The Cordova daily times., 1921-05-07
NO IDLE LIFE FOR U. s. BOYS
 ALONG RHINE;

COBLENZ, May (by Associated Press).-If Americans at home inn : aglne that the life of the soldiers composing the American army of occupation on the Rhine is one of : ldleness they will be long way from l: 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 it day at drill, study, target practice or maneuyers, for it is the purpose of the general staff here to maintain l: union hours.
 Most of the American doughboy's I eight-hour day is spent in drill which !: occupies from three to five hours daily, varying according to the cir. cumstances and needs of the differ ent units.
 visitor to this American com munity transplanted into the center 1 Of Europe would find the American boys just now preparing for a sum- mer Of grim war maneuvers, for the I open training season has commenced and will continue until October 31
 The regular target season, which is now in full swing, will last until July 31. It is being held on the target Germans a few miles east of the fortress of Ehrenbrietstein. It in- cludes known distance practice. com bat firing and company proficiency tests.
 I Problems, terrain exercises and maneuvers including night operations and combats in woods for units up to and including a company are also part of the days work.
 I Field work for the battalion will :, commence as soon as battalions have completed all firing.
 The second period, from August 1 to September 15 will include. bat talion, regimental and brigade maneu- vers and terrain exercises. During this period, one week for each bri- l: gade Will be reserved for battalion combat problems with live ammuni tion and in conjunction with aux. Hilary arms. AS General Allen puts it: We do everything that is done in war except kill men," During this period, units will be required to carry out exercises involving movements on short notice to distant locations. followed by the occupation or attack of positions.
 The third period from September 15 to September 30 will be taken by maneuvers of the full army of oc- cupation and the result expected at the close of the period is through preparation for war of the American forces in Germany.
 During the fourth period, from Oc. tober l to October 31, brigade and separate unit commanders will cor. recent deficiencies noted during the previous field training.
 During the past winter months spe. cial courses In educational and yoca- tional training were taken by sol diers. They included commercial training, shorthand, typewriting, and accounting; mechanical training, in- cluding automobile driving, pipe fit. ting, plumbing; also a cooks and bakers school which had large at- tendance in an effort to live down
 Marshal Fayolle's famous criticism of the American army; that they could not cook. An engineers school and horseshoers' school were also filled to capacity.
 About 50 soldiers to each com. pany were permitted to employ three hours of their eight-hour day to ,he pursuit of these studies but from now on, all educational and vocational training will be suspended and it will be war maneuvers for the American soldier. With the schedule enumerat- ed above, 1t will be seen that he has his work cut out for him until Oc- tober 31