The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-10
WILL FIGHT AGAIN
BATTLE OF BULL RUN

Some Of the highest officers in the army
VIII take part. In the last war game,
which was small one, comparatively, the
officers included Gems. Grant, Bell, Kobbe,
and others. The generals became keenly
interested in the display Of strategic abil-
ity, and planned diligently to outwit their
opponents
1t Is Hard Work.
Just how long the maneuvers will last
is not known. and depends largely on the
site and the way the states take to SO
late date. Whether one week or two
will be the time spent in the evolutions
Is a question that is still open. Even if
1t were decided to have only one week Of
full campaign work of 49, 600 men, another
week might be spent with a lesser force.
Of course, the officers know that the best
results would come from two weeks of
work, as 1t would take the first week for
the men to get hardened. That they will
net have q picnic sort OF time, or a
Peekskill state camp sort Of an outing,
may Well be taken for granted, judging
by a description of maneuver work by
Col. K. E. Britton, acting assistant ad-
jutant general Of the Second brigade Of
New York stationed in Brooklyn, and
chairman of the executive committee of
the Interstate National Guard association.
Col Britton attended the West Point
maneuveTs last fall in Kentucky as an
official representative from New York. He
says that his observations at the maneu-
vers, the first participation by bodies OF
the organized militia in field instruction
under the new militia law. confirmed his
formed advocacy OF this class of work for
training officers and enlisted men.
From twelve to fifteen miles were COW
cred on the first field days work in which
the militia took part he said. 1.-The
weather being hot and the marching on
the roads raising clouds of dust, which
interfered with breathing. The severest
test of unseaSoned men commenced the
next day. The greater part of the militia
left camp in the afternoon to b1vouac
over night Early in the night they ex-
perienced a drenching doNnpour Of rain,
which lasted several hours, but ceased
before the action began the next morn
ing.
I'm the afternoon, at the terminat ton
Of the maneuvers, the rain again came
down in floods, the different commands
marching back miles to their wet camps,
some in good order, but others struggling.
No complaints were made, however, and
the men were generally cheerful. A few
did not turn up until the following morn
ing. From then on, as would naturally
be the case, Improvement in camp living,
minor points of discipline, and stead1ness
under arms took place.
IAN the operations were highly realistic
and practically free from impossible situa-
tons. They were skillfully conceived, well
adapted to prevailing conditions, and
satisfactorily worked out. While many
Of the militia organizations showed lack
of preparatory training, on the whole the
work was good. considered it beneficial
to all, from the general officer to the last
private, each in the proportion to his
part and responsibilities. In any event, the
weak points. were developed for remedy.
work OF the Umpire.
In this imitation war, military expert
has said the deciding factor in the whole
affair is theschief umpire. He is the ruler
Of the situation, and it is he who gives
the signal fer the cessation of hostilities.
He does this in very spectacular and
exciting way. When the two hostile
armies have moved forward for several
hours, arranging and rearranging their
lines, they approach the point where it is
against the rules to go any further. Then
the chief umpire rides into the space be-
tween the lines and throws a bomb into
the air. 1t is timed to burst when high
above the level of the mems heads, and
from it shoots a shower of sparks and
rockets. That means that no more move
ments must be made That day the fight
is over. The armies retire and plans are
made for the next mornings encounter.
one, though he is the most important.
There is large squad of umpires assign
ed to each army. For instance, the two
squads may number fifteen men each.
The fifteen umpires for the Blues as
one army is called, stay with them all
the time and take account of their posi-
ton every fifteen minutes. TO every lit
tie body Of troops there is an umpire. He
has nothing to do but watch this body and
keep an accurate record Of the forward
and flank movements ii makes.
After the battle the umpires on each
side turn in their reports to the head OF
their squad, who then complies a report
from all the lesser ones and submits it to
the chief. Finally comes the decision
The chief studies the charts, notes the
positions occupied by a company at a
certain time, and calculates whether such
a move was advantageous. He has the
entire maneuvers, extending over three
or four hours, before him in black and
white. Having finished his calculations
he announces which side gained the vic
tory.
Count Out the "Dead" Men.
An amusing feature of the game is
the counting of the dead" men, They
don't want to be dead. and when they
are told to retire they do SO with many
grumbles. The men become greatly ex-
cited and filled with the spirit of rivalry.
The ardOr and the desire for glory be-
come almost the same as they would be
in a genuine battle.
Ali sorts Of problems are given to the
armies to solve. One morning it may be
the storming Of a fort the next the de-
struction of a railway. In any case the
commanding officers know before they
start out what they must do or what they
must keep their opponents from doing.
At certain time, arranged before the
game begins. both armies start from their
camps and prepare for the days work.
THE scene is constantly enlivened by
the firing Of blank cartridges, not only
by the infantry, but by the heavy artil-
lery," said one observer of the war game.
1.-The booming of the cannon can be heard
for miles around. If the powder were
supplemented with shot probably nobody
would be alive when noon came. AS il is,
the men enjoy themselves and the women
In the distance put their hands over their
ears and delight in shuddering as If the
terrible were really happening"
An idea Of the cost Of such maneuvers
may be formed from the expense incurred
at Fort Riley and West Point. The TO-,
703 acres rented cost $5.56S for rental.
The allowance for damage to property was
$500. The total cost Of the maneuvers
was $372.575. the expenditures on account
Of the regulars being $200.324 and for the
militia $193.250. The land. ii will be seen,
rented there flor more than half dol
lar an acre. so the 10000 acres now In