The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1908-08-06
COMPANY "B" GETTING READY
FOR THE BIG MILITARY
MANEuvERS AT Fl. RILEY

Missouri National Guard Troops VIII
Participate in the Big War Game at
The Great Military Reserve This
Year.
The officers and boys Of Co. "B"
are jubilant now over the announce
Enent that shey are to be sent TO Fl
Riley 10 take part in the great Mill.
tary Maneuvers to he held at the big
Military Reserve, where many thou
sands Of Regular Army and National
Guard Troops, including all arms OF
she military service OF the United
States, will unite In grand encamp,
ment, and there, under the direction
ord guidance OF some OF she nations
most learned and skilled officers, to
enact and daily rehesrse the great
problems OF war, and this years
.nsneuvers and exercises promise to
" ~ such stupendity and the opera
lions on such al extensive scale as
scarcely heretofore undertaken by
s5s Government at this great mill
say post.
Missouri troops viii arrive, detrsin
and go into camp on Fit. Riley Reser.
vst.ona t a point designated as Paw
aes Flats, August Gosh, and entrain
aud depart FOR bone stations Au.
gust 29,h
Is, Riley is one OF the ranking per
zRanent L. s Military Posts in the
middle west. Here are located quar-
tiers for all departments OF the SER
vice, infantry, cavalry, all classes OF
srsillery. The broken character OF
che grounds gives splendid opportu-
lRty Tor military maneuvers. On
mach, here the forces numbering
from eight 10 ten thousand men OF
al departments OF service, are usual
ly divided into offensive and deien-
sive divisions, usually there is an
=,.ijsetive point in battle exercise
which one division is to make. Its
commander knows nothing as TO the
location OF the opposing forces. His
cavalry must locate and signal corps
fash messages back and forth before
h feels safe In moving his troops for
~ cannot tell at what point the
snemy will strike, cautious he must
ne, but he must also cover, the ground
fE she time allotted him; for with each
division several officers are designat.
sd as umpires whose duties are to de.
ode when troops are to be counted
ont. The whole maneuver may be
termed game OF checkers, each
move counts; may win the day or
lose Il accordingly as the opposing
commander is quick to profit by the
mistakes Of his opponents, all Of
which depends on the promptness
srd intelligence which his sub.ordi.
nate officers carry out bis plans.
OF what use is an army that can
nofa@ handled or Unanswered? And
yet most battles OF all times have
turned upon this point. Our ma
lion can raise an army, 30 we say,
In q few months; perhaps It would be
better to say the materialfrom which
the army Is to be made, for 1t takes
months to make this army effective.
Nor is 1t alone the ability the maneu.
uer that counts; fully SO per cent Of
our loss In the Spanish.American
War was due to disease How nicely
,Shls has been handled by the officers
slnce is shown In the. Cuban::record
and on the Isthmus In the Canal
Camp. All this cannot be done on
paper, without practice. n Men can
not be taught these things. These
practical application. Of camp by.
4xsanic rules are by citizen: soldiers,
sometimes looked upon ss q hard.
ship; yet experience has shown them
80 be imperative. These and many
esther things are instilled into the
sands Of every man In the practice
camp, for after all the success Of
American arms will ever depend up.
on the intelligence and individuality
aoR.the enlisted man. And the:enlist.
'sdman, while be is learning this, ID
saze Tree and having his share Of ev.
@ything In sight; Il seeing and tax
ing part In things, which when We
sop to study the motive and ulti-
'nste purpose, may Justly make any