Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-04

are likely TO occur. and the compass d.
rection observed. All turnlngs not 10 De
used should be blocked or else have men
posted there. The services OF guides should
be Obtained. and a rough tracing from the
map. placed over piece Of cardboard pre-
pared with luminous paint, is great AID.
These additional points are given II the
English papers
when selecting features Of the ground
TO serve as landmarks for a night march,
the officers chosen to lead the columns
should Il possible visit just before DARK
the ground TO be passed oyer-or. al any
rate d portion OF it-returnlng after DARK.
They will then be able 10 recognize by
night useful TEXTURES that would escape
their notice if only seen by daylight The
ofieer leading the advance must be sum
GENTLY far 10 the front TO prevent the
needle o. the compass from being affected
by rifles Connection between nm ana
the troops should be kept BY means OF men
extended at several PAGES distance. This
plan has the further advantage OF giving
time for verifying the direction without
T checking the troops, the connecting HES
merely closing W, An officer should in
varia5Iv be detailed 10 check the distance
marched Features OF the ground that show
against the sky line and that have been
previously observed ano fixed or the moon
or stars II in the required direction, may
be used as temporary aids. the bearing De
ing verified from time TO time. To secure
secrecy orders for q night march should
be given out as late as possible. Cavalry
patrols should precede the column. the re-
mainder OF the cavalry and artillery march
/ ing at its least exposed end. The covering
troops should not De far from the main
body and constant communication must be
kept up between all portions OF the column.
Absolute silence must be maintained and no
smoking or lights allowed. Rifles should
be carried at the slope and are on no &C
count TO be loaded. Hats should be at
stated hours and for a definite time Dur
ing halts mounted troops should stand 10
their horses; other troops viii lie down
but Will no. leave the road.
The regulations governing the supply Of
ammunition TO troops IN action have been
entirely reCest. Instead OF battalion am
munitiOu reserves there are brigade re-
serves. The rules prescribe that one loaded
mule Will follow each half battalion in &C
ton the mule in rear Of the supports, the
. cart in rear OF the reserve and the brigade
ammunition reserve will follow IN rear OF
the center OF the brigade. When the cart
with z battalion is emptled IL viii be sent
back 10 the brigade ammunition sressrve
and will be replaced by full cart by order
OF the officer in charge. As soon as there
are four empty carts with the brigade re-
serve they viii be replaced by fun carts
from the divisional ammunition column.
But II a brigade must advance through
woods or over broken ground where lateral
communication cannot ba kept up, its re
serve ann UrItiOn carts may have TO be
SO it would be with battalion dispatched
TO a distance
As to assaults, when, from the nature
Of the ground the distance OF the enemy
or the stubboruness OF the defense. assault
ing troops cannot pass on IN an unchecked
assault the second line must be sent in
carrying the first along with IL. but
throughout the advance Advantage is 10
be taken Of every opportunity TO reform or
tell on the troops engaged. This is said
10 De especially needed after a successful
assault, as the enemy may make counter
attack with his reserves. There are vEri-
Gus other revised rules including some for
the conduct Of field mRneuvers and for the
physical training Of recruits. which were
Issued in the summer and are now found
IN the drill book
a SOLDIERS TOURNAMENT.
A series Of novel contests among the In
fantrymeu ard caTalTymen Of the Depart
ment OF Colorado. L. s. A. was held al
Denver last week, and was so successful
that II is 70 be repeated annually. The
contests we're held this year for the first
time. al the instance Of General Wheaton.
the commanding officer OF the department.
Each company was represented by one man
and the athletic proficiency developed was
surprise TO the men themselves. The tour
nament not only provided novel Amusement
for Denver people but IL also aroused an
interest among the soldiers which "a eK-
pected TO bring the men Of the scattered
commands nearer one another and promote
good fellowship al well a. athletic pro