The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-28
OFFICER OF FIST
INFANTRY HONOR[D
Capt. r. w. Van Deman Select
ed as One of Nine to Attend
College of War

Capt. Ralph II. Van Deman, of the
twenty first infantry, has been sig
nally honored by the war department
In being chosen as one of the nine Off
GERS of the army to form the first class
in the new college of war that will
convene in Washington Nov. 1.
Maj. David DUB. Gaillard, of the en-
gineer corps, who was stationed at
Fort Smelling for some time and who
was for long term in command of
the engineers at the head of the lakes, is
another of the class.
Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, one of the most
renowned experts in the use of ma jor
tactics in the world, is the head of the
institution, and he is to be assisted by
Col. Arthur l.. Wagner, who was once
stationed here as adjutart general. and
Col. Charles Shaler, well known exec
utive officer.
Capt. Van Deman received many a
hearty congratulate on his selection.
Object Of War College
| The war college, an adjunct of the
military in the development of the sys-
tenn of which the general staff is part,
will hold its first session in Washing
ton Nov. 1. The college is not like any
other kind of an institution of learning
inasmuch as the pupils are supposed to
be the most expert officers in point of
major tactics and are chosen because
of their experiences.
No diplomas are issued at the con-
clusion of the tour of duty of the pu-
pills, but the results of their labors are
carefully preserved in the shape of
For To- i
sented to the war department. with rec
concentration as to their adoption or
rejection
The work of the college is in the So
luton of war problems which is form
Of diversion called .sKriegspiel.'' This
Is done on big maps with little mani
kins and china guns to represent the
forces at the command of each side.
Battles are fought out according to
scientific principles and with so much
detail that the character of each kind
of projectile used by the batteries can
be readily seen by glancing at the field
upon which the game is played. The
officers fighting the battles can judge
within a few hundred of the number of
men killed and wounded on each side
and can determine the winners of the
fight to theoretical certainty.
Fight Civil War Battles Again
During the coming session the war
college will fight over the battles of the
Civil war and see where the generals
made their mistakes. The Gettysburg
fight will come in for earnest consider
alton, with the forces of Lee and Meade
accurately. aligned.
After dealing with the past the war
college will delve into the future and
the various foreign powers will be
successfully taken up and propositions
such as this will be worked out:
what measures should be taken by
/ this country for national defense if war
were declared bys Germany stonight?' Pr
The college will study means to mob
ilize the fleet and army and draft tele-
grams to fit the contingency so that the
first steps could be taken without con-
fusion. Then each step of the cam
paign would be studied out and passed
upon by the commander of the college
and finally submitted to the secretary
of war.
Ready for Future Use
If they, are satisfactory the. whole
mass of data would be filed for possible
future use, with kilograms all written
and ready to be sent on the shortest
notice.
The same plan would be followed in
getting alta checkmate for each of the
Others powers and the whole result of
the session filed like the first set of
plans.
Each set of officers detailed to attend
the school would be put through the
| same course and their labor compared
with preceding efforts until the very
best plan shall be evolved.
The coming session will have only
nine pupils According to the law they
may be chosen only from the grades
of captain and major. The places on
the detail have been anxiously sought
by ambitious officers and the nine Sc
lected represent the flower of the mill
tarY of the United States.