The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-27
Vicinity of Capital Said to Be
Favored by Gen. Leon
ard Wood.
LOCAL MEN WOULD
BE ON DEFENSIVE
All Praise for District Guards Dur
ing Campaign on North
Shore.

Next years war games In all prob
ability win be held IN the vicinity of
Washington, and the District guards
men, instead Of being part of an in
vediRg army. as in the campaign
against TIE defenscs OF Boston. will
then be called upon 90 hll tIIe role OF
defenders Of the Capital,
While this plan Is yet IN its formative
state. Il may be said with assurance
that Gen. Leonard Wood, commanding
the department Of the East, viii bring
1t to the attention Of the War Depart
ment in connection with the prepare
tions for next years maneuvers. He
is convinced shat the plan of field
maneuvers as carried out this year In
Massachusetts has many advantages
over the permanent camp plan, as fol-
lowed in the Manassas maneuvers last
year. and the Mt. Gretna camp, and
should be given a thorough trying out
in several successive years. In time
Of actual war the Capitals defenses |
would naturally be OF high importance.
Officers Pleased.
To the entire satisfaction Of General
Wood. Gen. TasI1er II. Bliss, who COM
manded the Red" army, and 10 the reg
ular army officers who served as Of
fetal observers and u}npires in the Mas
sachusetts campaign, the District
guardsmen proved their worth and
soldierIy qualities IN the most siren
nous mimic war campaign that has
ever been conducted in this country.
All these Officers have So expressed
themselves, and in their reports 20 the
War Department they viii further
elucidate the value of the miltfamen
IN time OF actual war, win particular
reference 10 the high quality of the
soldiers OF Gen George II. Harries'
brigade.
Because the District suardsmen ac-
quilted themselves So well as an in
Vadlng army, working under conditions
70 which they were entirely unfamil-
Tar, and IN = country new to them,
there is no do Ibt In the minds of these
regular army n Ulcers that they would
DO as well, Il DOT better, if placed on
the defensive.
Some of the observing officers 20 so
FAR as TO declare that the District mill
tiamen, accepting their conduct IN Mas
sachusetts as their standard Of eff
cheney, would DO what General Pew's
Bay State troops signally failed to do
defend their city successfully against
invasion.
Lessons Of Value.
The lessons learned in this years
maneuvers also viii be of great value
Al AAAA4C AA4e4-EAlhEa 4 We Oh the most I
impressive lessons are that certain /
glazing defects in the commissary viii /
have TO be remedied, and that marches /
viii have 10 be curtailed If the troops /
OF the invading force are TO be kept
IN the best physical shape and fighting |
trim. Under the existing arrangement /
the commissary is The affair OF the
regular army and the question OF inn
ms rIFrn1nrrs If q
War Department But IN the case OF |
the marching IL remains entirely with |
the militia brigade commanders to say /
whether their men shall march under /
the most favorable conditions or /
whether they move under conditions |
that are in truth form of physical /
torture.
In connection with the marching done
BY the District guardsmen in the Mas
sachusetts campaign they Jared worse |
perhaps IN point Of physical discomfort /
than AIRY other soldiers in the Red /
army This was due 70 General Harries' /
determination 20 demonstrate to General /
Bliss the quality % the men comprising /
the District brigade. 70 the new shoes
which the men were supplied with prior /
70 leaving Washington, and to the long
distances traVersed-
Walked Too Fast.
one mistake made by General Har-
RES. according 10 the regular army OBJ /
servers. was that he always set the /
pace for the marchers with mounted /
men. In short, OF all the ''hlkes" over /
the Massachusetts, roads. he and his !
staff officers. all mounted, led the bril- /
gade. The fallacy and unwisdom Of this 1
was pointed out TO General Harries BY /
Capt. Edgar Fry, Of the Thirteenth 4
United States Infantry. one OF the in |
structors who accompanied the District 4
brigade. He told General Harries that 4
under the most favorable conditions foot /
soldiers should not be paced by horse /
men. and that Il such plan were fol- /
lowed In the field It would be only q 4
question OF time when the io0t soldiers
would be thoroughly exhausted tn their /
efforts TO keep up and in consequence /
entirely unht for hard fighting.
II viii perhaps be a week before the /
miiitiamen shake off the effects Of their /
strenuous camp experience Most Of the 4
men who accompanied the brigade are I,
Government employees and not a few
are today taking advantage Of a few
extra days OF their annual leave Ia or 1
der 20 crest up" thoroughly.