Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-07
MIMIC WAR At FORT RILEY
heguiaS and euardsmsn Jsin in Solution Of
Military Problems.
GREAT SECRECY SURROUNDS MOVEMENTS
Every Phase of the Life Of the Soldier
In Active Warfare wm Ne
Reproduced at the
Maneuvers.

From Fort Crook and Fort Leavenwortf
troops are moving upon Fort Riley, and
oy september 20 they will have arrived
ana pitched their tents upon the military
reservation In readiness for the FRS
messed maneuver Of troops in the Depart.
Hent OF the Missouri. In the old days o.
the Department of the Platte such meet.
angs were held. and then the state OF Ne.
braska was favored with the presence Of
troops from every department west Of
Chicaso. The last maneuver OF the troops
IN the Department OF the Platte took place
near kearney, and all branches at thai
Nime In the army were represented. The
spanish war and the consequent operation
against the Filipinos made the massing OF
the troops in the departments not only
impossible but unnecessary-actuaI war.
nre had taken the place OF the simulated
nattle and the troops were putting "a
practice the theories they had learned in
she schools.
To those whose interest In the soldiers
oil the nation is only Of a transient ma
ture, IL would appear that such maneuyers
as those at Fort Riley and those between
tne army and navy on the Atlantic coast
WOULD De unnecessary so soon after the
" Nv Dpdnlbn war and when so
many OF the troops had Just returned from
the philippines, where they certainly had
service OF the most trying character. but
those who are in a position to know say
that In the army Of the United States at
the present time there are comparatively
rev who went with 1t into Cuba and that
those who return from the Philippines have
AeIt it In such large numbers that the re-
cent volunteers make up the larger part
ot the FORCES. This condition is all the
more emphasized from the fact that under
ORDERS from the War department ali en-
listed men who have had more than six
months to serve have been transferred
from regiments returning to the United
states to those which were to remain in
the philippines, and that the returning
were composed almost entirely
OF men whose terms OF enlistment expired
snortly after the return to this country.
ineir places have been taken by recruits
70 "ncm the art Of war, as practiced
upon the field and In the camp, is unknown
and 1t is to give them an opportunItv IA
gain some OF their knowledge that the
maheuvers are being held.
Omcers Likely to Benent.
The enlisted men are not the only ones
likely to receive benefit from this mimic
warfare. The increase in the number of
cavalry regiments and the promotion Of
officers which has taken place recently
nave combined TO place in the regular
army a large number Of officers who are
not entirely familiar with the game Of
war as played according to the rules
recognized by Uncle Samuel, and these
omeers VIII also gain much from the
maneuvers. There will be considerable
gained. alsn hv fha to. 90
Kansas and Arkansas, which will be at the
reservation later in the month. This state
VIII send two regiments, and both the
Ihurston Rifles and Omaha Guards Will
again march alongside OF regular troops
ana be under the command OF a general
Oh the United States army. Two reSt-
Ments and two batteries will come from
kansas, while Arkansas will send = hat
TALON to the front. The ADVANTAGE tn
these state troops will be appreciated
when II Us known that. taking the two
omaha companies as an example. mora
than IS per cent OF the membership is
MADE up OF men who have enlisted since
the close OF the war service Of those COM
panles' and that their officers are now
serving In higher ranks than they did in
the fnliippines or at Chickamauga. The
troops OF the other states are In the Same
- Naa1 II FUEL hIIGX man.
euVers viii be practically the fret ex-
p%ertence Of the present companies IN tbs
Aeld. N"'
Splendid Field for the school.
The military reservation at Fort Riley
Is particularly suited to the maneuvers
necessary to reproduce the conditions of
actual warfare. 1t is broken by blu and
blufts' cut up by streams and parts of II
covered by underbrush which will conceal
the eyolutions Of the opposing forces. This
typographical condition has much to do
win the problems which will be presented
hor solution by the troops engaged in the
work. Before the problems were compiled
a map OF the grounds was drafted by an
omcer OF engineers. showing in detail ali
OF the peculiaritiee of the grounds. and
this map was In constant use by the On.
GERS who planned the maneuvers.
The general plan Of the operations was
issued last week and approved by General
Bates. 1t Is the work OF a board OF officers
who are known for their ability. Many
or them are veterans OF the civil war. and
all have seen long service, both against
the Indians and In the tropics. These
plans are guarded with the greatest secrecy
a. the maneuvers would be OF little use
were the movements Of the detachment o.
troops known 10 the officers c~ommandine
them. Some OF the general features are
known and several Of them are novel.
Character of Problems.
h problems given to the ohacers Of the
troops for solution have two sides-the ag-
gressive and defensive-and the officers In
mma Of the troops will be given con-
siderable latitude in solving them. For
example. one problem may be the defense
OF q wagon train passing through a denle.
The counter problem will be the attack
upon the train and its capture. The troops