The Washington times., 1904-08-30
General Bell Discusses
the Manassas
Practice.
MUST BE HAD NOWADAYS
Schooling Now Necessary
for Officers and Soldiers.
Results Satisfactory.

Brig. Gen. J. Franklin Bell, who was
stopping here en- route to Thoroughfare,
Va where he Will command the Sec
ond division Of the Provisional Maneu-
yer Corps. is At the Arlington
In one of his inaugural addresses. 20
said General Bell today in discussing
the maneuvers General Washington
made a statement to the effect that the
art Of war was very complicated and
needed much previous study and prac-
tice for its efficient execution. The cir
cumstances and conditions which led
General Washington 10 this logical con-
clusion have become today even more
convincing than they were when he ex-
pressed this opinion. more than hun
dred years ago.
Notwithstanding this fact. an ex-
perienceG soldier who has by training
and study attained a reasonable degree
Of familiarity with his profession. is
liable TO become impressed with the fact
that the art OF war is little more than
common sense. applied In accordance
with the accumulated military expert
ence OF mankind. but right here. I'm the
application. arises the complication mem
toned by General Washington
ASNlouS Learning.
AS 1t is with inventors so it is win
members of the military profession
who learn theoretically from military
history. from military works and manu-
ais. and from drill regulations only the
principles OF the art Of war In the exc
cution Of these principles, il IS found
that ceaselcss experimentation and prac-
tlce is really necessary to approach ver-
-.
SO clear and simple that il seems 10 the
uninitiated perfectly useless 10 1r5etica
them; yet the experience Of mankind has
Iully demonstrated that sufficient prac-
lice during peace TO create a serni-un-
conscious or mechanical habit of execu-
ZION, Is the only safe way to insure ef-
hclent execution during the excellence.
or battle or active warfare
No text books, manuals. or ras1lIa-
Is .iVns can be 50 tull and explicit in de-
TAN as TO make experience ian practice
unnecessary. 1t is not drSIra be rbat
theE should be, for multipliciry of det1fI
would but lead to confusion. and rem
DER practice all the more necessary 10
fix the numerous requirements lIDou- the
mind. Perfect familiarity with detail
can Only come from experience iu ur;tr-
Uce. No matter how SiruDIa tba re
QdlTeTents Of manuals and regulations
may appear when We come 10 put then,
into execution We Invariably find sIaf
some necessary link in the chain of
execution has not been specifically de-
scribed, and doubts arise ms To- ,.Tac-I,-
what should ncNi be done unless we
nave. experience in previous practice as
Theory and practice must 20 hand in
hlud 10 make an efficient and valuable
soldier He only Is well prepared who
has had opportunity TO practice the the
orN learned by study
Can ] give you some idea Of what
details arc ETactiCed in these maneuy-
ersE J should have TO think. study. and
cover all such details. but ] NAV men
ton the following. which readily occur
10 me. The details of organization
equipment supply transportation. cas-
uamentatlon. administration sanitation,
lcgistics, marching. minor tactics and
strategy. OF. 10 be less general and
technical. can specify under each head
SOM W"H-kno"n details I'm the first
place. however. ] ought 20 say that not
all the subjects just mentioned repre-
sent distinct and separate branches OF
the art They are all iuterdependeut
and some Of them more or less in
cluded -1 the others.
Opportunity offered.
The muucuyer camps afford oppor-
tunity 60 corps, division and brigade
commanders 10 practice organization Of
Jneir commands and Of the military and
administrative stafs pertaining there
20, besides requiring OF them much ad-
ministrative work pertaining TO such
commands. The regimertaI commander
has his bartahOns together, and is re
quired 10 perform similar duty for tho
regiment.
The theory taught I'm the small army
post or National Guard armOry to COM
pauies and battalOus brOaueuS into y
olutOrS of the regiment brigade and
division. first In the close and later I'm
the extended or battle. order Men of
ever grade and rank actually cxecut,.
on spacious and varied ground. ayolu-
tOns I'm minor tactics taught previously
by lecture only. or at best. Dracticnd
within tine narrow limits OF drill Erouu Is
or reservations
All see and understand what IS OK
pccted, and "a friendly rivalry between
organizations leads 10 the gradual m
9rGNemcut requisite for efficiency. The
onlcers learn To control their respective
commands ana Use them under condi-
uoTs similar TO those of active warfare
New Equipment.
Each soldier. DE he IN company. troop
or battery. must be equipped with tho
arms and tools Of his branch Of n.
service. and instructed i'm their various
uses and care.
Clothing and shoes must be furnished
and issued. and the men must be- fci
tn" stan officers obtain sufficient pr:-c-
tlce here To learn their duties or T.
brush up and profit by past eNpe-
rience Each officer learns the admin
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