New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-06-07


makes it feasible for them to work satisfacto-
rilv The effect Of large forces is gained by CIV
ing one man "the strength of ten and counting
one wagon as if it were ten wagons In this
way an actual force of five hundred men would
represent a modest army of five thousand and
train of fifteen wagons convoy OF l5V the
effect of the latter being gained by stretching
the line of fifteen out over the space which
would be required by $50.
The drills and problems intended to make
it possible to present fair sort of front should
an enemy attempt to gain Judgement on the
shores Of the United States The reason for the
utilization of the militia is understood when
officials who ought to know say that there are
not enough men in the regular service to man
the Qualifications of the country; that an army
of from 100000 to 10000 would be required to
protect the rear Of the fortresses about New
York against landing force from the superior
fleets of fast transports which some foreign
nations have at their command, and that a mill
ion men would be required in case of war. The
regular army at present has strength of fewer
than 10000 men all told States in which there
are Notifications, therefore have been in
vited to enlist coast defence troops.
June is to be a busy month with the Depart
ment of the East for the burning of powder at
Forts Wadsworth and Hamilton will be modest
ried on under the direction of Major General
Grant commander of the department There
will be similar operations at the Notifications
about Baltimore, at both ends of Long Island
Sound along the shores of Narragansett Bay
and about Boston Harbor. There will also be a
camp Of instruction at Pine Plains level
stretch Of land bordering the curving reaches
of the Black River at Fet's Mills, about nine |
miles from WATERFOWL, n. V, including the So
luton of problems which the popular mind, I'M
trammelled with technicalites OF military OF
any other nature, delights to style sham battles. |
Altogether there will be about twenty thou
sand men engaged. OF these about II 800 will !
discover the taste of the dust OF Pine Plains, |
while the remainder Will be learning how to pro-
tect their eardrIms in the Notifications. A |
large proportion Of these troops will he militia |
from the states of Maryland New Jersey. Penn |
syvania. New York, Connecticut. Rhode Island |
Massachusetts New Hampshire and Vermont |
there being less than three thousand regulars DIT |
Pine Plains.
While the drills with the guns OF the fortifca-
tions will begin first, some of the men who will |
ready the way to the rendezvous The staff |
officers are the only in the regular army |
who obliged to prove their fitness for the |
field by practice ride walk. The regular |
troops which to help solve the problems are |
also to have a taste of the exercise. Apparently
they enjoy the prospect more than OF the |
officers said to do, for, although the cavalry
required to march only 80 miles before |
reaching the camp of instruction at Pine Plains |
The four troops detailed from Fort Mver Viz
ginia asked for the privilege of marching the |
entire 400 miles.
As the average daily speed of a troop of cav:I-
~ is between Il and 20 miles they Will be |
the road nearly a month. The infantry will |
bc obliged to 200 miles II is intended |
that every company of regular infantry and |
every troop of cavalry shall march into camp
thc same day. Just if Pine Plains were a |
battlefield and the troops achievements or
d"red from different points to mobilize where il |
is CXrected that the enemy will be on a certain |
date This day is June 13.
The troops will consist of four troops OF cav
airy and two batteries of field artillery from |
Fort Myer, near Washington; eight troops
of cavalry from Fort Ethan Allen near Essex
Junction. Vt: four companies of infantry from
PlattsturI barracks, La& Cbamplain: four COM