Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-28
PLAYING AT WAR IN KANSAS
ARMY MGneuvers Under General Bates Are
Progressing Satisfactorily.
PROBLEM FOR THE DAY IS SOLVED
Has TO Do with Advance Guard ana
Possibility of conflict with
Enemy in Force and
Means work.
PROBLEM FOR THE DAY is SOLVED

FORT RILEY, Kan, Sept. 27.-Today's
warfare between the armies of the Blues
and the Browns, consisted Of preparing to
fight without fighting. In military par
lance, the maneuvers are described as fol-
lows. "The entire force on the march with
suitable advance guard for a division of
war strength, advance guard entire, main
body in part, imaginary" What was done
was as follows: Early in the morning the
army of the Browns marched out to the
north line Of the reservation, and then
wheeling about, went back over their tracks
until they came in sight Of the advancing
army Of the Blues. The Browns, supposed
to be only an advance guard supported by
an imaginary body OF reserve troops, pre-
pared for action as soon as they sighted the
Blues and the latter prepared for action
as rapidly as possible after the Browns
came over the horizon lines. When every
thing was ready for the killing to com
mence, everybody tramped back to camp
and the maneuvers of the day were over.
There is nothing Of the sham battle order
about the maneuvers, which have now fairly
opened. There is nothing Of the pomp and
glitter OF war. 1t is all business. There
are no spectacular charges with much noisy
consumption Of gunpowder. Everything is
done with the object of conveying a les
oOhg ahu "hVh "A PAObAthl hoo bCNh "a
planned, the maneuver is over. There will
be no question OF "who wins" in army ma
neuvers. Everything is done with the idea
OF teaching the younger officers of the regu-
lar army and the visitors of the National
Guard how such things should be done in
the presence Of an actual enemy.
Disposition of Forces.
The advance guard of the main body. I'M
dnR Nka nawaoaAA AF nnnaroI naNo, ,z-.
prised Company B OF the First battalion
of engineers in the first squadron of the
Fourth cavalry, less one platoon, which
remained with the main body; the Seventh
battery OF field artillery and two guns OF
the Sixth battery Of field artillery; the
Eighteenth infantry, two battalions of the
Twenty-second infantry and a squad Of ten
men OF the hospital corps. 1t was accom-
panied by a number Of wagons carrying am
munition and entrenching tools and six am
balances. There were in the advance guard
about $500 men. The main body comprised
all the remaining troops in camp, about
$500 in number. This formed the army Of
the Blues.
The Browns, who by power of the imag-
ination were equal to the Blues in num-
bers, were commanded by Colonel c. C. C.
Carr, and consisted only of the second
squadron OF the Fourth cavalry. hrst
squadron OF the Eighth cavalry and the
Sixth battery Of field artillery, less the
two guns who we're with the Blues.
The Browns moved out early in the
morning and at Q O'Clock were in position
near the north line OF the reservation,
where Colonel Carr formed his men for
battle. Extending his lines as much as
possible to give the Impression that his
force was larger than It was. The Twenty
second infantry was on the left and left
center. and the Eighteenth had the right
and right center.
Form for the Battle.
Meanwhile, along what is known as the
"oid Governor Harvey road General
Bates was advancing with his army. Away
out on either hank his scouts we're thrown
and the light cavalry riding In advance Of
the column eagerly watched for Colonel
Carr and his Browns. When they were
finally sighted word was given to push for
ward as far as possible for some high
ground in front OF the column. The troops
deployed rapidly, forming lines OF battle
as they FASTENED up the hills. The bat
teries dashed into position and with an
almost incredible speed were ready to open
upon the enemy. The infantry reserves
behind the main line OF battle fell into
position and ambulances and ammunition
wagons went humping over the rough
prairie ground to the places where they
could extend the greatest assistance.
When preparations for battle were com
pleted the umpires declared the end Of the
days work and the march back to camp
was taken up.