The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-11
ARMY MANEUYERS
WERE PROFITABLE
National Guardsm en- Learn So
Much That the Expense Is
Amply justified.

CAMP YOUNG, WEST POINT, KY,
Oct. 10-After ten days of vigorous
hiking and hot work on the firing line
the national guardsmen who have been
engaged in the combined, maneuyers,
receiving instruction with regulars in
battle formations, started for home to-
day. The regulars will remain until
Oct 16 and will be engaged in a series
of three interesting maneuvers next
week.
Although the first troops train left
at $50 o'clock this morning, midnight
found several of the twenty-Seven
trains necessary to move the national
guardsmen still waiting for their hui
man freight The first train leaving
this morning carried the headquarters
and Second battalion of the Third
Michigan. The First Wisconsin left late
this afternoon.
Col Arthur Wagner, one of the best
known of modern writers on military
tactics and chief umpire during the ma
neuverS, today indicated in a general
way the results Of the maneuverS. Col.
Wagner, whose views have been sub
Stantially concurred in by Gen. Bates
and the other military experts present,
stated that the combined maneuvers
just closed have been of great value
to the national guard regiments par
ticipating and the increase in efficiency
is more than sufficient to justify the
expense incurred by the government.
The line and staff officers and the en-
listed men had shown a most praise
worry eagerness to profit by the in
struction offered by the experts and
the example of the regulars on the fir
ing line.
The Main Point.
The chief point brought out by the
maneuvers, according to Col. Wagner,
is the necessity for the national guard
regiments to give greater attention to
SkirmiSh and extended order drill while
they are at their home stations. They
should become thoroughly Versed in
company and battalion drill before talk
Ing part in these maneuvers. The ma
neuvers come within the realm of tao
tics" and "drilI' bears the same rela-
ton to those that arithmetic does to
higher mathematics.
The Indiana troops, according to Col.
Wagner, showed by their work on the
firing line, that they had probably had
the. advantage of more comprehensive
instruction in sllirmish and open order
drill than the average national guard
organization. The Eighth Ohio and the
First Wisconsin were also mentioned
as having evidently profited by Skin
miSh drill at their homes.
While on this subject Col Wagner
stated that it was desirable that the
national guardsmen supplement their
work at their armories by short eX-
cursions to the country near by for
drill in extended order, especial en-
phasis being laid on the desirability of
practicing the work of the advance
guard, rear guard, outpost and the
manual of regular guard duty. Col.
Wagner also stated that increased at
tention should be given to target prac-
tice and fire control" that is, having
the firing instantly responsive to the
commands of the officers when calling I
for VolleyS, cease firing, ETC., and also
economy of ammunition and the avoid
ance of useless burning of powder
Sanitary Camps.
Next to extended order drill Col. /
Wagner laid emphasis on the need of
study by guardsmen, both officers and
men, in pitching a sanitary camp.
With the proper attention given this
matter not only at the maneuvers, but
between whiles, Col Wagner said that
In short time the national guard
would be able to take care of itself, so
that there would never again be camps
like. Camp Alger and Chickamauga
This matter of sanitation has been we'll
covered by Illustration and by lectures
TO national guard officers during the
maneuVers Col. Wagner said that
While comparisons were of course i'm
possible, it was only just to state that
the First Wisconsin had maintained a
camp here in almost perfect sanitary
condition. In conclusion he said:
With these maneuvers being held
every year in various parts of the
country, so as to give all the national
guard regiments opportunity for this
sort of instruction, have no hesitation
In stating that in a short time the ma
donal guard of the United States will
be put in state of efficiency never be-
fore attained and which will put 1t on
plane with the best reserves of for
eiSn armies. AS far as Camp Young
is concerned, L cannot see any objection
of Importance to its use as a perma-
nent reservation for maneuvers. The
area could be increased to advantages
The purchase of the tract by congress
would necesstate the establishment of
a permanent military post of sufficient
size to provide for the keeping of the
ground in order
Ten of the umpires left today for the
opening of the maneuvers at Fort Ri
ley, Kan. Gen. Bates will leave
Wednesday. Col. Wagner, the chief
umpire, and the two senior unpires.
Col. Dorst and Col. Treat, will remain
until Thursday next, when thew will
go to Fort Riley, arriving in time for
the main maneuVerS