Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-07-16
Troops From Fort Smelling Start
on 800 Mile Overland
Journey.
TONIGHT AT COAL VALLEY
In Command of Major r. w. SibIey,
CavaIrymen Are Headed for In
dianapoiis for Encampment.

to Indianapolis, where they participate
| in the army maneuvers there in Aug
uSt and September. The four troops
number nearly 300 men, in command of
Major F. w. Sibley-ST The special over
the Rock Island, bearing Troops | and
X, and Major Sibley and his staff. left
Minneapolis yesterday at l o'clock. and
arrived in this city this morning at
1925. The Burlington special, with
| Troops l. and NJ, left ST. Paul at noon
and reached Rock Island at 1855 this
morning. Both trains were placed on
sidetracks near Twentieth street, and
at an early hour the work of unloading
and preparing for the long march was
commenced
| Officers I'm Command.
Included in Major Sibley's staff are:
| Acknowledgements Clarity.
ermaster-Lieutenant Barry.
Surgeon-Dr. Stuckey.
Veterinary-Dr. English.
| The officers in command of the
troops are:
| Troop Lieutenant MCGEE.
Troop K-Captain Heron
Troop L-Captain Gardner
Troop M-Captain King
| Major Sibley commanded the troops
on the Rock Island train enroute, Cap
tain Gardner being in charge of the
cavalrymen on the Burlington train.
The troops are accompanied by a
detachment of the hospital corps in
charge of DR. Stuckey The detach-
ment includes a sergeant and two as
sistant surgeons. DR.. English of the
veterinary department has several as
sistants under him to look after the
stock on the march.
Camp at Coal Valley. y
The march today ends at Coal Vaf-
| ley, where the soldiers camp for the
night. The first days marching was
made short inorder to give an oppor
tunity for arranging matters of detail
but after today the troops will cover
between 25 and 40 miles daily. The
troopers will make the march in easy re-
lays, this being necessitated by the
condition of the horses, about half of
them being new in the service. Many
of the horses. and majority of the
mules for the field trains, were receiv-
ed at the post but two weeks ago, and
the new stock is entirely composed of
uuSedSOueu lie Squdu
ron must be at Indianapolis by Aug. !,
when the army game begins The sol
diers leaving here this morning have
the longest march of any that gather
at indianapolis. The infantry is re-
quired to march 200 miles each way,
and the cavalry $50 miles, and but
few of the other cavalry troops will
travel more than 500 miles in ALL while
the Fort Smelling boys. if they return
through Rock Island as planned, will
make a march of over go miles.
Major Sibley has reported the con-
dition of the horses, and it is possible
that the return march will be short
ened and trains boarded at some near
er point to Indianapolis. Otherwise
| the march will be made to Rock Is
land after the two months encamp
ment, and trains boarded here for the
return trip to Minneapolis.
Service In Philippines.
The four troops that stopped in Rock
Island this morning, though including
many recruits, is composed largely of
men who have seen service in the
Philippines The End cavalry was in
active service in the islands for two
years. returning in April, when Troops
l. K, l., and NJ were stationed at Fort
Smelling The md cavalry saw some
hard service in the Philippines and en-
gagged in many skirmishes. Consider
able interest conferred about the three
native Filipino boys who are with the
soldiers as servants of officers. They
are small. but sturdy young fellows,
~ q 3 TIat,
duties are to look after the personal
comfort of the officers employing them.
Pass Through Moline.
Forming in line on Twentieth street,
the troopers at 9:15 started on their
Journey The line, headed by Major
Sibley and his staff, with Troops l..
M, /, and K, in the order named, fol
lowing. moved east on Fourth avenue,
and from Twentythird street on Fifth
avenue to Moline. From Moline the line
of march is south to Coal Valley. The
field train brings up the rear of the
squadron. The line of march across
the state includes Peoria, Bloomington,
Champaign. and Danville. Provisions
for the troopers are to be supplied
again at Bloomington, supply suf- |
ficient for about eight days being taken |
from here. The feed for the stock is !
purchased along the line, only two |
days supply being carried At the de-
pot this morning, and along the line of |
march, thousands gathered to watch |
tie movements CT the cavalry. The |
moving column presented an attractive |
and inspiring spectacle.
On the return, which will in all prob |
ability be made by way of this city |
the troops will be in the city longer |
than they were today, more time being |
required to load the equipment. The |