
ing. pipe fitting, plumbing; also
cooks and bakers school whicl
had a large attendance in an effor
to live down Marshal Fayolle'
famous criticism of the America
army; that they could not cook. Al
engineers school and a horse
shoers' school were also filed t
capacity,
About fifty soldiers to each com
pAy were permitted to emplo
three hours OF their eight-hour da
to the pursuit of these studies bu
from now on, all educational an
vocational training will be suspend
~ ed and it will be war vancouver
II for the American soldier. Wit
the schedule enumerated above,
will be seen that he has his wor
cut out for him until Oct Al