davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-05
corps battalion of Infantry with a few

corps battalion of Infantry with few
cavalry.
Railroad Troops - Railroads must be
operated with special skill. In all foreign
services there are special corps for this
purpose. In this country the length and
mum ber OF roads are so great and the Off
Gals all so responsible, and having attained
their positions by long service and expert
ence-that with their American aptitude
and executive ability, they are greatly
the superior of any similar body of men
in Europe-so that we have no need of
special troops in the army for such pur-
poses. In case of war they would, in con-
nection with a military railroad staff sup
ply all needs, as they did from 1861 to 1866.
Train Troops-In our organization the
number OF wagons of all kinds per corps
amounts to 1906, or about 40 per 1000 men,
This includes the bridge train, ambu-
lances, spare wagons, escort wagons, cais-
sons, etc. They require altogether about
5000 mules. The Germans have nearly
1000 wagons and use 6000 horses, and in all
foreign armies there are regularly re-
cruited men for the Train Corps, suitably
uniformed and equipped. We depend on
men detailed from the line and on civilian
employees, and they are all placed in charge
of the Quartermaster or Subsistence De-
partments, except the ammunition col
umns.
For campaign purposes there are used in
the wagon transportation the six-nule
wagon, the two-horse and the four-horse
escort wagon and the packmule. The last
is not used for the supply of large body
of troops, but only in marching in noun
tain or isolated regions, where but small
bodies OF troops would go. The six-mule
wagon, according to condition of the
roads, carries from 2500 to 1000 pounds,
and the escort wagons from 1000 to 5000
pounds. While the number of wagons is
always very great IN gu army, yet this
number must vary with circumstances.
The number of six-mule wagons given in
the CORPS table is on the basis that they
will carry 2500 pounds and five days forage
for their own teams. Now artillery am
munition weighs eighteen pounds gross per
round, 1000 rife cartridges of small
caliber 81 pounds, the soldiers ration per
day pounds gross, and the forage ration
9 to IL pounds. There are five days ra-
tions in the supply train, five days forage
in the forage train, SO extra rounds per
gun and 100 extra rounus per infantry
man: Each infantryman carries $50
rounds on his person and the small arm
ammunition wagon carries 36 to SO rounds
| rounds per man more in the ammunition
column.
A field battery carries 231 rounds per
gun, or AZ in each timber and 126 in each
caisson. There are 8 caissons. The re-
tion columns. This is total of 270 per
gun. The horse batteries have the same
| number. The caissons have two chests, so
that los rounds are with the ammunition
column. This latter is in charge of
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-05

number of small divisions waska decided
element of weakness and it is now held
that if corps is reduced to division, by
casual ties, or division to a brigade, it is
better to keep it independent under its
proper commander, rather than attach it
as third division, or third brigade, to an
other corps or division. The English and
Americans have shown in all past wars a
preference for three divisions, also the
French, although their normal organiza-
tion calls for only two. AS a matter of
fact in the army maneuvers of 1892 the
French experimental with three divisions
The German army cor ps is commanded
by general of infantry. His chief OF staff
is field officer of the general staff. The
chief of the corps artillery is major-gen-
eral commanding the artillery brigade of
the same number as the corps. Thus, if
we take for example the Third Army Corps.
the major-general commands the Third
Artillery Brigade. The chief of en- gineers
is the major commanding the Third Pio-
neer Battalion. The general staff OF the
corps commander consists of three general
staff officers of any rank and four captains
or subaterns as aids-de-camp detached
from regiments of the Third Army Corps.
Then there are two adJutants, one each to
the chief of engineers and chief of artillery.
In the German army the adjutants are
not, as with us, officers of the staff. but
cal work, and are like our chief clerks of
army and department headquarters.
The designation of the corps and its
various subdivisions is peculiar in the Ger
man service, and consists IN retaining,
under all circumstances, the same desig-
nation, or one derived directly from it, as
the corps. Thus we have taken, for ex-
ample, the Third Army Corps. 1t has two
infantry divisions, the Fifth and Sixth.
They are permanently assigned to this
corps. Taking up the Fifth Division, we
find its commander to be a lieutenant
general. His staff consists of one field officer
of the general staff and two aids. The
Fifth Division contains the Ninth and
Tenth brigades, and the Sixth contains the
Eleventh and Twelfth brigades. The COM
manding officer of the Ninth Brigade, for
example. is a major-general. He has one
aid. The brigade has two regiments each
of three battalions. These brigades are
numbered the Seventeenth and Eight
eenth. The Tenth Brigade has also the
Third Rife Battalion. Each division has
for divisional artillery one division of four
batteries of the Third Field Artillery Regi-
ment under command of major. The
pioneers of the division are the first COM
panv of the Third Battalion of Pioneers.
The corps artillery is commanded by
colonel-the commanding officer of the
Third Field Artillery Regiment. 1t con-
sists of the Third Division of the Third
Field Artillery Regiment of four batteries
and the horse artillery division of the
same regiment, and the third company of
the Third Battalion of Pioneers, and the
third corps ammunition column,
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-05

