New-York tribune., 1903-01-17
ARMY EFFICIENCY.
Colonel Wagner Comments on Fort
Riley NaRouUres.
FBT TELEaRAPH 10 THE rRTRrxr.


Washington Jan ls--Colonel A. L Wagner who
the chief umpire in the nanoeuvres at Fort
Riley, has made a'report Of his observations at
that post The most interesting criticism he makes
is that OF the sword and sa bre. which he regards
useless implement. made for show and really
menace 10 the officer who wears il on a sunny
Gay It glitters in the sunlight and offers target
for the enemy. Colonel Wagner addresses himself
vigorously to this subject and one OF the reforms
IN military apparel Will probably be the abandon
rnent of the sword Some OF Colonel Nagner's in
s-rlctive comments follow:
The question naturally arises in reviewing the
profitable as a means of military instruction 10
justify tne trouble and expense necessary 10 carry
them oUt?' Without referring TO European nations
and European experience on such subjects. cur
seo5uipIished BY ourselves The opinion generally
think universally, expressed by the officers par,
-ciEating N these exercises was that ereaI deal
had been learned that could not otherwise have
heard that, even L the exercises had been limited
70 The tso problems involving the attack and de
beve been Wen worth ali the t-oulle and expense
Cf the encampnenJ In my opinion every body
yvbo participated II The encanprent learned some
Another question 70 be considered is the size Of
me toTce LnaI shoulo pe eorceT31ratea Ior te PIT
reservstion at Fort Riley is large enough admit
II least half Of the artillery and cavalry sutab
to- division, larger force would 5e seriously g
erclses carried out with even 50 large fierce as
ions is necessary 10 prevent erroneous conclusions
icing drawn BY practical observation 10 the
BODIES. Thus, II assume that the forces are
larger commands there is logical reason for the
ooEh-aIon OF the tn5ee arms o. ] Ins Shit3talI ~
he thus composed: whereas without such assuTnp-
fica We would habituate cur oTtlcers, PerhaP%s sun UNI
s-ras ~ The service Al imaginary forces should
E5Vever as aIreadv stated be limited TO The gen
eraI situation OF the problem and s1ouIo not
n considering the size OF the force. it IS neces-
sarv 10 consider as Wei! its corposit!op; HoweEer
srsbFe-to incorporate the National Guard with the
fo=EsI that there is vast difference in the degree
q training and preparaLlon OF tPese egar
rroo1s are by their habiIuai training well qualheo
59r 2aFg4fg 3 fe a. otber hand We should recognize
thai the tine available for instruction OF ls "a
T-erney limited. Most Of the troops are restricted
mainly 70 -rlils n lhelr i;- : e-z+17i-7g
little opportunity Tor ractical tTllaitg u any LIE LIE
further than tie school q me eoInPsnz, s 4s
Lhslr 9ay oPP3T5oz s % rss come 10 the annual
TnsrIel ror-1leLO V - 1-i+L TO co-SI-
flows Fs-s- thev ueed tire for reginnental train
inF second in most cases they cannot be expected
- ~sssv - nartici1a-e in exercises for which
The regular troops are preTaTeo- As z plflaIG IIs
= rosEibIe before leaving home have practice IN
a. le7ss 0s sTg rTTi'2o 9o5 "a ssrest nat in f5Te
WREN the TWO forces are corlolneq the ..! resQiaI
n nnaneGvres before the National GuaTa afSiTes YES
Al the camp and thAt ater re erival % ere @
= exercises SUITABLE . TIE degree OF qualification
which the National Guard may possess
OF the theatre Of the rnaneeuVres hollc t1s
-z-e<uTlT rrepared and should be provided most
77hersIIx The commander Of every regiment
e579e9-or tatterv and II possible every troop and
-oupary commander. should be pToElcec WIZ q
nap. Maps in liberal quantities shoQlq q colT
f---1-s -er-e<e-tzrfres should he similarly Pre-
1-Eded The would Re buL s4lELl ana lI-s *
eult would be most beneficial
Sur q the hospital corps II Ins leId eA1l
rf-ee SEo1I5 be limited 10 the establishment o.
-SEI5 hcsoitals and dressing stations Ire eAPerl-
Tne1r q giving diagnosis tags 10 men WHO Were
--,7e6 on was not success Il plan couIo e &C.
--9eES nv which these could De SysteIaaIIca
- -e---,1s-Tv riyen 70 men ruled out II woulo
50-1btless furnish valuable means OF irlsIrucIlo
n -he hospital corps; but. as -esut OF eApeILECs
81 these rnsnRuyres- an satlsleo ttlel s-C-.
scheme Is -ot practice bic. The urnplres are ~
80 = s++e-S - n and moreover il seems 10 the
CzEce-s and men themselves TOO mUch hhe plag'
- tends consequently TO 0etract rom Ii-e az
r7irv q rre exercises. The only pan tIlat 90
in ruling ORGANIZATIONS OH =
3-o-Ty - direct them TO proceed at once 10 Ine
u4-h sT7ch visible indcations OF being Out u
ire 6rht as nay be determined upon be1orenallo-