Evening star., 1940-11-26
u. 5. Chute Troops
Developing Secret
Technique Of War
Picked Squad Shows
.Phoses Of System Of
Fort Bennine School
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD,
Stan CORRESPONDENT of The star.

An all-day battle was pressed with
realistic fury on the 60000-acre
range Of Fort Benning yesterday as
1900 student officers, many of them
generals of the National Guard, sat
on bleachers at advantageous points
and studied the movements of a
modern combat division in assault.
This was only phase of a days
course Of instruction at the Army's
Infantry School, where the 4th
Division serves as demonstration
unit and likewise gives training to
It's own thousands Of young recruits
in carrying out the required tactics.
Elsewhere at this busiest Of posts
during the day, the I'd Armored
Division with 159 tanks and sup
porting artillery and infantry units,
staged an attack for the benefit of
visitors.
Less spectacular but more inter-
esting perhaps from a speculative
viewpoint was a demonstration of
the newly created 501st Parachute
Battalion, consisting now of only
about As men but soon to be in
creased to SO non-coms and 319
men. A steady rain and low CELL
ing prevented the planned use Of
planes with parachutists and ma
chine gun equipment dropping from
the sky.
Technique Being Developed.
These American parachute troops,
all hand-picked men and unmar-
ried, are developing their own war
technique, the disclosure of which
is forbidden by Army regulations.
1t. William T. Ryder of st. Louis, In
charge of the squad that demon
strated the parachutists, dispelled
the rather popular notion that these
new war birds are at the mercy OF
civilians when they descend.
A parachutist is armed to the
teeth when he descends, this alert
young commander explains. After
the first two seconds the para
chutist is in complete control of
his faculties. He can do pretty
good deal of damage with a pistol,
or hand grenade, or even a smoke
klCIlddC.
Ordinary parachute practice is
from an altitude of about, $50 feet;
In wartime men are released from
q height of a few hundred feet,
depending on the wind.
Twelve men can jump out of a
plane in 10 seconds and open fire
with a machine gun in less than 2
minutes after landing. The descent
takes 20 to so seconds. Training Of
these men, who are to form q
nucleus of formidable force in this
new method Of war, is along strictly
American lines. "If we are content
merely to copy German or other
European methods and technique,
we are licked before we start" 1t.
Ryder said. ....s.
Draw Extra Pay.
The squad is picked from infan-
try volunteers with at least a years
training as soldiers, with special
physical qualifications. They re-
ceive so per cent increase in pay,
while officers receiye $50 month
increase. The danger and skill Of
the WORK is worth IL.
These men received in their pre-
liminary training from a civilian
organization at Hightstown, N. j.,
near Fort Dix. an Army reservation
After they learned to Jump from
high towers they came to Fort Ben
ming.
1t takes from four to six weeks
to train parachutist, but the mere
technicalities of correct jumping
Is only part of the business. The
rest remains an Army secret. 1t
ranges from fifth column instruc-
ttons to the normal military use of
the parachutist-the swift surprise
descent upon an airdrome or bridge
head, which they hold until the air
infantry"-now being trained at
Fort Sam Houston-can fly to their
support with heavy weapons and
riflemen.
$50 Tanks Perform.
The concentrated attack of the
armored division, duplicate of the
one at Fort Knox. KY, brought to
bear the piercing thrust of 159 tanks
soon to be increased to nearly
600-and the tremendous fire con-
centration of its supporting infantry
and artillery. ~:
These were not demonstrations
staged for visitors. 1t was all a
part of the instructions given at
the school. Each weapon used in
an infantry division was demon
strated. with interest centering on
the effectiveness of the Springfield
and Garand rifles, long a subject of
debate. The officer in charge
said there is no difference between
the two in accuracy but the volume
and rapidity of the fire from the
Garand rifle was markedly more
effective. The firing was at 400
range
See Garand Demonstrated.
Newspapermen witnessing the
demonstration fired the Garand
rifle, with each scoring direct hits
or near hits. A man merely has to.
make sure the sight is properly on
the target and pull the trigger. the
gun does the rest. The recoil is
reduced 80 per cent and is scarcely
noticeable. With slight practice,
even a correspondent could become
q pretty fair shot with Garand.
; The Infantry School has lis Off
Ger instructors and its student body,
which changes every five weeks, has
Increased tenfold in recent months.
Under the direction of the COM
mandant, Brig. Gen. Courtney H.
Hodges, more than 5000 officers and
1000 enlisted men will be graduated
each year.
1t. Col. William H. Hobson is the
director of instruction at this big
eest of Army officers schools. He is
well known IN Washington, having
served eight years as professor of
military science and tactics at the
Georgetown University r. o. T. G.
department.