The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-08
ARMY OFFICERS REGARD THE
MANEUVERS AS OF MOST sue.
cESSFUL CHARACTER
OF THEM
SIGN SET OF RESOLUTIONS
Express the Hope That the Maneuvers
May be Made an Annual Affair."
Brig. Gen. Wiley Called to Pennsyi.
vania to Take Charge of Brigade in
Connection With Labor Troubles.

FORT RILEY, Kan, Oct. 7.-Today's
maneuvers were fine things to perform.
but poor things to look at for those
wishing to see any of the pomp and
circumstances of war. The exercise, in
brief, was the deployment of a line Of
battle, preparatory to making an at
tack upon an enemy in position.
The situation was assumed to be
that Blue division moving from the
south upon a stockade had crossed
the Republican and Kansas rivers at
Fort Riley. The Blue commander
learned that Brown division of two
br1gades, with artillery and cavalry,
had taken up a defensive position near
the north reservation line, moved for
ward to attack with the intention of
defeating it before it could be rein
forced
The Brown force consisted of two
squadrons of cavalry and four compa-
MES of infantry. The cavalry, with
the exception of one company acting
as scouts served as infantry and in
estimating the strength of the defense
each company of cavalry was suppos-
ed to be regiment of infantry.
Gen. Kobbe in Command.
The attacking force of the Blues was
commanded by Gen. Kobbe, and in
cluded all the remaining regulars. The
Blues advanced to the attack in three
columns with great energy. The
Browns fired upon them just enough to
enable the Blues to determine the po-
sition of their enemy and to form their
line for the attack Operations then
ceased and the formations of the at
tack and defense were inspected by
the umpires. During the afternoon the
Kansas mule battery went out for tar
get practice. This battery was pur-
chased abroad for use in the Philip
pines and it's practical ability in the
field has not yet been demonstrated.
The practice this afternoon was with
shrapnel and the results were pro-
nounced satisfactory. There was the
target practice also by a number of
the field batteries.
The pontoon bridge constructed
across the Kansas river by the engi-
neers was tested during the afternoon
by succession of troops, infantry,
cavalry and artillery. The bridge has
been kept in place with much difficulty,
because of the high water and great
quantities of drift in the river 1t with
stood every test to which it was sub
Jected and was declared by the UNI
pires to be good enough for anybody
in time of war.
With the close of the maneuvers
there seems to be but one opinion
among the regulars and national guard
officers concerning them. All believe
that excellent results have been obtain
ed during the present series, and that
much greater good could be accom-
plished by maneuvers conducted upon
scale more extensive.
Officers Pass Resolutions.
A meeting of the national guard of
f1cers, at which Gen. Bates, his staff
and many other regulars was present,
was held tonight, at which the follow
ing resolutions were adopted:
Whereas, We, the undersigned officers
of the national guard of the various states
of the Union, detailed by the governors
of the respective states, twenty-five
states and twenty-five territories being
here represented, in compliance with the
request of the honorable secretary of war,
to witness the maneuvers of the regular
army and national guard forces assembled
in camp of instruction at Camp Root,
Fort Riley, Kansas, having observed the
different military problems; therefore
be it
thank the honorable secretary of war for
permitting us to witness the maneuvers
from which we have derived so much
benefit.
"Second-That we desire to give our
thanks to Maj. Gen. Bates. U. S. A, com
mander of the maneuvers division and his
staff, for their unfailing courteSieS to us
at all times, thus enabling up to perform
our duty most satisfactorily.
''Third-The we desire to thank Col.
Arthur L. Wagner. assistant adjutant
general u. s. A., chief umpire. for the
instruction he has given us, and for his
able direction of the various problems
and for his most practical and brilliant
lecture on military strategy.
sFourth-We desire further to COM
mend the policy of the national guard
forces, and we trust that these maneuvers
may be continued annually.
'Fifth-That these resolutions be en-
crossed, one copy to be forwarded to the
honorable secretary of war, one to Maj.
Cen John C. Bates, u. s. A, and one
to Col. Arthur L. Wagner, assistant gem
eral, U. s. A.
This was signed by forty-five Of
ficers, all that have been able to re-
main until the conclusion of the ma
neuvers. Brig. Gen. Wiley of the Penn
sylvania national guard, who has been
here throughout the maneuvers, left
for his home this afternoon on receipt
of the order calling out his brigade
in connection with the labor troubles
in his state.