The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-21
military MATTERS.
900 %<>S<>S%&

From time to time we read accounts of
orders having been ISSUED to certain
troops to be ready To march at a mo-
ment's notice. Every few days since the
Maine disaster it is reported that the
soldiers of the regular army have been
issued all of their camp eQuipage in order
to be ready TO march at a moments
notice The truth of it is that the army
is always ready to march at once The
standing orders are. and always have
been, that a soldier shall not leave the
reservation without permission, should he
do so ii Is at his own peril
The camp equipage is kept at all times
in the company quarters and is ready to
be thrown into wagons without any de-
lay. and the soldiers have their KNAPP
sacks packed at all times. Should an
order come at the most unexpected mo-
ment It would be only a very short while
until every soldier was on the march
When the troops We're ordered into the
field in the summer of "a 10 take an active
part in the railroad strike. the order was
received at Fort Douglas at nearly
o clock in the morning
Nothing was expected at the time, but
the officers and men were awakened by
lowed by the general In little over
an hour the troops were on the march to
the city and were soon on the train.
armed and equipped as thoroughly as
If they had had n weeks notice The
army is supposed to get out at any and all
times. and when the order arrives all that
IS necessary is 10 form in line. send a
detachment of man TO the commissary for
the rations. which will take only a few
minutes, and they are away
o - @
It is reported from army headquarters
that since the probable war with Spain
has come 10 be of such general interest.
the crankS are out in full force. Sug-
gestions of all sorts as to the proper
method of preparing for possible war
burden the mails of all OF the public OFF,
Gals who are supposed TO have any au-
thOrity in the matter Of accepting sug-
gestions.
A recent issue of the Army and Navy
Journal says:
Major General Miles has been in con-
ference with Secretary Alger regarding
changes of stations of troops and the
distributions of the batteries of the new
artillery regiments among the coast de-
lenses IL is probable that orders will
shortly be issued changing the stations
of troops which have not been moved
from their present posts in some years.
These movements Will be generally along
the lines suggested some months ago.
The Sixth infantry. now at Fort Thomas.
IS likely to exchange stations with the
Twenty-third infantry, now at Fort Clark.
in the department OF Texas The Third
infantry. at Fort Smelling. MINI. viii
probably take the place of the Eighteenth
at Fort Bliss. Texas. al but one squad
ron of the Third cavalry, and possibly the
entire cavalry detail at jefferson Bar
racks. IS likely to be sent to points in
tGlt NORTHWEST Two tIOODS DIODdD4E DtlH6
sent to Yellowstone park. Some other
changes in station, the Fourteenth in
fantry. at Vancouver. for instance. may
b. included in the department plans be-
fore the orders for the transfer are form
ally issued and those suggested may be
amended. The orders which viii be is
sued e2rlr this spring will have regard
10 a redistribution of the military force
on a peace footing and viii not contem-
plate anything like concentration for war
purposes. The details of the new artil-
NnT- ha nor 4 E1fN Ia
arranged
1t has been often contended by army
officials that the government could not
arm large body of men with the new
rifle without quite a lapse of time between
the date of the order for the guns and the
delivery OF them But in the 9re9ara--
tons for war the government has looked
about for an arm which could be used as
4 substitute at the proper time.
1t is stated at the war department
that several thousand Winchester latest
improved rifles, calibre 30 may be pur-
chased in case of eme-gency for arming
volunteer troops. These rifles and the
regu- aGOl krag-JOrgenSe n ma gazine rifles
can Use INTERCHANGEABLE ammunition.
which is an UndOubted advantage in the
matter of economy. The Winchester Arms
company has large quantity of this type
of rifle on hand. and has ample facilities
for producing n big output. Ammunition
could. of course. be supplied by the Win
chester people and the Frankfort arsenal
is manufactured The subject Of calling
in the Springfield rifles which has been
issued to the national guards and the sub
stitution of improved Winchesters. Caiibre
., is also a matter CT consideration. IL
IS believed that the present is good time
10 provide for interchangeable ammuni-
ton for the army and rational guards.
The authority Of congress for The ex-
change could probably now be easily OBJ
tanned
8 IS q
The Quartermaster'S department has in
creased its orders for supplies of all Kids.
All of the new material for tents viii be
dyed in the fbre the drab cOl1red tents
which have recently been given a success
ful trial in the army posts having been
adopted. The supplies of the department
have been considerably reduced or recent
issues to the states, the army. the ma
rine corps and in preparations + II equip
ping the new artillery regiments
A recent order from headquarters of the
department of the Colorado has fixed the
months OF May and Jure as the ores in
which the rife practice is to be held this
year.
SHEEP ON RAFT RIVER.