Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-10
MILITIA LOSES one LESSON
Art Of How to Swiftly Place IN Army
in Notion.
BUGLE GIVES NOTICE TO BREAK CAMP
General Bates and stan Leave
Fort Riley on Special Train
for Omaha, While Soldiers
March to Fort Crook.
BUGLE GIVES NOTICE TO BREAK CAMP

FORT RILEY, Kan. Oct. 9.--For two
weeks officers Of the national guard from
nearly all the states between Wisconsin
and Georgia and California and Rhode
Island have remained at Camp Root wit
Messing practical object lessons in the move
ment of armies and the control Of men in
action.
There were very few OF them in camp
this morning, nearly all having left for
their homes. Had those who departed pro-
longed their visit but one day they would
have gained knowledge Of the art OF swiftly
placing an army In motion, second in i'm
portance to nothing they have acquired con-
corning the more SNOWY operations in the
field.
This knowledge they would have obtained
by looking on at the simple, frictionless but
marvelously rapid breakup Of Camp Root
under the energetic personal direction Of
Captain c. B. Baker, the chief quartermaster
Of the maneuver camp, who had entire con-
troll of the loading Of the trains and trans
%portation Of the troops. At 6:29 this morn
ing 1900 tents stood in the camp Just as
they have stood for the last fortnight. All
their ropes had been loosened, however, and
at 5000 tent corners stood 5000 men, each
holding a tent rope. At $50 a cavalry
bugler. standing upon the hillside which
slopes away to the east from the tent OF the
commanding general, raised his bugle to his
lips and the notes of the general" rang out
upon the air.
Order to D~ismantIe Camp.
Instantly the call was caught up by the
regimental buglers and within one minute
from the time It had been blown at head
quarters II was ended in the camp Of the
farthest regiment. The 5000 soldiers loos-
ened the ropes held and instantly every tent
was on the ground. Where a city OF 1900
tents had stood was nothing.
Quickly the tent poles were withdrawn,
placed In bundles, the tents rolled
and tied in packages OF FIVE; tent
stakes were pulled, piled and tied,
the awaiting wagons rolled up, were loaded
and drove way to the trains waiting at the
Union Pacific tracks, near the camp.
Within fifteen minutes every tent was
ready for shipment and the first loads OF
them were being placed aboard the cars for
transportation to Omaha, where all OF the
tentage will be sent.
The commanding ofncer Of every organiza-
ton had received a sketch from Captain
Baker, informing him into what cars his
baggage and men should go, and pointing
out Just where the cars stood. Every com
pany commander knew just where his men
should go. As the wagons came UP to the
tracks each was directed to its proper place
by Lieutenant A. B. Coke, the assistant
Qusrtermaster.
Not n Moments Delay.
There was no delay. no hesitation at any
point. The work went on as though it had
been rehearsed a thousand times, instead OF
net at all. After the FIRST note Of the gen
eTal" sounded the hFst train carrying the
headquarters. band and four companies oil
the Eighteenth infantry pulled out for For
d. A. Russell, Wyo. Thirty minutes later
at s o'clock. the second section OF the same
train was loaded and on its way with -four
companies OF the Eighteenth bound for Fort
Logan, Colo.
General Bates and stan. on q special train
left for Omaha at S o'clock. At $3.50 another
train, bearing four companies Of the Eight
zenith, was on its way 20 Fort Logan. Al
3: 80 two companies of the Twenty-seeond in.
fantTy we're speeding toward Fort Logan
and at 1880 still another train, carrying
the engineers pontoon train. was on its
way to Fort Leavenworth. Al 1852 D. m
the last train OF the day pulled out fol
Washington. ID. G. Il carried the stigma.
corps, hospital corps and ambulance corps
Troops Are 10 March.
Tomorrow morning the Sixth infantry will
commence its march back to Fort Leayen.
worth. where II expects 20 arrive about Dc.
tober 10, having made on its march about
seventeen miles per day.
One squadron Of the Fourth cavalry will
return TO Fort L~eavenworth in seven days
making marches of fwenfv miIaz mar dav
One squadron OF the Eighth cavalry will re.
turn TO Fort sill in twenty days.
Eight companies Of the TWenty-sseond In.
fantry will march back TO Fort Crook, Neb.
in nfteen days. having marched a total o.
800 miles during the season. Menoher'i