The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-29
TROOPS LEARN WAR
First Days Maneuvers End in
Victory for Brown Army.

CAMP YOUNG, WEST POINT. XIV.
Sept. 2S.-The first real work of the
troops assembled for the combined
maneuVers began today The points
noted saturday concerned the prosalc
but nevertheless important feature OF
the rapid disentraining of troops and
establishment of camp, which. in the
nnal summing UP at the end of the
maneuvers, will count along with the
ones scored under more exciting condi-
TONS
Today's work centered on the solu-
tlon of the various problems which con-
front the advance and rear guards of
an army in the neighborhood of an
enemy in time of war. The conditions
were made to simulate those of actual
warfare as nearly as possible.
The different phases of the problem.
such as the protection by the advance
guard of its own flank in a country
onerlng good cover to an attacking
force; the protection from a rush in
the open by mounted infantry or cav
airy and the fundamental requirement
of discovery of the enemy within a
tlme sufhcIent to allow the main body
to be deployed in line of battle (usu-
ally at least an hour. were allowed to
develop in natural fashion without pre-
meditation after the opposing forces
had been set in motion. The same rel
atlVe problems were set before the rear
guards of the blue and the brown arm
les. The main bodies did not clash.
Ihelr part in the problem was con-
fined to forming line of battle and fix
ing the positions so that the time con-
sumed and the disposition of the troops
could be passed upon by the umpire in
judging the work of the advance and
rear guards in protecting them from
surprise.
hnft
vance guards were enjoying some lively
sklrmishing. The points chiefly noted
by the umpire in this being skill in
taxing cover, surprise, superior weight
OF fire accompanied by the least ex-
posture Of the body, taking the initia-
tive; proper reserve of magazine fire,
etc.
The troops were astir early, first call
being sounded at 1870 o'clock this
morning. The commanders having re-
celYed their instructions and break
fast having been eaten, 2,4O0 of the reg
ular soldiers, divided into bodies of
equal strength, went swinging out
across the country to begin their ma
neuvers.
After a day spent in maneuvering
among the hills, the first of the mimic
battles ended with an apparent ad-
vantage in favor of the brown" army.
The conditions prevailing were those
governing the proper employment OF
advance and rear guard by the armies.
The problem of the day as announced
by Col. Wagner, chief umpire, was as
follows:
The blue army. having been defeat
ed by the brown army. fell back on
Louisville, its base point. Here it
secured heavy reinforcements and
turned on the brown army, which be-
gan retreat toward it's base at Nash
vile. The advance guard gof the blue
army was expected to cripple the rear
guard of the brown. The actual.
clashes were not numerous. being
largely confined to brushes between
nankers. Col. Morton had swiftly dis
posed his brown cavalrymen at a point
where he was able to threaten the blue
column commanded by Col. w. T. Dug
gan and at the same time practically
forbid an attack by the blue main col
umn commanded by Maj. Williams, I'M
less the latter took a longer detour
than the time limit allowed
The brown rear guard was not only
able to forestall the enemy's attack.
but to do it with trivial loss-a car
d1nal principle, for the rear guard be-
ing not to engage at the risk of heavy
loss unless absolutely essential to the
safety of the main body. The brown
horsemen took advantage of the ground
SO Well that they were able to threat
en- either of the blue columns with a
superior force and vet maintain a
superior defensive position.
The maneuver ended late in the aft
ernoon with trivial losses in ''killed"
and captured on either side.
Inc chief incident of the day was the
capture OF Capt. Mitchell, of the signal
corps, and a small detachment of his
men by troop Of the Seventh cavalry.