Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-04-03
rort Douglas the Scene of Spec
tacular Drills Every
Morning.
INTERESTS MANY CITY PEOPLE
,,c royman the Evolutions of the
Troops Arc Fascinating With Their
Trumpet Calls and Guns,

T-nrle sam lItPh'"7 "a o. "
~, douglas have taken up spring
a in battle formations and each
.,,ng from s to 10 o'clock they may
~ eonnd scattered over the United
C,otes military reservation from the
rniyarsty campus and Mt. olivet cem-
,.r,. N The foothills ringing the eastern
honndary OF the area. Three fun bat
arms are engaged in the drills and as
-. ,paneuver in response to sharp
,'g,o caus a spectacular sight is re-
ySs,ed that is only equalled when ac-
mol conflict Is taking place. quite n
'ro,y1 Of people from the city have
tan interest in these drills and each
ar,ing n knot of horsemen and
tn,so,y6nen may be seen following the
S1,s In blue over the varied terrain of
ny reservation. For the present no
ring with blank or other ammunition
is belng INDUCED in and equestrians
arr mo-; in danger on that score.
DRILLS INTEREST MANY.
The battle formations, or extended
orier drills. are interesting even to the
ayman who knows little about mat
,crs martial. The person who may
have thought that modern soldiers
Stand No in rank and fire as Bur-
poynes men did in the days when
Uncle sam was in his callow youth win
be undecelyed by a visit to the post
~ watch these early morning drills.
He viii lind battalion of some 800
men ar less scattered over mile or
more of territory, the individual sol
dlers several yards apart and each in
a measure his own commander, al
tbopeh this literally cannot be true If
the commands are TO be executed as the
commander of the force desires. 1t is
given TO the men TO exercise their
Judgment to great degree, though the
praIation in authority has it's regular
semence The individual soldier looks
10 the particular corporal in charge of
his souad for his direct orders and
this corporal is relying upon the
sergeant having in charge the squads
of three or more coIporals. The SER
reant is meanwhile looking to the lieu
tenant IN command of his platoon and
he 10 the captain commanding the COM
pany then TO the major of the battalion
and then higher up To the colonel and
then the various grades OF generals.
Though Commands for the various
movements must come from the high
almost Incredibly short time for the
orders to reach the individual soldiers
In the formations. In Witnessing the
| ,youtions and in the hearing the var
BUS commands transmitted by much
0ul shouting and blowing of bugles
n layman finds much to delight tim.
n bristlinG rifle barrels, the Slinting
Il abers ana sculTying about of men
>vwted and afoot. all in united eff
nj to gain some pont, makes the
aaa5uyer spectacular and thrilling.
TRAINING FOR WAR.
The theory of attacks upon infantry,
ayalYy or artillery, in the open, In
A1lfed places or in trenches, Is all
h1nd in academic phrasing i'm the drill
@ks. OF the theories, the officers and
commissioned officers must study
nch in preparation for work in the
"a, Il Is now that the theories are
ing put into practise upon the drill
eDund in carrying out Washington $
anonltion to prepare for the future in
d present--if that future comes not,
smuch the better, but if it does, those
gphews Of Uncle Sam will be ready
r It.
The three battalions at Fort Douglas,
I ~ the time being under the command
I Majs Arrasmlth and May and Capt.
smiley. are but small units when am
imy is to be formed. The lessons the
aldiers at Fort Douglas now are
arning will be in a measure pre-
! platory for service with larger body
/ d troops Such opportunities for as
iemblng large numbers of soldiers Is
4 iaorded when big maneuver camps are
eOylded during the summer months,
/ camps lasting Il month or more. Pro-
'siOnal divisions. theoretically COM
4 posed Of several brlgades under CONS
Mand Of brigadier generals, are as
semblod troops from many posts be-
ne thrown together to act as unit
When the commanding officer, theo-
Ntically, again, a major general. may
lrect The fact that the roster Of
officers at such camps Is generally
omprised Of officers OF lower grade
Than Is contemplated for actual war
aioTds the officers present an oppor-
Illnity TO become familiar with duties
INhich would be required of them in
higher position. In this way, while
school In an assumed state of war;
Ulcers are trained for promotion and
assume higher commands IL neces-
Wy should require in time of strife,
MLITIAaIEN GETTING POINTERS.
The militia Of the various states IL
lso assembled with the regular troops
II THESE vancouver camps and In this
ay lhe volunteer soldiers, who may
4eet 0lt once a week for drill In city
ulnolles and who consequently have
lhe opportunity of becoming ms eff
lthl us regular troops, are given an
pp9Tlunlty 10 see their professional