under command of a captain, and the
third battalion of train troops, under
major, and including five provision col
umns, twelve field hospitals and horse
depot. Attached TO the corps there is no
cavalry, after the old style of using it, for
the purpose of attack. 1t is due to inde-
clsion In opinions of tacticians that in
later years cavalry has been first assigned
to infantry divisions and then taken away.
Those even who favored divisional cav
airy were not agreed as to its proper use,
some holding that its proper sphere was
for aggressive tactics on the field, and
others that it was wanted only as secu-
rity and for gathering information. The
number assigned to a division is usually
from 500 to 600, but has been as high as
1000. In the German army corps one
regiment of cavalry forms an integral part
OF each infantry division. In the new
German instructions for drill it is stated
that the chief duty of divisional cavalry is
to consist of reconnoitering work, although
when necessary tactical use on the battle
field is not excluded. tits further decreed
that hereafter no body of troops down to
and including single battalion shall be
without few cavalrymen foT reconnoiter.
ing purposes. in order that infantry patrols
may be done away with.
The Corps and Divisional Artillery-Dur-
ing the War of the Rebellion each in
1antry brigade of four or more regiments
had battery of six guns. The corps had
In addition what was termed the Reserve
Artillery. AT present the idea of the
proper use of artillery. is to bring all and
as much as possible right at the opening
OF battle. Hence each infantry division
has artillery permanently assigned to it. In
the United States corps there are four bat
ter1es, but in the German six and sometimes
eight. In addition there is another body
called the Corps Artillery, under the chief
OF artillery of the corps and corps COM
mander. In our book Troops in Cam
paign" we have body of forty-eight
guns called the Reserve Artillery, but
which in war we shall term and use as
corps artillery.
Engineer Troops-In the United States
army the engineer troops perform the
duties of sappers, miners and pontoniers.
We have so many skilled mechanics and
artisans in our volunteer ranks that it is
easy to detail them and do engineer work
OF any description. Our plan is to have
strong company with each corps and
reserve with abundant material at army
headquarters. The company is really a
battalion of five to six companies of 100
men each. In foreign services the engi-
neers are assigned permanently to division
and corps headquarters.
The Signal Corps-In our army there is
one company of signal troops to each
corps, charged with all signal and tele-
phone service, balloon service and fifty
miles of telegraph wire in nine wagons.
Provost Guards-This is the military
police of our army and represented in
foreign services by the gendarmerie. In
its absence we substitute at each army
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-05

an artillery officer of the Corps Artillery
1t is divided into four sections, one for
each division and one for the corps. 1t is
accompanied by personnel of $50 trained
artillerymen. The supply train with forage
and rations is also divided into four Sec
tions, three for provisions and one for
forage. The army wagon in column occu-
pies twenty to twenty five yards, and it re-
quires but little calculation to show that
the wagon transportation for an army
corps occupies twelve miles of road. On
leaving the road, each section leaves
at the same time and is parked on
the side in rows with poles to the road.
The wagons on breaking park pull out
simultaneously. For every twenty five
wagons there is one wagon-m aster, one as
sistant and twenty nine teamsters. The
following table gives the number of
wagons and animals in the train for the
division and army corps:
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-05
MEN THIS FORCE THERE BE SOLDIERS

