Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-10-06
A City of War Tents.

q . r y.
"Adjutant General"
A City Of War Tents.
A city OF war tents is springing up
on the famous Pawnee flats Of the
Fort Riley reservation. Over range
of 220 square miles the $4,000 troops
that are to be in camp under General
Bates will have free range and the OPP
erations will be interesting not alone
to the thousands of spectators but to
the country at large, which expects
great good to come to the army from
these training schools.
The maneuvers, begun last year on
a large scale and this year extended to
make them of far larger scope, mean
much to the army. 1t is to thousands
of the troops the semblance of war,
and gives them practical insight into
the work of an army in the field that
would be impossible in the average
fort with it's few men,
Largest Gathering for Mimic Warfare,
Practice maneuyers have been going
on for several weeks Trains have
been bringing men. horses and cannon
from the various forts and posts of the
west. The battalions from the nearby
forts, Leavenworth, Sill, etc, have
been marching overland, and the out
come is to concentrate at Fort Riley
one of the most representative gather
ings of regulars ever seen outside OF
the actual operations of warfare. The
farmers of two whole townships have
leased their lands to the government
for use in the maneuvers, receiving
cents an acre for the same. Any dam
age TO crops will also be settled.
The conception of great concentra
ton camps has been prominent in the
plans of the war department in recent
years. One of these is to be at For
Riley, Kas Situated at the most cen
trail point of the United States, it has
the area and natural surroundings fol
the work. There are $4,000 acres in
its boundaries, varied with level low
lands, wooded slopes. hills, and bluffs
and two rivers for the most daring
| movements of troops.
Location Well Suited to Work.
The fort itself is located near thu
western boundary on a beautiful
| height, and has some of the fines
buildings in the nation. The grea
! riding hall, 800 feet long and 100 zee
wide, without single pillar to breal
the interior area, is unsurpassed il
the world Whole troops of cavalr.
are there from morning till night go
ing through the practice movements
Great searchlights are mounted on tn
| hills and the broad rife grounds ar
the chosen testing places for the gov
ernment's arms.
Thus the place offers remarkabl.
fine location for the combining of al
tillery, infantry, and cavalry in on
brilliant series of maneuvers, teaching
| the art of war by actual movements
The city of tents covers two squar,
miles and is remarkably beautiful il
| the clear autumn sunlight. Thousand
of visitors from all parts of the Yves
| come to see 1t.
! Bloodless Conflict Opens.
/ Beginning the last week came tn
preliminary work of an actual can
paign. First of all was an insistenc
ON the niceties of camp life, Many @
/ the soldiers had never been in othe
/ than post duty and had no conceptio
/ of the needs and duties of caring 70
/ the camp. Next came the actual wa
operation as they We're mapped out b
/ the board OF officers in control of til
lmaneuyers. The army was divide
I'll