A Syllabus of a Canadian Training School for Officers

By a Special Correspondent
Infantry Journal; The United States Infantry Association; Vol, XIII, part 2, November, 1916, to June, 1917

1.     DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITY OF AN OFFICER.

(a)     Importance of subject.
(b)     Mutual confidence.
(c)     Personal responsibility.
(d)     Avoidance of playing to gallery.
(e)     Loyalty.
(f)     Relationship between officers and men.
(g)     Contrast with civilian life. —2 hours Lecture (L).

2.     LEADERSHIP.

(a)     Its meaning.

(b)     How to acquire the art of. —1 hour L.

3.     DISCIPLINE.

(a)     General. behavior and conduct of officers.
(b)     Personal appearance — physical fitness — punctuality — saluting. —2 hours L.

4.     MORALE.

Its meaning and importance — Responsibility of officers and N.C.Os. regarding it — Patriotism — Esprit de Corps — Esprit de Brigade — Esprit de Division — Esprit d'Armee. Creation of Canadian Esprit de Corps —1 hour L.

5.     ORGANIZATION.

Battalion — Brigade — Division — Chain of responsibility. —2 hours L.

6.     CARE OF ARMS.

Rifles — Bayonets — Ammunition — Equipment — Smoke Helmets — Clothing —1 hour L.
Iron Rations. —5 hours Practical (P).

7.     DRILL.

(a)     Importance of as means to an end.
(b)     Squad with arms.
(c)     Platoon.
(d)     Company.
(e)     Battalion. —45 hours P.

8.     PHYSICAL TRAINING.

(a)     Bayonet fighting —2 hours L., 30 hours P.
(b)     Physical training —27 hours P.

9.     DUTIES OF PLATOON AND SECTION COMMANDERS.

In camp, bivouac, and billets.

(a)     System of billeting.
(b)     Line of march (discipline).
(c)     In the trenches.
(d)     In the attack (as carried out by the lately adopted platoon formation). —2 hours L.

10.     PROTECTION.

Advanced Guard, Rear, Flank, and Outposts. —1 hour L.

11.     PRINCIPLES OF ATTACK NORMAL.

(a)     Organization previous to.
(b)     Distribution of troops.
(c)     Formation with regard to ground.
(d)     Formation with regard to fire.
(e)     Close communication with the troops on the flanks—4 hours I L. 4 hours 3 P.

12.     TRENCH ORDERS.

(a)     Absolute necessity for.
(b)     Organization of work.
(c)     Allotment of hours for watch, work, meals, etc. —1 hour L.

13.     TRENCH WARFARE.

(a)     Organization for an attack from the trenches (using new platoon formation). —8 hours 2 L.
(b)     Supply of ammunition, grenades, rations, water. —6 P.

14.     FIRE DISCIPLINE (combined with care of arms).

(a)     Combination of fire with movement.
(b)     Fire control.
(c)     Description of targets—3 hours 1 L.
(d)     Judging distances. —4 P.
(e)     Use of range finders.

15.     DEFENCE NORMAL.

(a)     Principal lines of defense.
(b)     Taking up a defensive line.
(c)     Siting of trenches by day and night.
(d)     Telling off and distributing of working parties. —6 hours, 2 L. 4 P.

16.     DEFENCE.

(a)     Construction of trenches.
(b)     Construction of parapets.
(c)     Construction of traverses.
(d)     Revetting, sandbag, fascine, wire hurdle, and other expedients.
(e)     Construction of splinter proof.
(f)     Loopholes, siting and construction of.
(g)     Sniping posts.
(h)     Listening posts.
(i)     Sapping, principles of. —40 hours 4 L.
(j)     Entrenching tools, use of. —36 P.
(k)     Entanglements.
(l)     Use of telescopes and periscopes.
(m)     Sniping, use and methods to be employed in.

17.     MACHINE GUNS.

(a)     How to fire the Lewis gun.
(b)     Principles of employment in attack and defense—I hour L.

18. GRENADES.

(a)     Description of.
(b)     Handling of.
(c)     Limitations of.
(d)     Use in attack and defense.
(e)     Training of bombers.
(f)     Organization of bombers in attack. Organization of bombers in defense.
(g)     Carrying of. —5 hours 3 P.
(h)     Supply of. —2 L.

19. PATROL WORK.

(a)     Importance of. —2 hours 1 L.
(b)     How to organize —1 P.

20. MAP READING.

(a)     Simple scales and meaning of.
(b)     How to read a map (explain how it should be looked upon as a book and not as a puzzle).
(c)     System of squaring and how to read.
(d)     Compass, variation of, taking of angles. Conversion of magnetic into true-bearing — 12 hours 5 L.
(e)     Setting a map by compass and by other methods—7 P.

21. MESSAGES AND REPORTS.

(a) Official letters and writing of.
(b)     Memoranda.
(c)     Minutes.
(d)     Field messages, methods of writing.
(e)     Verbal messages, limitations of.
(f)     Reports, how to be written.
(g)     Reconnaissance, simple form of. —8 hours 2 L.
(h)     Trench reports—6 P.

22.     COOPERATION OF OTHER Arms.

(a)     Importance of and methods of.
(b)     Cooperation between staff and regimental officers—3 hours L.
(c)     Cooperation with Artillery.
(d)     Cooperation with Engineers.

23.     ARREST.

(a)     Rules for.
(b)     Telling off and disposal of prisoners.
(c)     Crimes and punishment on active service.
(d)     Field General courts—martial. —2 hours L.
(e)     Army (suspension of sentences) Act, 1915.

24.     INTELLIGENCE.

(a)     Service of security.
(b)     Information.
(c)     Prisoners of war.
(d)     Treatment and disposal. —1 hour L.

25.     G.R.O.

Extracts from secrecy press, discipline, correspondence, etc. —1 hour L.

26. SYSTEM OF SUPPLY.

(a)     Ammunition.
(b)     Supplies. —1 hour L.

27.     BILLET LIVE.

How to care for and get the best out of the men in billets. N.B.—This is a special subject with a very special importance, which was not realized at the commencement of the war. —1 hour L.

28.     SANITATION.

(a)     In trenches, billets, bivouac, line of march.
(b)     Care. of feet, standing orders on the subject.
(c)     Evacuation of the wounded, general principles of.
(d)     First aid, use of field dressing. —2 hours L.

29.     GAS.

(a)     Protection against.
(b)     Attack with.—1 hour L.

30.     REVOLVER.

(a)     Method of using.
(b)     Short course in use of.—3 hours P.

AVERAGE DAY.

6.45–7.30 — Physical Drill.
9.00–10.15 — Drill.
10.30–11.30 — Lecture.
11.30–12.30 — Bayonet Fighting.
2.00–4.00—Engineering (Practical).
600–7.00—Lecture.

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