The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-19
FOR A REAL SHAM BATTLE.
THE RULES or MKT BELIEVE VAR
Az OBSERpED IN ENGLdND.

/, | lnO lhUOuS Dnttte NOD mn. IOUNnt OF
May II. 1900. between the helmeted forces Of
the North and the fatigue. capped troors o
tho South was not q decisive victory. The
Northern troops drove back tho Southern mon
with considerable loss to themselves; but the
Southerners say. with some show OF truth. that
ii 1t hadn't boon for e. orders" they would have
licked tho Northerncrs out OF their boots, and
they point with prido to n long list OF Northern
helmets broken by the wads OF blank car.
tridGes and clinch their boasts with references
to n soldier who now draws n State pension
OF 81 a month for an eye rendered unservlce-
able ut that memorable battle.
Nor was the. battle fought on Oct. 81 1909.
| between tho Same forces. any more decisive.
Tho Northern forces again drove back their
opponents; but again the Southcrners wave
orders" In their adversaries' faces. and say.
"Yahl but II It had been real war. whero'd you
have been2' To this the Northerncrs can only
reply with dignity. 1--WE should not have been
with you; We should have been fighting" This
reply. though 1t contains tho elements OF the
reproof valiant. Is not decisive: so. having
measured swords. Northerner and southerner
can part. each as victorious as before.
| Now 1t must not be supposed that tho North
| ern force needed nearly three and half years
to prepare for another indecisive victory over
tho Southern force. 1t needed nothing OF the
| sort: but between whites n now system OF drill
regulations had been sprung on an unsuspect-
| ing National Guard which needed some time
to get accustomed to things as they were and
| as they had not been. But the National
Guard-at least OF this Stnte-sccms to have
| foregathered with the new regulations. and its
members have got tired OF cut-and- dried bat
| ties; and they thirst for war! They want-or
at least some Of them want-a sham battle
that shall be fought out to the end. though. to
be sure. they don't want the end to be SO
far away as in the Seven Days battles. or in
such n dismal place as tho Wilderness.
What they suggest is a sham battle with
umpires to decide which force wins and how 1t
wins, the com mnnders thrown on their own
resources. and fair field and no favor A
battle with umpires has never been fought on
q large scale in this country. In fact. tho
largest collection OF soldiers since 1868 was
Con. Doy!e's force at Buffalo in August 1892
It numbered upward OF 5000 men. Tho Sew
enth United States Infantry used. and perhaps
still Is accustomed. TO send out train unler
escort OF company, and then send an
other company out to capture the train and
umpires rode with each force and decided
whether the train was brought in safe or
whether the attacking party succeeded in pill
laying the wagons
The fact that we have never had such battles
might make our umpircs bit slow. and pre-
the iclat which distinguishes movements car
red out in accordance with printed orders:
but 1t shoad not maze the krieySspje' any tho
less instructive to the participants. from Con
erals commanding down to tho private who
has read his tactics" They have such sham
battles in England every little while: and SO
valuable is the experience acquired at them
considered that the official - Infantry Drill"
book AS revised by her Maiesty's command"
contains a chapter wholly given up to "um-
rire regulations" aud this charter. not being
copyrighted in this country. might be repro
duced cheauly. and 1t is possible with various
other sections Of the same hook prove OF con-
siderable valve to tho National Guard.
These regulations are detailed md explicit
Paragraph J SAYS that the umpircs should
npnear In the same order Of dress as tho
troops the, they e arc arc associated o-o with" which
NETS the umpires with that hitherto rictori-
Gus army must wear helmets also They
arm above tho elbow" They receive any sre-
cinl orders that mny be issued which, they
watch the action OF each ndep-nl ent body o. |
troops: assistant umpires cannot decide uues- |
collision. until decision can be obtained from
the nearest umrirc. These paragraphs bear |
DIRECTLY on the actual battle;
units than a half troor. hall company. or a |
gun" with US these units would havo to be |
20. Umpires W Ill aiwaTs base their decis.
ions on the actual present rrcgmstancres. TAX
distance. or infantry or artillery within range.
10 At the conclusion OF days proceed.
,ngs or WIN tie cfafs s 5e Grn sIhHinded
~. In forming decisions the um pircs must
he guided By certain principles. They should
cnnsiderthe relative forces engaged on each
side and in immediate Reserve: the strength
o. a position. and the nature Of the GronnG to
be passed over in an attack: the disposition Of
the troops on Tho defensive. and the plan OF
attack oiths assnilants. special credit being
IA ii infantry ar nrc Iuiiciousy posted in n
strong position. without more cover than is af-
i9ched by accidents Of ground they "anIot he
than two to one. The attacking force will loso
oms,sixth Of its strength Il succesG;inl. one
will lose one-Gunrter il dslGdGehi
~, II infantry are rested behind sho!ter
he disloiged Ly n force Of less than three to
one: the attacking torce will lose one-fourth;
tn /, GsoGed anu
'lcJ II those attacks arc not preceded by
artillery fire, the proportion OF att alta ; to
defenders must De three TO ono ana Tour TO
80 Twelve men. we'll posted. will prevent
the passage Of q hollow road. hridce, Nc.. by
cavalry until driven back by superior force.
ARTILLERY imGSrrd w. or are to no.
considered taken. Guns Iimbrred up., il un-
supported or weakly protected. may be cap
'"Geh by Infantry sEirmi' ,n. a,d m,,sr,,Is
have h"en brought to he spot q bridge can be
destroyed in fifteen minutes. ~ materials arc
clearly at hand. n bridge can he repaired IN
hall an hour; u materials have to he collected
one and n half hours must 30 allowed: but in
fantry may tie able to pass IN hall an hour.
~ When troops alo prevented IRON de;
blowing by crops, &c. thcy may he considered
ms having deployeh. allowance being made for
tho deay in making the DEVELOPMENT.
The foregoing regulations are Tor the UNI
nlres. hut there are equally interesting rules
for tho troops. 1T Infantry are h"afcn by m
fentry." snys paragraph Of this section of the
chapter The victors may pursic; me de-
III they have been rallied in rear OF supporting
troops or shelter.
10 Villages and enclosures with troops
formed in front are 10 10 considered as ocru-
pied. II circumstances will not allow OF tho
troops actually throwing m trenches. they |
must be- indicated by white screens about
three feet high: shelter trench can be made
available in half an hour.
-; When artillery orsns Ere at long ranges
tho object aimed at will b. distinGuls shed ny
ilngs or discs-red mud whit" Inr infantry.
White for cavalry. no disc for arilllcrH' Like
was IT touched the rock: calling out; Touch