The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-17
MIXED UP BAGGAGE
CAUSES CONFUSION

NEW BEDFORD, Mass, Aug. H.
The value Of the maneuvers TO the milf
tismen is being demonstrated, say the
officers. at every turn.
Beginning with the problem Of trans
portation. the divided command, and the
getting together of the baggage and
equipment after the landing, the quar-
fermaster's department had its hands
full. Then came the march, when the
necessity for keeping the wagon trains
up with the command at all times be
came the big thing 10 consider, together
with the selection of camp sites near
water, etc.
Army officers here declare that the
maneuVers are DESIGNED as much to try
out the supply departments as any
thing else. The QuarterTna sters and
iCOmmisSarles are among those most
benefited by the constant movement Of
large bodies of troops, say the designers
Of the maneuvers.- Only through actual
experience can the militia officers in
these two departments gain the knowl-
edge that fits them for the offices they
hold. II is pointed out. hence the very
mistakes that have been made are ex-
tremely beneficial
Many Mistakes Apparent
That there ars mistakes made through
inexperienced almost solely the instruc-
tors and umpires say. is apparent TO
even the rawest recruit in the District
contingent.
Confusion OF orders, mixups in trans
portation arrangements. lost and delay
ed camp baggage and personal equip
lnent has marked the opening of tha
offensive movement against the defenses
Of Boston. as far as the District Ma
sional Guards end of the campaign is
concerned.
The whole situation was epitomized
By Brigadier General Harries, some
twelve hours after the first camp had
been mSde. in these words:
There has been such a confusion Of
orders that it resembles real war"
There has been some criticism by Dis
trict officers OF sending the command
into the field. divided as III was. Had
the outnt on the transports Sumner and
Mcclellan comprised the entire COM
niand. all might have gone well. But
the First Battery, coming by rail TO
New York and thence BIZ steamer 10
New Bedford, while most of its equip
ment had already preceded II on the
transports, seemed TO invite confusion.
This situation Is Of frequent occurrence
IN war time, the instructors say, and
the militiamen must be prepared to
meet IL
Battery Has Trouble.
The foot soldiers. within two hours
6ltef luelf ARRIVAL were started I0r the
camp AT Wing farm, near Mendau hill.
q distance OF nearly seven miles. leaving
the guns OF the District battery on the
wharf at FairhaveD. When the battery
arrived some i've hours later on the
steamer Pilgrim, from New York, the first
inquiry Of its commander, Capt Charles
J. Fox, was for his equipment That
Il was assembled on the ground where
tngplaee was unknown 10 him. He landed
across the bay from the battery's land
ing place unknown 70 MIN. He landed
his men and horses on the dock, and
for several hours they waited there
under the broiling sun, while men were
sent 70 hunt the missing equipment.
A body Of New York troopers. who
had come on the PrilgTim. managed TO
confuse their horses and baggage with
that Of the District Battery, and a long
delay ensued while this miX-up WAS
being Strengthened out.
Boys Are DiscOnsolate.
When the men. horses. and guns were
finally brought together. il was through
the ait and energy OF Capt. z. J. VIII
lisns. one OF the field instructors OF the
regular army. together with Colonel
simms, Of the Second Regiment, who