over II, 700 officers and men 1t is not to
be understood that this is given as an in
flexible type, as many considerations may
change the strength of the corps. But as
rule, while the strength of other subdivi-
sions varies, that of an army corps practi-
cally remains the same. II is the strategi-
cal unit and is complete in itself, contain
ing as it does all arms of the service and
auxiliary subdivisions. It can, therefore,
at any time, be considered as the perfect
fghtlng-machine ready under any condi-
tions for service. How many corps shall
constitute an army is an open question.
The Germans in 1S70-71 found more than
six corps unwieldy. Yet for extended
operations on large scale less than three
are too few.
The War of the Rebellion brought out
army corps of from 1900 to 10000 men.
General Sherman said no army corps
should have less than $4,000 men, and in
1864 five corps of the Army of the Poto-
mac were consolidated into three, each of
this strength. But General Humphrey
said Of this arrangement that five corps
each OF 10, 600 men would have been better,
since the country operated in was so much
OF wilderness and with such poor and
few roads that it was often impossible to
communicate with subordinates on an ex-
tended line of battle or on the march when
hurrylng troops up for battle. A modern
corps may have two, three or more divi-
slons, called infantry divisions" though
each of them has division of cavalry and
division of artillery. The corps has in
addition an artillery force called the
corps of artillery" This is under the
command of the corps chief of ARTILLERY,
and includes the horse artillery batteries
which operate with the cavalry divisions.
Whether a corps should have two or
more divisions has been argued and dis
puted both ways since the time OF Napo-
leon. But two divisions seem to work
well, and that Is the number adopted by
nearly all the great armies of Europe. AS
against two divisions it is said That the
authority OF the corps commander is neu-
traliZed unless both division commanders
agree with him. With two divisions, the
corps commader must weaken one for ad-
vance and rear guards. Also, this ar
rangement leaves the corps commander
without proper reserve, since taking an
entire division for such reserve would be
excessive, while if less than division is
taken, the command will be split up into
too many fragments. If each division has
two brigades of two regiments of three
battalions each, then when any part of the
division is detached less than q brigade
brigade commander is left without any
suitable ommand, thus often engendering
jealousy and ill feeling. But while it
is true that with two divisions
the corps commander is obliged
to detach regiments from brigades, or bri
gades from divisions, it is better to trust
to the loyalty, subordination and patriot
ism OF the officers concerned than to be
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-05

II T is understood that though the pres
ent Congress is disposed to increase
the strength of the navy considerably,
yet, Notwithstanding the earnest rec
concentrations OF the Secretary of
War the general of the army and the best
judges in the country of the matter, in
Guiding many naval officers Of high rank,
the army, which is most in need of
reorganization and increase, may be left
as it has remained for years. Yet should
Spain be so foolish as TO go to war in case
the belligerency of Cuba were recognized
there is no doubt but Uncle Sam would
soon turn out an immense army of men,
and arm them, equip them, organize and
discipline them according to modern con-
ditions, though the doing so would take
matter OF time. In case of Spain 1t would
not matter much, but against Great Bri-
tain the thing becomes exceedingly seri-
Gus. for long before we would have this
army in a condition to do much damage
when thrown against English troops, we
would lose many seacoast towns, many
lake cities, and much property would be
destroyed.
In such a case, many people have won
dered what the strength ard manner of
organization OF the American army would
be. It has all been thought out, all
planned and the officers are ready to take
charge of it all, should the occasion ever
occur. 1t would necessarily be vastly
different from anything we have ever ex-
perienced in the past wars, and more ap-
preaching foreign armies than ever before.
It must be remembered that the magazine
rifles with which all modern armies are
armed have an effective range of about 2500
yards and a maximum range of 300 yards,
and continuous speed of fire averaging
at least twelve aimed shots per minute.
An assaulting force cannot move without
exposing full-length target to this terrific
fire, while 1t cannot return such fire and
maintain its progress. The gun has, more
than any other one thing, been instru-
mental in bringing about the changed con-
ditions of modern war. This change is not
only on the held of battle, but exists IN
the concentration of men forming the
armies, ana then again in the marches of
the army or armies to meet the foe or to
retreat before him. Let US look at a few
figures of actual conditions, and instes.d of
their being dry they will be found in.
tensely interesting.
The following table gives the normal
type of modern American army CORPS
and division, as decided upon by our best
modern military tacticians and strategists.
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-05

