Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-27
TO Be IN ACTION
Preparations for M~Gnsuvers Of the Army At
Fort Riley.
PLAN TO MAKE SHOW INTEREST PUBLIC
Army Omcers Say Reservation at Fort
RILEY IL Admirably Adapted to
the Display of Military
Movements.

General Bates and stan are busy arrang-
ing for the maneuvers Of the army Of the
Department Of the Missouri at Fort Riley
The board Of officers to arrange the prob
lens to be worked out has not been APP
pointed, but will be ready to present its re-
port by the time the maneuvers begin. The
principal problem at this time is how to
provide supplies and material for the troops.
There is one regiment Of cavalry to be
present, besides the officers who will be
mounted, and the department has not a
large supply Of good horses on hand at this
time. Advertisement is being made for
more than 800 horses for the troops in the
department at this time and It is not be-
lieved that a large part Of them will be
delivered in time for the maneuvers.
Among the novel features Of the maneu-
vers will be a mountain battery, composed
of Maxim-Nordfeldt guns. This is one Of
the field batteries stationed at Fort Leaven-
worth. II is under the command Of Cap
tain Van Dorm and served with effective
ness In the Philippines. 1t is the only bat
terry which will use fixed ammunition on
the grounds.
The question Of the use Of blank car
tridges in the maneuvers has not been set
tied. From the standpoint of the oficer and
the soldier the use of blank cartridges will
be unnecessary, as there are umpires ap-
pointed to decide. when the opponents have
the advantage from a strategical standpoint,
and this can be done without any noise. 1t
Is expected, however, that the maneuvers
will attract many people from the surround
ing country and the noise Of the shells will
add much to the theatrical effect. The in
%tsntion of the department is to interest not
only the soldiers, but the citizens generally
in the work of the army.
Grounds Suited to Purpose.
There are more than 20, 900 acres In the
reservation at Fort Riley, it being one of
the few military reservations where an
army can be Unanswered in a manner to
give them practical exercise In overcoming
natural and artificial obstacles. The rife
Of the army today will carry a bullet three
miles. The extreme length Of the Fort Riley
reservation is about eight miles and its ex-
treme width about five miles. There are no
houses OF farmers near the grounds, so that
the danger from bullets when they are used
Is reduced to a minimum. The ground pre-
sents greater natural diversity Of ~confgura-
ton than any known ground Of similar ex-
tent in the state of Kansas and is therefore
well suited for the illustration Of the diff
ferent character Of movements There are
tWO IlNeTb anu several creeks winch Will
give the recently formed bridge train an
opportunity for drill in its peculiar branch
Of the service, and the engineers may FIND
in the exceedingly steep bluffs along the
rivers problems which may tax their in
genuity.
The two regiments of infantry from
Nebraska and the two regiments from
Kansas will be made an integral part OF
the regular forces for the purpose of the
These regiments probably
will be brigaded with regular regiments
and the rules which apply to the regulars
will apply with undated strictness to the
militia.
1t has been practically decided that the
troops at Fort Crook, as we'll as those al
Fort Leayenworth, will march from their
post to Fort Riley, while those from Fort
Reno will probably also march to their
destination. AS regards the method Of
transportation for the state troops, the
authorities are not at this time advised.