New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-29
EFFICIENCY OF THE NEW ARMY ESTABLISHMENT
MANASSAS M4NOEUVRES
BETWEEN REGULARS
COUNTRIES Intent
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU
Washington August

aside from the direct good it will do toward
,-,nroving the efficiency OF the military estab-
,sbr,ent in this country, the concentration of
oseeO troops OF the regular army and organized
-,u,tia on the famous Bull Run battlefield early
N September for joint nanoeuvres will furnish
an instructive object lesson to those political
critics who differ so widely on the question of
adequate military organization. Although the
selection Of that particular geographical spot
uss due 10 unavoidable conditions, yet, happily
Gar the ends IN view. it not only promises splen-
,td opportunities for extended practice drills
and technical handling Of large bodies OF men,
but VIII demonstrate IN practical and COM
narrative way Of the wisest and most useful
accomplishments of the present Republican ad-
,rinistration-the policy OF teaching the lesson
II soIdiery peace backgrounds rather than
IN those actual conflicts whose deadly ex-
rsrience wantonly entail so much cruel carnage
and useless bloodshed.
For at least one hundred and twelve years
.he Improvement OF the military estab-
lishuent with due regard for the well known
political principles and prejudces against a
large standing army has been a problem
which every President Of the United States
from Washington and Jefferson down TO McKin-
lev and Roosevelt, has aspired more or less
vigorously 10 solve, but il was reserved for
the present President TO achieve the desired re-
suits by giving his approval to the militia law
enacted by the last Cons ress. That law was
cdginally drafted under the direction Of Secre-
tary Root. ard so carefully was it prepared to
svoid the well known snags and shoals of sec
tional prejudice and State jealousy that in the
convention of militia representatives from all
over the Union. held in Washington 1T was rati-
fed with only minor amendments, receiving such
unanimous Endorsement that Congress could no
longer delay decisive action.
BITTER MILITARY EXPERIENCE.
The achievement is greater and more impor-
tant than people generally are apt to realize.
For the first time in the history of the United
States are the federal and State military or
CARNATIONS co-ordinated; for the first time the
regular army and militia stand together unified
for instruction and practice in peace in their
well defined joint duties in Formerly, de-
spite all the advice Of cautious statesmen, in
Guiding such political State rights extremists
as John c. Calhoun and jefferson Davis when
each was Secretary Of War, and the urgent
recommendations Of careful military critics, all
looking toward the imperative need of an i'm
proved military establishment. the country in
each of it's three wars with foreign nations
found itself wholly unprepared. and in the great
Civil War for at least tie first year the battle
fields were mere practice grounds where soldiers
learned TO shoot and generals practised military
tactics at a cost Of inesti nable human life. 1t
was the theory then, il had been before. and
was even so when President Roosevelt led his
regiment into Cuba. that the battlefield was
the best II not the only real school Of war. 1t
was notably so al Manassas forty-three years
ago when to enable soldiers and officers to learn
military rudirnents while facing an actual
envy many lives were lost, so much blood
was shed and such national disaster was threat
ened-
But not so now. Under the system of
military training that same Manassas battlefield
Is to demonstrate through common sense COM
PARSONS the humane benefits TO result from the
present administrations plan OF teaching SOL
diers how TO march and shoot, and requiring
generals and their inferior commanders TO learn
n advance and demonstrate their military fit
ness and capacity TO direct and maneuvre the
troops they 10 lead in war. No longer are
military capacity and experience alone to be
purchased by the needless loss Of life on the
part OF the frantic masses OF enthusiastic pa
triots who so eagerly rush into war when
emergency calls them, absolutely without any
military training whatever
II other words the new policy promises TO
produce other military as well as more humane
results than ever before were possible. The
Manassas manpuvres, barring bullets, mangled
bodies death 10 contending soldiers and national
over
real battlefield school of war. whose practical
lessons thanks to President Roosevelt's wise
administration. will cost only a little money.
wisely expended upon the theory that as the
citizen owes military service to the state in
war the state owes military instruction to the
citizens in peace-a theory Of dual and reciprocal
obligations which, aside from its humane pur-
poses. win tend TO create a better organized
and more efficient military establishment than
ever before existed on this continent, If the
globe.
THE NEW BULL RUN
The Manassas encampment is one Of the two
large concentrations OF troops provided for an
nuaIIv under the new law. Last year the initial
ercampments were held at Fort Riley. Kansas,
and near West Point, KY. The whole military
geography OF the country is comprised within
four military divisions. and the plan is to hoIc
each year. under federal auspices an encaInp-
rneut in each Of two military divisions, so as to
alternate between the Atlantic and Pacific divis-
ions and the Northern and Southern divisions
There Is, therefore, an encampment this year
alEo in the Pacific division, a much smaller
seal. than that Of the Atlantic division. which
Is 70 exceed in proportions and purposes any
thing OF the kind ever before attempted IN THIS
country.
These general field exercises, which are the
elimination of elementary drills. have already
proved Of great value TO the militia, ahordlnS
Il opportunity 10 take part in manGuvres jointly
with the regular army on larger scale than Is
possible In the necessarily smaller and more re-
stricted State enca-rpments, which, however
likewise in their own peculiar way, prove bench
ciaI IN fitting the citizen soldiers for the tasks
prescribed ia the more advanced federal ma
neuvre schools. Through the latter, while rur-