The morning call., 1892-05-30
UNCLE SANS BLUECOATS.
Practical instruction in the New
Drill Regulations.
Course Mapped Out by General Ringer.
Court Martial Findings and Sentences
Infantry Promotions.

Before departure to Vancouver Barracks
General Ruger issued a general order, upon
the receipt of which practical and belated
instruction in the new drill regulations for
Infantry and cavalry will be begun in the
Department Of California, where not
already in progress, and continued during
the remainder of the year at all posts partly
or wholly so garTisOned. Instruction for
batteries of heavy artillery in the drill for
infantry has been heretofore provided for
In orders.
lnasmuch as the instruction in tactics
heretofore had corresponds in considerable
part with the new regulations, IL is esti-
mated that for a hrst instruction course in
the latter, q drills will suffice for the school
Of the company, including that OF the
soldier and the extended order; 30 Tor the
school Of the troop; q in the school Of the
battalion for infantry and that Of the squad
ron for cavalry, including the extended
order Until July 81 drills VIII be had
daily Saturday and Sunday excepted OF
three-quarters Of an hour on the ground
for the school Of the soldier, company or
troop ana the extended order; one hour Tor
the battalion, and not to exceed one and a
half hours for the squadron, besides Ike
times for The extended order
Companies and troops may be. consoli-
dated when necessary 10 give the strength
required for the full effect Of instruction.
When target practice is IN progress the time
for drills will be selected to interfere as
little as practicable, and also in general with
due reference TO the comfort Of the COM
maDd. Extra and special duty work Will be
suspended during drill for the first course
in the schools Of the company and troop.
and all men belonging to companies aud
troops. except the guard, sick, head cooks
and chief baker for the post, will attend.
BATTALIONs AND sQUADRONs.
Companies and troops will be formed into
battaliOns ana sQuadrons for such instTuc-
ton, and 10 insure good progress IN this
line the movements for any drill will be an
nOunced as far as practical le-nCt less than
one day-befOrehand, that officers may be
prepared and no available time lost IN ex-
plantations of movements on the ground.
The course 10 the school Of the battalion for
posts having companies or troops sufficient
to permit OF it must be gone over by tile 31st
proX, and If one drill daily Will not do 1t
two may be ordered.
During the month Of August instruction
will be had in company and troop. battalion
ana squadron schools, the prOpOrtl0nate
number to be determined by the command
ing officers as most advantageous. Ii the
strength Of either arm is efficient the drills
for the latter half of the month for the par
ticular arm will be devoted TO eVOlutiOns Of
the regiment, not exceeding one ana half
hours for infantry and two for cavalry.
During this month only four drills weekly
on separate days need be bad.
During September the instruction VIII be
entirely in application Of the rules and
principles Of the extended Order-four drills
per week, and the length Of them as deter
mined TO be best for satisfactory results.
Whenever practicable General Ruger rec
ommends that these exercises be had on
ground other than the usual garrison drill
ground, to obtain the benefit OF instruction
on ground of varied surface and under con-
ditiOns similar to those probable IN actual
campaigning. IL necessary the commands
will be taken out for half or whole days,
men taking their dinners with them This
instruction will embrace the extended order
for the three formations when the strength
of the forces will allow.
CLOSE OF THE SEASON.
During October there will be four drills
or exercises weekly, attracting such parts
of the drill regulations as commanding Off
GERS may deem most necessary, the length
of drills corresponding according to school
and arm TO the times prescribed for months
prior to August. The season for practical
instruction as course will be considered as
ending on October 81, but during the months
thereafter until the beginning OF next ear S
period drills and other military exercises
will be had when the season will permit, not
less than four per week, the character as to
school and kind to be determined by COM
handing officers.
Commanding officers, while giving that
personal attention and supervision neces-
Sary TO keep constantly Informed OF the
state of instruction, will permit as far as
practicable freedom TO company, troop, bat
TALON and squadron commanders in meth
DDS Of instruction, interposing In general
only by counsel when apparently needed,
and by direction when required to insure
proper method or efficient work.
They have also been cautioned to SO
change details for extra and special duty
from time to time as to give all under their
command opportunity for necessary instruc-
tion, and to this end that the administra.
tive duties at posts may be confined to hall
day during the season Of practical lnstrue-
ton. the other half being devoted entirely
to military duties.
Colonel Graham, commandant at the Pre-