TABLE NoRMAL TYPE
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-05

TABLE u.-SUPPLY AND AMMUNITION
TRAINS, UNITED STATES ARMY.
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-05

oplged to depend upon an infe1ible sys-
TEN that will never admit Of anv ch.n:a
The French found in 1901 that the great
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-05

From the above tables, we zee that the
normal type cf corps contains something
over 43, 800 officers and men and diyision
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-05

r is understood that though the pres
ent Congress is disposed to increase
l the strength of the navy considerably,
u vet, Notwithstanding the earnest rec
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-12-17
Want Free Homes

A meeting of the settlers on the Sis
seton reservation will be held for the
purpose of deciding upon the best
mca for pushing the free homes bill
which is now pending in congress.
When the Sisseton reservation was
opened the price of the land was fixed
at $3.50 per acre. The settlers will
strive to have the land brought under
the old homestead law. The 11,0O0,0O0
acres ceded by the Sioux Indians and
opened to settlement in 1890 Is In a
similar condition. Settlers on the
Sioux lands who made entry during the
first three years after the opening of
the reservation are required to pay
$1.a5 per acre. for land taken during
the following two years 70 cents per
acre, and for all lands taken subse-
quent to the five years SO cents per
acre. Recently the secretary OF the in
terror ruled that In addition to these
amounts settlers must pay an addition
al S1-2o per acre. If the free homes
bill becomes n law settlers upon max
ing that final proof would be required
ing final proof would he required to
pay only the regular land office COM
missions, amounting to about $3.50.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-12-17
Crenmcrfe. CIa.c Dovr

Many OF the creameries In Clay coun-
ty are being compelled to close down
for want of milk. The cold weather
has made milking and feeding of the
cows very difficult work, and as a con
sequence the dairy quantity is greatly
decreased. During the past summer
several large creameries have been
either built new or old ones repaired
and put In running order. The farmers
throughout the county are devotiny
more and more of their time each wear
to the raising Of mich cows, with the
Intention of eventually making this
branch Of the farm work the principal
part Already South Dakota butter Is
quoted on the New York market Mt a
premium. and commands The topp price.
The butter Is much sweeter and bet
ter favored than the famous Illinois
butter. Tbs grasses on the prairie are
very nutritive, and a large hcri Of
cows can he fed and made 10 give
plenty OF rich milk from them MS food.
with perhaps a small portion Of other
feed once a day. The rev years If
drouth which have been in the state
Tor some time past. have set the farm
ers tlinking OF ether means Of support
Oh thu farm than raising farm prod.
utts FRI in the soil.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-12-17
From Foreign shores.


The plague is spreading everywhere
in India.
Nj. Meline. the French premier, de-
clares for international bilaetallism.
King Humbert gave audience TO
United States Ambassador McVeagh.
1t is again said that England, Rus
STA and France will settle the Eastern
question.
Henry Fell Pease, Liberal member of
parliament of the Cleveland division
of the north riding of York, is dead.
The libel suit of Earl Russell against
Lady Selma Scott, his mOther-in-law,
and three servants. vas again adj
journed iii London until Jan. 4.
The British steamer Castle Eden,
from Sierre Leone, with several hun
dred laborers to work upon the Pana-
ma canal, has arrived at Colon.
rhe Ursuline convent Mt Avignon,
France. is restrained because of refus-
nj to pay the new monastic tax. and
put up for sale at auction. The nuns
were the only bidders, and they bought
back the convent for 5,0n5 francs.
The king of Greece has issued n man
ifesto demanding army neu on
a large scale, and summoning 10000
men from the reserve force for perma-
nent camp. The selection of Il new
rifle for the army and other military
extensions long advocated by public
and military opinions, has caused y
sensation.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-12-17
People An Print.

