Making the Frenchman a Fighter 



A vigorous course of training in 

 the open makes him physically fit 



Prencu Official Photos 



French soldiers, stripped to the waist, learning bayonet charging by the Herbert method 



ONE of the military problems France 

 has solved is that of sending back 

 her soldiers-on-leave to the trenches 

 without their having lost any of their 

 value as fighters. In fact, they go back 

 better soldiers than they were before. 

 When the poilus return from the 

 trenches the sense of discipline is suddenly 

 relaxed, to their military detriment. 

 Often the men are highly nervous. The 

 terrific noise of the battles they have 

 been through, and the sleepless nights they 

 have passed have weakened their 

 stamina. Some are excited — intoxicated 

 with success. Others are profoundly de- 



pressed. Soldiers recovered from shell 

 shock are more unstrung than others. 



All these men must be re-taught if they 

 are to be sent back to the firing line. The 

 time needed for re-education is ten weeks, 

 during which period the soldier is schooled 

 in the very latest methods of warfare. 



Just what method shall be used in re- 

 training soldiers is a moot subject. 

 Lieutenant Herbert of the French Navy 

 does not believe in the use of mechanical 

 appliances such as are to be found in the 

 average gymnasium. He thinks that 

 natural methods are best. He takes his 

 men right out into the open and puts them 



Run a few yards on your hands and feet after the fashion of a monkey and you will be pretty 

 tired. Yet these enthusiastic Frenchmen do not mind this method of locomotion at all 



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