Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-18

and does obey them. If we were ordered
tonight to prepare for a march to begin to-
morrow across the continent, we would &c
ahead just the same as II 1t were to Fort
Myer only. But the point Is this: What do
these long practice marches prove? Simply
that men in the army. in time Of peace as
in time of war. will go where they are or
dered to go. whether 1t Is senseless 600
mile march over the deserts, in the first in
stance, or up to the lannon's mouth, lit
orally, in the second.
But why. at the expense Of the men.
now attempt to establish what is accepted
as truth? The men assume that Gen.
McCaskey's conclusions are largely predi-
Gated upon this established fact. The same
principle holds true as to our artillery
horses-they will pull the guns and Gals
they drop dead from exhaustion, but the
proof is simply a test of the endurance of
horsefiesh, for some horses would stand UP
for three miles, say, and others would drop
in their tracks at the end of the second.
Zone would think that the superior OFF,
GERS Of the army had had enough Of long
distance marches in this country with that
which took place a few seasons ago from
Kansas down into Texas, when a train of
artillery, on a forced march, got down In
the lone star state in such a pitiable condi-
ton, both as to men and beasts. that the
press OF the country were a unit, according
to the flies of the papers which came into
our hands, in protesting against such a
useless and needless sacrifice.
THAT long and senseless march simply
proved what every man. both In the army
and out of 1t, knew before 1t was begun,
and just what the men contend-that we
will go when and where we are ordered.
no matter what the cost to man and horse
may be. Most Of us do not enlist for a life
OF idleness, by any means, for we all know
now that going into the army means work
and lot Of 1t, but we do not shirk It. I
see that in some quarters 1t Is contended
that these marches tend to tougher the
men, and to place them on n par with the
veterans of the civil war; as to marching
capacity. Such views are hastily formed
and illogical. -.
"A man should not have to be a student
Of army tactics and practices to under
stand that 1t is impossible >and II Is not
desired to have an army Of peace upon a
war footing, as to endurance; 1t couldn' I
be done, except in the minds Of theorists,
for the simple, practical reason that when
the exigencies of war are not existing II
cannot be expected that the results accruing
by the exigencies OF war will be produced.
"All the men 1 have talked with not
only approve Of his suggestion as to rea-
sonable limits Of practice marches, but that
relating to camps Of instruction. The men
little camp instruction, for that Is a part
Of their business, and sole business In life.
and prolonged encampments are very frk-
some and are strain upon the men, as 1t
is a course Of instruction well understood.
Now, with the militia 1t Is different. Camp
life Is a novelty to them, usually enjoyed
as a holiday, accepted as part Of the fun
going with organization, and they need the
experience. Upon the whole, I wish you
would say that we are glad that at last
courage Of his convictions, and I notice
that the general states that they are large
-ly based upon his interviews with his fell
low officers and with enlisted men,