The Democratic advocate., 1909-07-02
TROOPS TO WORK HARD
NOT MUCH PLAY AT COMING ENCAMP-
MENT IN THIS CITY
Difficult Problems OF Attack and De.
Tense to Be Solved

At the encampment Of the Maryland
National Guard IN this city the troops
Will operate as In war They viii be
divided into two armies. One will be
designated as the Blue Army and the
other as the Red Army, each with a
distinctive commander and complete
staff There will be In the neighbor-
hood OF 1000 men IN the field, includ-
ing cavalry forces from the regular
Army. and the maneuvers will cost the
state about $45 900, the pay of the men
for the eight dayssthey will be In the
field being the greatest item. amount
ing. as II will to at least $30.ObO.
Il viii not be a play" camp nor a
show camp. Prior to the Spanish
American war brigade encampments
OF state troops were noting more
than froiies, the troops going into the
field for movements not more difficult
than those executed In the armories,
concluding each day with n dress pa
rade. Soldering In the organized
militia Is now hard work for the off
Ger. az well as the enlisted man, and
those unwilling 10 work are promptly
dropped from the service.
Instead OF battalion and regimen
tai drills and dress parades difficult
/ problems Of attack and defense are
/ now worked out while the troops are
IN the Geld. the Idea being to prepare
them for real service In an emergency.
( The state. as we'll as the national
/ government. therefore gets value
( received for the money spent on
I maneuyer camps Gen l.awrason
I Riggs win be In command The War
Department viii have three officers
/ here AZ observers and instructors
/ II is expected that the maneuYer
I grounds viii cover five miles of terri
( tory. Maps a. the country will be
prepared and carefully studied By the
I commanding officers A feature OF the
camp will be instruction as to the care
of troops IN the field and forced
/ marches. All troops NJ mnaeuvers
wear the prescribed field service uni
Z form. except III the Blue forces. where
the service cap Is worn. Outside of
the insignia. difference In headgear Is
about all that distinguishes modern
armies In the field. a general order
from the War Department states that
n the cap is not available members Of
the Blue forces wear a bread blue
band around the hat II IA also stated
that IN mHneuver combats the nation
al regimental or battalion coiors or
standards are not carried.
In addition 10 the problems in the
fieid there viii be course Of lectures
and conferences, the former taking
place In the evening and the last
named In the neld before and after
problems are worked out The prob
lens are framed under the asaump-
tion Of state OF war involving hos
tile operations aud are usually ex-
pressed IN general and special situ-
atluns The general situation II CIV
en- 20 both parties and contains the
Information supposed to be generally
known. A SPECIAL aituation Is given
10 each commander and contains full
information la regard to his own com.
mand and such information OF the
enemy" as might have been obtained
In actual wArfnre
The troops are put 10 work building
intrenchmentH, gunpits. obstacles. etc
To prevent accidents during the con.
tact problems an inspection Is made
before the troops leave their camp OF
biYouac to ascertain that no ball car.
tridges and carried Blank Ammunition
only Is allowed 20 be carried or used
A general order outlining the WORK
of the camps states that the actual
collision Of opposing forces must bs
prevented. When the combat reaches
the stage just preceding the crisis ths
commander OF the maneuvers or the
chief umpire gives the signal for sus.
pension OF operations. aud the rela.
tive numbers and positions OF the con.
tending forces are carefully noted
The chief umpire or commander Of the
maneuyera then decides whether e
continue the exercises or not II con
tiuued one or both OF the opposing
forces may be required 10 withdraw
} 10 suitable distance before hustili
ties are resumed. Firing by opposing
parties is discontinued when they ar.
rive within 100 yards OF each other
and the umpires then make a decis.
ion.
The Fifth Regiment will 20 inte
camp on Saturday evening, July IL, sc
as TO be In good shape for Sunday
when there will be a number OF Wis.
itors to the troops The Fourth Regi
ment applied FOR the privilege oI
hiAA w H itdflnN
Baltimore Friday, July 16, but the
} cost Will prevent permission being
granted. IL was stated that Il would
add about 81 200 TO the expense OF the
! maneuvers.
The First and Fourth Regiments
viii therefore leave Baltlmroe early
Sunday morning, July rs, travelling e
this city over the Western Maryland
Railroad Brigade Commander Riggs
and stan will go into camp Saturday
} afternoon, July IL. Troop A viii
, likely march TO this city from Pixies.
: Vile on Sunday morning. The first
Separate Company, colored, may come
, to Westminster Saturday for genera
guard duty until camp is fully estab
lished
WEDnIUC nEIIc