SECOND:  INSTRUCTION IN THROWING.—­As previously stated the use of dummy grenades should precede the use of any live ones.  Due precautions should be taken at all times, even when working with dummy grenades, for a habit of carelessness is not to be tolerated with this sort of weapon.  Men should be instructed to throw from standing, kneeling and prone positions; although this last-named position is little used.  Distance is important but ACCURACY IS ESSENTIAL.  Men should always be taught to throw at a definite target, even when throwing in the open during preliminary work.  The men may work in groups, one group throwing and the other returning.  This method keeps all hands occupied and furnishes a medium for a little competition, which is a very helpful thing in training of this sort.  A manual of the following sort may be of use in acquiring the proper sort of throw.

   1.  Pick up the grenade with the left hand.
   2.  Prepare to throw—­face to the right and transfer the grenade to
      the right hand.
   3.  Take aim—­left hand and arm extended up and straight toward the
      target, right hand and arm behind the thrower in the same plane
      as the left.
   4.  Withdraw pin with left hand.
   5.  Throw—­use a straight overhead motion and do not bend the arm at
      the elbow.  It is not a baseball throw.  The tendency for most of
      us Americans is to follow a perfectly natural habit—­try to use
      the baseball throw.  This is to be discouraged for several
      reasons, the chief one being that the grenade weighs about a
      pound and a half, whereas our baseball weighs only a third of
      this amount.  Then, too, it often happens in the trenches that a
      grenade duel will last for hours.  Under such circumstances the
      last grenade may decide the issue and endurance will be a
      mighty telling factor.  Hence, the insistence upon the overhead
      throw.

The preliminary throwing should take place in the open but always with a definite target, an outline of a section of trench being the best sort of target.  Another excellent idea is to have a target arranged according to the diagram shown herewith and to keep score.  This procedure will also add incentive for competition and will produce results.  After men have thrown in the open for a sufficient period, they should proceed to the next stage:  This is the stage of throwing in a cage or from behind and over obstacles.  There are three distinct phases of this feature of the training:  (1.) The thrower sees the target but must throw over an obstacle. (2.) The target is invisible; the thrower is aided by an observer and a periscope; the observer notes the fall of the grenades and gives directions as follows—­“So many yards right or left” or “Shorten or lengthen so many yards.” (3.) Actual throwing in trenches.  This stage immediately precedes that of “working up a trench.”