BRAIN DRILL AT THE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 304, 12 September 1918, Page 5

BRAIN DRILL AT THE FRONT

TRAINING FOR QUICK ACTION. Phvsical drill, popularly known as "Jerks." has been in vogue for a long time to make the soldier limber and supple in body; and now he gets brain drill in order to liven his mind. A captain straight from the front marchc'd us off for exercise the other day. "You'll not eet the old drill this morning," he explained. "I'm going to teach you to' think quickly and to concentrate your mind on what- vou aro doing." , , , . He lined us up before mm and instructed us that we were to follow his movement in some Swedish drill exercises. ... ~, , "When I say, 'Do this,' you'll do it," he told us; "but if I say 'Do that,' you won't do it." Then he started:' "Do this," "Do this," "Do this," and our arms followed in unison the movements of his own. Suddenly his arms shot.down by hin side. "Do that," ho commanded. And half'tho squad unthinkingly fell into tho trap and blindly obeyed—or diß—obeyed. Amid the laughter of all the rest tliey wore to fall out ana stand on one side.' When all but a couplo had been howled over the game was changed. We wero formed up in two lines, facing inwards and about six yards apart. A nap was tossed on tho ground midway between the lines, and tlie men'in couples (one from each line), walking slowly up to it, tried who could snatch it first. There was this little handicap to give jjest'to the game. If a man was touched by his opponent while ho held the cap be must drop it. It was most entertaining to watch the tenso, alert, strained attitude of tho men as they faced each other ready to make tho dart downwards for the cap. Suddenly ono would dive for it; but iust as ho.naught it a smart tap on the arm would, mean dropping it. His opponent would snatch it hut be tapped in turn. At last one, snatching like a flash of lightning, would whisk the cap away and be off. "Crows and Cranes" caused a lot oF amusement. We were formed up in two lines about ton yards apart, and the officer stood between. "Those on my left, hand are cranes and tliQse on my right hand are crows," he explained. "If I shout 'Crows,' tho Cranes will dash off and the Crows will chase them.; But if 1 shout 'Crimes,' the Crows will dash off and the Cranes will ohase them. Now, are you rendv?" Then for nearlv a minute, be stood like an automobile's motor running free at top speed. "O-r-r-r-r-r-r 1" "Cr-r-r-r-r-r-rl" The "r's" whirred on his tongue and both lines stood tense and eager, waiting for the word. "Crows," he enunciated at last. Half the Crows bolted instead of dashing nfter the Cranes. Inattention aaaiu! Tho mind was not as alert as it should have been. Tli" quick-witted Crows worn after the Cranes like a flash. "It's all teaching you'to net oh the snur of tho moment," explained the captain. "It may be a case of you ••«rsns a Gornmn and which moves first.. Vou mav bo the quick or vou may be th" dead." _ I Then, punting but ha I>ny, wo al' niirohpd -iff In annl'.hrr "rlivn'xhun.""Digit," in tho "Daily. Mail."

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