Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-10-09
MILITIA TAKE PART.
National Guards lrsructed in Per.
forming Outpost Du'y.
OVER.AyXIOUS TO FIGHT The ENEMY
No Criticism Could BE Made Of Their. Gal
lantry, but the Way They Exposed
Themselves Would Have Brought
Disaster to Them In Real War

no way picturesque were the ma
neuvers yesterday. They consisted
entirely OF instruction for the men
of the national guard in the forma.
ton OF outposts and the perform
ance OF outpost duty. There were
three exercises, all exactly alike, and
the general description of one APP
plies to the other In each exer-
else regiment of regulars estab-
lished the outpost, the officers Of
the national guard accompanying
the commander of the regulars as
spectators. When the outpost of
regulars had been fully established
and the details Of the work made
clear to the officers Of the national
guard the state troops were called
up and sent out to relieve the regu-
lars on the outpost. The Sixth reg
ular infantry established the out
post for the First Kansas, the Eight
eenth infantry for the Second Kan
sas and the Twenty-second infantry
for the Colorado battalion. When
the state troops were completely es-
tablished on the outpost an attack
was made by small force OF cavalry.
1t was the assumption that the at
lacking force was much larger IN
number than the outpost. Troop
E., Of the Fourth cavalry, attacked
the front Of the First Kansas, troop
F Of the same regiment pushed in
on the front of the Second Kansas
and troop G of the Fourth made It
interesting for the Colorado men.
The national guard did excellent
work in forming their outpost, the
pickets and reserves being posted
promptly and with no delay. When,
however, the attack began, the ma
tional guardsmen showed how much
the instruction given at such camp
as is now being held is needed by
them. No criticism could be made
of their gallantry and their willing
ness to fight; it was the excess Of
these qualities that would have
brought them disaster had the game
of yesterday been played in earnest.
When the regulars began to push
home their attack the national
guardsmen were over-anxious to
fight. In many instances they rose
from cover, fired standing or kneel-
ing and exposed themselves reckless
y. While they did this all that could
be seen of the regulars was a brown
dot where hat could be distin.
guished above the grass, but their
steady, rapid fire from behind theil
cover would have worked terrible
havoc among the troops. The latter
were finally brought more to cover, |
but throughout the fighting they
bore themselves with an air of 'let
me at 'em" that spoke as strongly
for their natural bravery as it did
for their need OF just such instruc-
tons as given them yesterday.
In the afternoon Capt. James B.
Cavanaugh, of the corps of engi-
neers, delivered an interesting
lecture on Entertainments" to the
field officers of the national guard.
Capt. Cavanaugh had prepared a
number of trenches, showing what
skirmisher should do to protect him
self when not on the move, told how
1 trench for a line of men lying
prone could be prepared in 20 min
ties, how this could be made into
/ trench for men kneeling and then
INTO one for a standing line, with
short increase of time. He showed
he trench necessary to resist shrap-
lei, the one that would protect from
hell fire; exhibited various styles
II revetments and wire entangle-
nents for assaulting forces and
,losed his highly interesting object
essen by showing how trench
hould be laid out.
In the evening Col. A. L. Wagner,
djutant general Of the department
# the lakes, delivered an address on
Strategy" which contained as much
for the men of the ma
ional guard as any of the practical
leld maneuvers.
During the afternoon Assistant
secretary of War Sanger and Act
ny Adjt. Gen. Carter went with Gen.
lates to witness artillery practice
t Silhouette targets. Much of the
ring was with shrapnel and the re-
ults were excellent.
The programme for to-day includes
he building of modern field bridge
Y the national guard and the forma-
lon of advance guards and rear
yards by the regulars and national
yards combined. There will be sim
lated attacks upon the guards. This
ortion of the maneuvers will be d.
ided into four separate exercises all .
milar in character,