Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-19
NEBRASKA NATIONAL GUARD
Repsrt Of Major Cecil on Conditions at
Camp Amasa Cobb.
MUCH TO COMMEND IN ORGANIZATION
Army Omcer Criticises In Friendly
Spirit and Points Out Reasons for
the SHORTCOMINGS He OBJ
served During Week.

The adiutant general of Nebraska has
been furnished with a copy Of the report
OF Major George r. Cecil, Thirtieth in
fantry, L. 8. A., made to the general stan
of the army on the conditions that pre-
vailed at Camp Amasa Cobb during Aug
ust. Major Cecil was the officer detailed TO
represent the general stan at the encamp-
ment, and to assist in the instruction of
the officers and men in their respective
duties. His report goes into detail on all
matters and is in the main highly COM
pIimentary to the Nebraska National
Guard.
Major Cecil found much deficiency in the
matter OF tactics, particularly guard duty.
This he ascribes to the fact that the on
GERS had not been properly instructed, and
that many OF the men were In camp for
the first time. On this point he says:
In the drills and ceremonies there was al
ways apparent lack OF previous training,
the school OF the soldier had been neg
lected and generally the. officers did not
appear to be sufficiently familiar with the
drill regulations 20 make the most of the
time allowed them in the instruction of
the men. At the beginning ! was dscour-
aged and upon my recommendation, Lieu
tenant w. N. Hensley Thirteenth cavalry,
a graduate of the class of 1906, who had
give instructions in the guard mounting
and guard duty. During the last four days
of the encampment he supervised the guard
mounting and spent very large part of
his time instructing the officers of the
guard in their duties Before the end OF
the encampment this influence was clearly
perceptible not only in the ceremonial part,
but in the way the sentinels did their duty.
There was a corresponding Improvement
in the parade, and the review for the gov
ernor on Monday afternoon, the 18th, was
very good. The marching was good and no
serious errors were made by the command
ing officers. Distances were not well OBJ
nV-tFad IA a nd fnx MAJ
not In their proper places.
The maneuYers on Saturday aroused the
hard, but the patrol work was poor and
the attack formations were weak and un-
supported, but l think all men were able
TO learn some important lessons in war
was not, to my knowledge. any instructions
given or practice had in the duties of ad-
vance or rear guards.
Personnel of the Guard.
The commissioned personnel gave me the
impression of an earnest desire to learn
what they could of their duties, and that
motives, but, as many Of them said to me
they were busy men at home and had not
the time to famillarize themselves with all
the duties of their grade, and these en-
campments are so short they have not time
to learn them all in camp. 1t is admitted
that the great problem for the national
not only possess the requisite knowledge
to properly instruct and care for their men,
but have the necessary aptitude to instruct
and command. OF those met at the en-
campment there were undoubtedly many
who would make good field soldiers under
proper guidance, but they must first have
fully appreciate the work required. In the
short time I was with them, among so
many. / feel that l can not in justice to
myself. nor to them single out individuals
for special commentator or depreciation.
To condemn upon such short acquaintance
would not be fair to them and to COM
mend under such circumstances would he
but little more than fattery. The best
officer with company of recruits would
appear to poor advantage, and none of
these organizations were much more than
recruits The enlisted men were generally
t Ie tb ySIy an s IN camp IST inc b
they seemed OF good quality, capable OF re-
ceiving instruction and Of rendering good
service II called upon to take the field.
Hospital Service Excellent.
There is one special feature Of the en-
campment to which / desire to invite spe-
cial attention, and that is the field hospital.
! made careful inspection OF It on sun
few men, about half dozen sick in the
hospital, | found an establishment in every
way creditable. 1t was neat. orderly and
complete for it's purpose Two hospital
tents were used for the SICK and it was
at no time crowded. Besides this inspec-
ton, casually observed its workings every
day Major Blrkner who was in charge OF
II, has seen service in Germany, believe,
and the German system was apparent in
In closing this report I want to say that
tried to carry out in every detail Of the
instructions sent me for my guidance in
the spirit of the law that authorized my de-
tail. I am in hearty accord with the Idea
of helping In every way we can the patri-
otto citizens of the country who give what
time they can spare from their civil avo.
cations to preparing themselves TO best
serve the public when the time of trial
comes. and I hope and believe my efforts
were received in the same spirit They are
civilians, not soldiers, but they have shown
a willingness to do their duty, and all that
they learned advances them just so far be-
yond the man who does nothing till the eX-
citement of war comes, when 1t is often TOO
late.
Camp Well POliced.
In one part OF his report Major Cecil
pays particular attention to the policing
of the camp. and says 1t was very good.
He also recommends that at least one well
set up battalion OF regular infantry be
brigaded with the guards at future en-
campments, and that additional officers be
detailed to assist In the instruction, at
least one to each regiment. with one TO
have general direction of the work
I