Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-18
Return;s5of The Secretary Of
War.
sos
BETTER FOR THE TRIP
REGRETS THAT HE DID NOT SEE
THE JOINT MANEUvERs.
Believes That They Are of Great Value
and Hopes They Will Be Re
peated Next Year.

Secretary Root was at his desk In the
War Department this morning after va
cation which began July % last He spent
several weeks With his family at CARLSBAD
and made short visits to Paris and Vienna.
He looks strong and well and says ne was
much benefited by his holiday. Many I'M
portant matters are awaiting the actlon
of the Secretary, having been held up dur
ing his absence, and he at once started IN
to dispose of them as rapidly as possible
Many visitors called to pay their respects
to Secretary Root including Secretary
Moody Of the Navy Department, Acting
Secretary Adee of the State Department
and all the principal officials OF the war
Department. He also received number OF
newspaper men during the morning, ana
said he regretted that he had no news 20
tell them.
Talks of His Trip.
II am glad to get back to my desk" he
said. II had splendid time in Germany
and feel hundred per cent better than
when I went away. l did not go over for
the German maneuvers, as reported. L
did not even see them I understand that
they were most imposing and that the
German army is greatly improved.
Il spent two days in Paris as the guest
of Gen. Horace Porter and met Gen. Andre,
the French minister of war. He impressed
me as very able man, who keeps abreast
OF the times. He invited me to follow the
French army maneuvers, but declined.
left Immediately for Carlsbad, where my
son is taking the waters for an affiiction of
the ear. and devoted all my attention to
taking rest. Mrs. Root and the rest of
the family will go to Vienna in the winter
to continue the cure"
Mr.. Root was asked if he had purchased
any wonderful engine of destruction dur
ing his absence abroad, and replied that he
had not
"A number of gentlemen" he SAID
sought to see me in order to show their
inventions in explosives and artillery, but 1
refused to be Seen"
The Joint Maneuvers.
Il regret very much that 1 was not here
to witness the recent navy and army ma
| neuvers along the New England coast" the
| Secretary remarked. These maneuvers
did not cost so much as some persons think
A great deal of the material used by the
army, SUCH as appliances for telegraph
lines, range finders and other coast defense
apparatus, was purchased during the LATE
Spanish-American war and was in perfect
condition for use in these maneuvers.
II sincerely hope these sham battles will
be repeated each year. They are of meal
culable benefit to our army and wake the
men and officers to a realization of what Is
expected Of them during less peaceful
times 1t Is natural for everybody TO grow
stale unlessr he exercises some activity. The
army Is no execution.
who won in the late maneuvers is a
question that may not be decided for some
days. 1t As right that the board Of
arbitration should go into the most minute
details of the work done by both sides.
and this will take time. 1 hardly look for
a decision for some weeks yet.
Il do not know where next years ma
neuvers will be held, If held at all. An at
tempt to force the port of New York by
the way of Sandy Hook has been suggest
ed, but that is for the Wal, College to look
into Personally l do not think that a
foreign power could force it's way into New
York harbor."
Henderson's Act an Enigma.
The Secretary declined to discuss the po-
litical situation for publication, saying that
he had been away so long that he was not
in touch with the latest Developments
Asked with special reference to the with
drawal of Speaker Henderson, Secretary
Root said he certainly could not talk about
that for the reason that Mr.. Henderson's
action was IAN enigma" to him and he
didn't understand it at ALL"
Secretary Root expects to deliver po-
litical speech at Peoria. ILL.,, September "a,
opening the republican campaign in that
state Whether he will join the President
on any portion of his western trip. the Sec
rotary is unable to say, he has not had
an opportunity to see Mr.. Roosevelt since