St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-10-30

the eastern counties of Massachu-
sets, in which militiamen from four
states and the District and detach-
ments from the regular army partici-
pated, have been declared a marked
| success.
Gen. Wood, commanding the depart
ment of the east, under whose super
vision the army of the reds was
pitted against the blues, comprising
the Massachusetts volunteer militia,
it is said, is more than pleased with
the outcome.
In his report to the war department
| concerning the maneuyers, it is under
stood that he will recommend that
like maneuvers, on even a larger
| scale, be conducted next year, when
| the troops which were on the defen-
sive this year will constitute a part
| Of the attacking force, while the at
| lacking forces will be the defending
| army.
| It is yet too early to ascertain just
how much truth there is in the many
reports flying thick and fast from the
war department. 1t is known, how
ever, that the war department officials
are seriously considering the PROPOSE
| ton of getting together for instruc-
| tiOna1 purposes the largest body of mi
| litiamen the world has ever seen, and
that the battle ground will be in the
vicinity Of the District.
1 oF ~ -,
| army, detailed by the war department
| for Institutional purposes with the
District militia during the Massachu-
| sets campaign, are not in favor of
| such a move. It is likely that they
| will, without single exception,
recommend to the war department
that the District National Guard be
permitted to go through less strenu
Dus campaign next year.
The guard should be sent to some
point near shington-Harpers Fer
ry or the lower Potomac forts-where
the company officers will be given an
| opportunity to learn the why's and
| wherefores of everything military
which is required of them.
While the officers gained much val
| liable information in the New Eng
| land meneuvers, yet the policy of the
| war department these days to leave
| the general plan of each campaign di-
rectly in the hands Of the command
| ing officer, thus eliminating to a large
| extent his subOrdinates, does not tend
| to make of the subordinates expert
military men.
The commanding officer has in mind
| a certain plan which he wants carried
out. From his headquarters he d.
reefs that one division occupy a GER
tain point; a second is ordered to ad.
vance so many miles, while a third
is told to push forward to a town
miles away. Each division comes face
to face with detachment of the en-
emy's forces, unexpectedly.
The results may be favorable to the
mute commander, but about the only
advantage to be derived by his subor-
diDates is the practice In handling
their men under fire. Not until long
after the smoke of the battle has
cleared away, even If then, do the Of
ficers know exactly the objects of
their commander.
It is the belief of the regular army
officers that the milifiamen should
have brigade camp Of their own at
least every other year. At this the
little details, as we'll as the general
plans of the campaign, can be worked
out by the company officers. They
are given a good insight into the real
objects of certain moves. Then, when
that militia finds itself a part of
large army, the purpose of which is
to attack certain stronghold, the or
ders from general headquarters are
more Ineligible. and every move can
be understood while it is being carried
out