Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-28
EXPECT CLOSER COOPERATION MAINE
AND VERMONT NATIONAL GUARD UNITS
RESULT 8eTH INFANTRY BRIGADE SCHOOL

wardIy showed no sign Of the trouble.
He then left the men to diagnose the
difficulty. locate 1t and remedy 1t.
Machine Gun Work Interesting
The automatic rifemen took their
rifles to the mess tent on Wednesday
when 1t rained and were shown just
how to take their weapon apart and
reassemble 1t again. ater they went
to the rife range where they had
actual practice ink the firing Of this
difficult gun. This requires special
practice as it 10 necessary to lean
quite Tar forward to counterfeit the
kick" Of the gun. 1t 10 mot uncom-
mon in men who have not before
bad esperiesce with this type Of
weapon to have 1t get the best of
them and either throw them on their
back or spin them around. while they
desperately hold their finger upon
the trigger, forgetting to release It
and thus stop the steady pump Of
bullets.
Officers Have Tactical Problems
While the enlisted men were get
ting instruction Of this kind, the Of
ficers were equally as busy. They
were given instruction each morning
Iva the proper method of handling
their sabers and later they under
took a. tactical problem which they
have been working upon since the
middle Of the winter. This problem
involves a theoretical engagement be-
tween a red and opposing blue army
and the questions of disposition Of
troops, the requirements Of equip
ment and many other equations
which would necessarily enter into
an engagement Of this nature were
worked out.
The officers in the machine gun
companies were also given special
instruction in their particular and
difficult duties with what in army
parlance is known as the suicide
squad" Those who have read ac-
counts Of battles during the world
war will realize that machine guns
form a most important link in the
| army chain and that those who use
them must of necessity be highly
trained and specialists in their line.
Nearly all Of the officers We're CIV
en- instruction in topography, map
reading and sketching, which is an
| important part in planning and car
rying out Of any army campaign and
Is very interesting in itself.
The schedule at the camp gave the
| men a fine change for recreation
| without stinting the instruction
Reveille came at $50, with mess al
Z. and classes from 8 to 11.45 and
| from 100 to 4. After evening mess
| at 6 o'clock the men were able to dc
as they pleased.
The Vermont and Maine troops
were formed in two provisional COM
| panies under the command of the
senior sergeant present. The officers
were likewise formed in provisional
companies. Before classes Is min
utes of setting up exercises were held
and then the special instruction was
! begun.
Break Camp Today
The part of the school which prob
| ably interested the men mere than
al 1.-The rest was pay which was given
out at S o'clock Friday night. After
the pay line had disappeared mess
was served and many of the boys
left for their homes on the evening
trains, while others will leave this
morning. BY noon, what for the
past week has been a hustling bustl-
ing little canvas city will again have
become smooth expanse Of field
with the galvanized iron military
storehouses grouped around it. .