Walter G.. Heinecke, twenty years
old, son of Edmund Heinecke, who
claimed to be a German count, died In
Manhattan hospital, New York, from
wounds he inflicted himself. The pO-
lice think there is a woman in the case.
J.. Il. Labouisse, ex-president of the
New Orleans Cotton exchange, and
well known in every cotton market in
the country, began coughing and with
I'm two hcnrs expired from heart fail
ure, brought on by the violent exer-
ton.
Mrs. Fannie Redding died suddenly
at the house of her daughter, Mrs.
Harry Burke, in Derby, Conn. She was
102 years old. She was the nurse of
p. L. Barnum, the great Snowman, in
his infancy. 1t is said that she saved
Barnum's life when a boy by throw
ing away medicine prescribed for him
while i'll.
A Kentucky umo coming from
some of Gov. Bradley's close friends,
is that he has been Respondent of late;
that he believes his throat trouble has
been caused by the continual harrass-
ment of his Office; that his ilLhealth
caused him to drop out Of the senator
ial race and has caused his hesitation
about calling an extra session of the
legislature.
The will Of the late William Stein
way, the New York piano manufact-
urer, ~bequeaths nearly the entire for
tune to members Of the immediate
family. There are some small requests
Of a public character and the Leider-
kranz comes In for a small share, as
do some Of the German schools, but
The charitable requests are few.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-12-17
WASHINGTON T.Ik-

The Cubn delegation in Washington
has received news TO the effect fhat II
things continue as they are in the PM
iippine islands, they will be free De-
fore Cuba.
January 3 Is the date being consid-
| cred for bringing on the Pacific rail-
| road funding bill in the house. A rule
fixing that day has been drawn by the
members of the committee on rules,
| and probably will be recommended,
The president has nominated BenJa-
min h. Kimberly of Colorado to be re-
ceiver OF public moneys at Denver,
Col: also, John q. Ostrander of Alas
ka, to be commissioner in II for the
district of Alaska, to reside at Juneau.
The senate, in executive session, rati-
fled an agreement made between Sec
rotary Olney and Minister TONER OF
Mexico, extending for n year the pro-
visions of the treaty between the
United States and Mexico for a survey
and relocation of the international
boundary line west of the Rio Grandes
A radical change in examination
methods has been determined open; sy
the civil service commission, and will
be put into Immediate operation by
new rules, making age. character, tech
meal experience, intelligence and ply
steal ability the test for n place as me-
chanic in the engineer branch of the
government service.
The postmasters at Waukegan, Ill.
and Evanston, Ill, recently removed
by the president, have refused to yield
their offices to their successors. Their
action is based on a determination to
continue in charge until their success
ors n produce their commissions The
department has been advised of their
refusal, and an inspector has been or
dered to assume charge of each office.
A. b. Fisher, minister of agriculture,
will be in Washington oon to discuss
with American authorities the ques-
ton of abolishing the international
quarantine against cattle. If the gov
eminent of the United States will
agree to abolish n quarantine against
Canadian cattle, ii is understood that
Mr.. Fisher will agree, on behalf Of the
Canadian government. to abolish quar-
antine against American cattle.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-12-17
The Judge Had self-Re.p.c,

In a motion to cur a change OF
evnuc. Joseph Kirby. n Sioux Falls at
torney. submitted an affidavit before
Judge j. w. Jones at Sioux Falls, saw
ing that 1t was his belief that n It'll
CANT could not secure n fair trial in a
case when A. b. Kittredgr was on the
other side. Kittredge is the South Da-
kota member of the national Republi-
can committee and a close rersonal
friend Of Judge J,ncs. Mr.. Kirby also
swore that. IN his belief, Judge Jones
had permitted his court records to be
altered, and, in closing. quoted other
attorneys as saying that Kittredye had
a "pulp on the court. Kirby was ar
raigned for contempt of court. He
apologized profusely. and the nudge
imposed n fine of 1900, which Kirbv
promptly paid. The other ATTORNEYS.
u by one, came forward and de-
clarcd that Kirby had used their
names without warrant and that thev
had been misquoted. Kirby is now
under Indictment by the federal grand
jury for receiving stolen goods. The
affair has created q sensation.