The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-17
SITES FOR MILITARY CAMPS.
Belief Ecre That Gle MAY he Chosen
in MARYLAND.

belief EeTe That G1e Way lie Chosen
in Maryland.
It is believed in official circles here that
If proper interest is shown by the people
Of Maryland there is q fair prospect that
one Of the four sites to ne selected for
the great military maHeuvre camps aU-
thorizsd by Congress viii be in that
state. The matter has not yet been for
maHy considered by the board to be
charged with that duty but the general
anticipation is that one of the maneuvre
camps viii be located in either Maryland
or Virginia
Maryland has the advantage in favor
able sites easily accessible and 1t is likely
that the National CiuardsmeR would pre-
fer 4 camp in Southern Maryland, near
the Potomac, to the old Camp Alger'
site in Virginia. where there was much
sickness and distress during the Spanish
war To procure the camp for Maryland,
however immediate steps should be tax
en- to locate avaiIab BILE sites. and il IS prob
able that a donation Of ground viii be
necessary.
Military maneuvres on a scale ap-
preaching those annually executed by the
crack army corps % Germany France,
and Russia viii be an important feature
Of the work designed for the service sta
toned at home if Congress assents to the
recommendations which viii be presented
next session by the Secretary of War
With regular strength Of only 25.000 men
three years ago and the requirements Of
foreign service since the close Of the
Spanish war Of three-f0urths of the army,
regulars and volunteers. there has been
no force Of ADEQUATE size and properly
proportiouated among the several arms
= l..
eyoIutions might be attempted. but now
that the standing army has been raised
10 limit Of Io00l0 mer and duty in this
country for the greater part of the en-
listed force is expected after year or
two, he army IS preparing to carry out
some valuable work with which the clos
est cooperation Will be expected Of the
National Guard
1t has been recognized among army
men for a decade that the National Guard
suffers through lack Of proper instruction.
from the regular establishment and want
Of close cooperation with men and Of
fcers whose business it is to drill. equip,
march, and fight companies and battaI-
ions. The great National Guards Of Penn
syivania, New York. and Massachusetts.
Illinois and Maryland, aside from the
minor State organizations. it Is held by
army officers, would show great improve
ment if identified with the regular army
in summer encampments, where discip-
line and the proper respect that should be
shown National Guard officers by men
would be forced on the militia in an ef-
fcctive manner
One Of the reasons for Secretary Roots
Western tour Of inspection is 70 select
site for a great Western maneuvring
ground where the cavalry artillery, and
infantry may simulate the art of actual
war in all its phases and carry out for
weeks the daily routine Of camp life and
work in the field required Of q great
army corps in war time. This is some
thing the army has had no experience
with, except IN the reality Of war. It has
had TO opportunity for practicing war
games and the art Of strategy. nor has ii
had any great amount or field target prac-
tice, except under actual var conditions.
To afford these advantages and to bring
the national army into close touch with
the State militia forces Is the object Of
this programme now being formed 10y the
War Department Secretary Root viii Sc
lect Fort Riley as one Of the Western
posts for the drill ground IF that section.
TIE Government controls a reservation
there Of q. GO acres. with ample water IA
ciIities and possessing the topograp hicaI
features which make the site admirably
suited for the purposes.
Three others are to be established but
these are to be left 70 a board which will
be formed on the return Of the Secretary
From ali sections Of the country have
come liberal offers of land. so that the
Department will not be Obliged to ask
Congress for large sums to either pur-
chase or take long leases on sites Large
towns and small ones have offered desir-
able places. but to decide which are the
best located and adapted viii be determin-
ed by the board.
General Ward. the acting adjutant gen
eraI Of the army. said today that three
sites, aside from that at Riley, would be
chosen and they would be in the South,
East. and North At what points. how
ever. could not be decided until the board
had examined them The Northern site
viii be in proximity to Boston if adequate
ground can be 81 cured, but on account Of
the thickIy populated districts if may be
necessary TO abandon this fed and go to
Long Island or the Jersey Coast for the
Northern driH ground. The one in the
South, it is believed, would go to Chicka-
manga. where the Government controls
magnificent park. although excellent sites
could be secured at other points. That 10
Gated in the middle Eastern States lies
between Maryland and Virginia.
The location near Falls Church where
thousands Of troops were camped during
the Spanish war. Is favored by some. but
the memories Of the suffering at Camp
AISer still remain fresh Near South
Mountain. Nd, is excellent ground for
camp and viii unqucstionably be consid-
cred by the special beard The selection
II the sites VIII depend IN measure upon
,he HbyTaIity Of those making offers Of
land. although the army men must also
consider the nature Of the country for
drill purposes.