Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-18
AMERICA i'm THE PHILIPPINES
XVTHH-Our Far Eastern Army
By Frederic j. Raskin

this battlefield. He has nothing to do
with political affairs, Is a consistent
supporter of American authority, and
is at peace with the world. There IL
not an American army officer In the
Philippines but who sings the praises
of the ex-captain of the insurrection
Fort Mckinley is situated on high
ground overlooking the laguna, the
city and bay of Manila. 1t has been
occupied since 1905. The officers quar-
tiers are thrown In a single line around
the three-mile perlmeter of the site,
while the mems barracks are in the
middle. The fort could have been made
much more beautiful by the adoption
of better system of grouping, and 1t
is hoped that in time the handsome
new Y. M. c. A. building In the center
of the fort will be "built up to- oy
the government.
Practically, however, the location of
the post as regards facility for training
troops Is all that could be desired. The
modern soldier must have something
more than parade ground drill. be
must have special training In field
work to develop his initiatives; he must
know how to estimate distances quick
ly and accurately: he must have prac-
tice In scouting and trailing; he must
know how to construct field fortifica-
tions and hasty intrenchments; IN
short, he must be trained to practical
efficiency. For this sort of work Fort
William Mckinley has large and va
ried territory Immediately available. \
tract of land a hundred square miles
in extent is at hand for just such uses,
while there are ten square miles ac-
tually owned by the government in ad-
dition to the fort reservation proper.
Within these limits are hills. ridges,
ravines, streams, wooded and bare
ground, rice fields and roadways, The
artillery may fire every day in the year
over different range. Other arms find
the same variety of ground for sepa-
rate or combined field practice
The garrison at Fort William Nc
Kinley consists of two regiments of
infantry, two-thirds of a regiment of
cavalry, a battery of artillery and q
company of engineers. The military
prison for the islands is also located at
this fort. A brigade post of this size
affords the commanding general an
opportunity to directly train and ma
neuver troops in field exercises, and
also to train troops of the various arms
In combination. A thorough system of
instruction has been inaugurated by
General Pershing. Beginning with the
rainy season, about the middle of June.
various classes of theoretical school
work are taken up along with garrison
training of troops. Garrison schools
for officers as prescribed by the war
department, with additional courses In
map study and history of recent wars,
enable officers to keep abreast of tho
times in professional knowledge.
Schools are maintained for instruction
in mule packing. bread baking, carpen-
try, blacksmithing and horse shoeing.
clerical work, stenography and type
writing. A riding school Is q feature,
of course, and there are classes for
noncommissioned officers and privates
in scouting, rifle and revolver shooting.
riding, swimming and various gymnas-
tic exercises.
At the end of the rainy season. about
the middle OF November the practical
field work is taken up. The captain of
each company teaches his men how to
march. make camp, care for them
selves in the field, cook. draw maps,
follow trails. aid the wounded and how
to reconnoiter and attack positions.
Then the major has his battalion for
an extension of the instruction in field
training begun by the captain, assign
| ing military problems to be worked
out Then comes the colonel and the
whole regiment is included in the train
ing, finally working up to the brigade
maneuvers under the commanding gen.
eral with all arms combined.
This is the way the army In the
Philippines occupies its "idle" time--in
| preparation and training. There are
about twenty other posts and garri-
soned towns occupied by American
| troops, but the principle of consollda-
tion is being carried out and the small
er stations are being gradually turned
over to the scouts. This brings the
American soldiers into larger garrisons
and permits effective training work.
The presence of the soldiers as an
immediate menace to evildoers is no
longer required in the greater part OF
the Philippines territory. But the
moral effect of their presence in the
islands is absolutely necessary to pre-
serve order and to maintain the SUI
premacy of the law. 1t may be many
years before the American garrison
may be cut down greatly, but in the
meantime the army will be profitinR
by the actual experience Of military
work in foreign land, under strange
conditions and on the other side of the
globe. The Philippines have done as
much for the army as the army has
done for the Philippines.
Tomorrow-Ameriea in the PHILIPPINES
XIX-The New Tariff Law.