The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-11

settled down for rest be ordered from
reserve position to the firing line where
they advanced and retreated and skirm-
ished with varying fortunes OF the battle
until o'clock in the afternoon And 30
far as Is known the militiamen did not pro-
test that they were being workedto hard
The principal cause of complaint was with
regard to their own commissaTy officers
Some OF the militia organizations were with
out commissary supplies for twelve hours
the firing line and in reserve. That was IN
the early part Of the week during the work
ing OF the first problem, and in none OF the
organizations did it occur second time. :,
According to Gen. Bell who commanded
the Brown Army .one Of the surprising things
about the war games was the spirit and en-.
durance shown by the men OF the Nationat
Guard At the close of last Tuesday 8
game. when Gen. Bell was congratulated
on having shown splendid 'aggressiyely
to hold and advance his line to the march
ing qualities Of the militia In his command
He mentioned the Twelfth and Seventy
fourth New York as being particularly
efficient in this regard, and spoke of the
enthusiasm Of these troops as something
remarkable.
An estimate was obtained tonight on
feature Of the past week which may have
an important bearing on future apIhopria-
tons by Congress for maneuvre purposes.
According to the estimate, which has been
most carefully made by army experts,
1t appears that after expenditures for COM
missary supplies and railroad transporta-
ton, the biggest item Of expense In con-
nection with the man1uvres will result
from damages inflicted by the troops Con-
seouently, it is very probable that the
initial cost Of the man0uvres that have been
held In this vicinity during, the past week,
considered In connection with the immediate
benefits derived by the soldiers participant
ing. will have great weight IN the con-
sideration Of plans for future war games.
Governments have for years had complete
system Of e6,i,nating and settling damages
incurred dutae, mane,,vre operations ana
war games. In Germany, where the war
games cover the entire country in period
Of five years, there is a permanent damage
board which instructs the farmers IN the
locality where the manpuvres are 10 De
held what crops to plant, so that when
the war games are on no crops OF great
value will be destroyed. 49,
In this country, however, where the
man9uvres are in their infancy, no suoh
system Is possible. and 1t Is believed that
the plans devised by the corps OF observers
under Lieut.-Col. Hull are as perfect as
possible under the circumstances and VIII
hold the expenditures for damages down
to the minimum. This feature OF the opera
tons is considered az particularly import
and the report Of the damage board as TO
the necessary expenditures will be awaited
with great interest in army circles.
A Massachusetts, regiment, with orders
to entrain at Wellington, near the scene
Of to-day's review, waited at the station
platform for several hours before the troop
train arrived. Meanwhile the band provided
an impromptu minstrel show for the large
crowd. A countryman riding by, with
small child as the only passenger IN his
dilapidated vehicle, was hailed with "Reu-
ben and His Girl
An aged colored man marching along
the highway by himself found bis steps
Joe" "We Won't Get Home Till
Morning" announced the band in
brazen notes at frequent intervals. One
bashful country swain acting as escort Tor
Chloe, was greeted with There's Only One
Girl 1t delighted the crowd and partly
relieved the unrest caused by the
congestion of tired and hungry spectators.