The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-07-02
TROOPS TO WORK HARD
NOT MUCH PLAY AIT COMING ENCAMP'
MENT in THIS CITY
Difficult Problems of Attack and De.
tense to Be Solved


tense to Be Solved
At the encampment of the Maryland
National Guard in this city the troops
will operate as in war; They will be
divided into two armies. One will be
DESIGNATED as the Blue Army and the
other as the Red Army, each with
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 $4,000. the pay of the men
for the eight days they will be in the
field being the greatest item, amount
ing, as it will, to at least $4,000.
It will not be play" camp nor a
"show" camp. Prior to the Spanish
American war brigade encampments
of state troops we're noting more
than frolics, the troops going into the
field for movements not more difficult
than those executed in the armor1es,
concluding each day. with dress pa
rade. Soldering in the organized
militia is now hard work for the Off
Ger, as well as the enlisted man, and
those unwilling to 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 field, 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
maneuver camps. Gen. LaWrason
Riggs will be in command. The War
Department will have three officers
here as observers and instructors
It is expected that the maneuver
grounds will cover five miles of terri
tory Maps of the country will be
prepared and carefully studied by the
commanding officers. A feature OF the
camp will be instruction as to the care
of troops in the field and forced
| marches. All troops at mnaeuVers
wear- the prescribed field service uni
form, except in 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 thai
if the cap is not available members OF
the Blue forces wear broad blue
band around the hat. 1t is also stated
that in maneuver combats the nation
al, regimental or battalion colors OF
/ standards are not carried.
In addition to the problems in the
field there will be a course OF lectures
and conferences, the former taking
place in the evening and the last
named in the field before and afte1
problems are worked out. The prob
lens are framed under the assump
ton of a state of war Involving hos
tile operations and are usually ex
pressed in general and special stu
ations. The general situation is Civ
en- to both parties and contains th'
; information supposed to be general.
known. A speca1 situation is givel
to each commander. and contains full
information in regard to his own com
mand and such information of tn
: enemy as might have been obtaine,
in actual warfare.
The troops are put to work building
intrenchments, gunpits, obstacles, etc
To prevent accidents during the con
tact problems an inspection is mad
) bivouac to ascertain that no ball car
tridges and carried. Blank ammunitio
only is allowed to be carried or useC
, A general order outlining the wor
of the camps states that the actua
collision of opposing forces must
prevented When the combat reache
, the stage just preceding the crisis tn
commander of the maneuvers or tn
chief umpire gives the signal for sus
/ pension of operations, and the rela
tive numbers and positions of the con
tending forces are carefully notet
The chief umpire or commander of tn
maneuvers then decides whether t
continue the exercises or not. If con
, tinued one or both OF the opposin
; forces may be required to Withdraw
, to a suitable distance before hostili
ties are resumed. Firing by opposin!
parties is discontinued when they ar
rive within 100 yards of each other
: and the umpires then make decis
ion.
The Fifth Regiment will go int
camp on Saturday evening, July II, 81
as to be in good shape for Sunday
when there will be number of Wis
itors to the troops The Fourth Regi
ment applied for the privilege o
marching to Westminster, leaving
Baltimore Friday, July 16, but the
cost will prevent permission being
granted. 1t was stated that it would
add about 1900 to the expense of the
maneuVerS.
The First and Fourth Regiments
will therefore leave Baltimroe early
Sunday morning, July 18, travelling tt
this city over the Western Maryland
Railroad Brigade Commander Riggs
and staff will go into camp Saturday
afternoon, July IL. Troop A will
likely march to this city from Pixies
vile on Sunday morning. The first
Separate Company, colored, may come
to Westminster Saturday for general
guard duty until camp is fully estab-
lished.