Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-02
.Nv E NC A MP MI N 7.
NATIONAL GUARDsMEN MAY BE
GIVEN PRACTICE MARCHES
AND MANEUvERs
Recommendations Of Adjutant General
w. H. Thrift - Reasons for the
Change - Advises Change in Time
of Holding the Annual Inspections.

The members of Company G of this
city instead of going into camp in 1906
may be given practice marches and
maneuvers of war. In making the
recommendation Adjutant General W.
H. Thrift explains his reasons as fol.
lows:
The state has purchased large
tract of ground at Des Moines which
is to be used as permanent encamp-
ment grounds for the state militia.
That stretch of territory has been
planted with grass and if the encamp-
ments were to be held there this year,
it would ruin the sod. There are also
other improvements needed on the
grounds which are absolutely necessa-
ry in order to make it convenient for
the encampments and the state is not
prepared to make these improvements
in time for the soldiers to gather 1t
was suggested that each regiment hold
its own encampment individually as
they did number Of years ago but
this the state officers do not encour-
age.
Practice Marches.
The practice marches which are rec
commended Tor this year will be as fol-
lows: Each regiment will be called
together at some point and definite
territory will be laid out over which
this regiment is to pass. The object
i've point must be some city which has
good railroad facilities so that the
companies can be easily sent back to
their home towns without inconveni-
ence. In the march, the soldiers will
travel just as they would in war time,
carrying all Of the camp paraphernalia
and provisions and each night stalking
out new camp. On the day previous
to the end of the march, the state Of
f1cers will visit the regiments and
make the inspection. A practice march
will be change which will be popular
with the guard and will serve the pur-
pose of developing the guard along
lines which they would not come in
contact with in the regular encamp-
ments. The guard is no different
from the individual in that the men
need diversity in order to keep up the
interest. For these reasons, the rec
concentrations are made.
Other Changes Advised.
In the biennial report Of the adju-
tant general of the state of Iowa mi
litia, w. H. Thrift has made
some very interesting recommends
lions which will be submitted to con-
gress for changes in the government
of the militia. The changes asked for
are as follows:
1t has been the rule to hold the an
nual inspection Of the state militia in
the early part of the year. This has
proven to be the wrong time as the
Of the companies are not at
their best at this stage, therefore the
inspection should be made in the fall
after the summer training This in
spection should also be made by
United States army officer on duty in.
Iowa. This will save the Iowa mi
litia $1,000 year.
For the purpose of an indoor rifle
range, the state should furnish each
company in the militia, out of the an
nual appropriation, $1,000 with which
to establish and maintain range and
10 furnish each company with at least
&e Pope rifle barrel, % calibre.
VSo promote harmony and unity of
actsM, there should be annual compe-
titioh of regiments, each company fur
team Of five men.
That the staff Of the commander-in-
chief be chosen from the officers of the
Iowa National Guard.
That the time for re-enlistment to
make service continuous be extended
to ninety days.
That medals be awarded to the men,
bers of the guard for their service, the
length of service to determine the kind
of medal