Lewis war diary, August 1917-March 1919 / James Ray Lewis - Page 51
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[Page 51]
the greatest wheat growing country in the west of Europe, but now alas such things as agriculture have been sadly neglected in these later days, and now the penalty is being paid in shortened rations. But more of Rome later when I have seen that camp.
We are trained in Bomb throwing and for gas attacks. On Wednesday we had to pass through a room full of Lachrymatory gas. Its smell resembles freshly cut pineapple, but when it is strong enough it causes the tears to blind one eyes to smart and the tears to flow so as to blind one. It is easy to understand how an army could be helpless against a foe who had used it against them. Some smoke bombs were let off for our benefit, they resemble jam tins and are struck like lighting a match; the volume of smoke they throw out is enormous.
The curriculum in the bullring is somewhat as follows, route march of ¾ of a mile or so, physical jerks, bombing, musketry, dinner, squad drill bayonet fighting and finally musketry which after all is the most important. As we go for our route march on Saturdays through the English