Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-18

Of non commissioned regular army off
Ger, These men acted in the capacity OF
drill masters for the companies during
their entire stay. So well were the "regs"
liked by the different companies to which
they We're assigned that most Of them were
pr ssented with substantial remenlbrances
by the Nebraskans, before they broke
camp
The cost of sending the Nebraska Ma
tional Guard to the Fort Riley maneuVers
was approximately $4,000. The pay OF the
men was fully three-fifths of this amount
or $4,000. The transportation was $4,000,
and the subsistence of the men while In
camp amounted to 1900 in round numbers
The men were on duty twelve days. one
day each way in travelling, and ten days
actual stay at the camp.
Since 1902 the state militia has been more
properly called the National Guard, be-
cause of the act which, that year made IL
more under the supervision Of the War
department at Washington. Thus, in tha
event OF war being declared, the National
Guard of all the states must be called out
for service before volunteers can be called
for. The War department, also under the
1902 act, now makes disposition annually
Of about 100000 which it distributes to
the various states for the use of their
National Guard organizations. Nebraska's
share Of this IL $4,000 per annum, an
amount twice as large the state legts-
lature appropriates for its soldiers.
Uncle Sans paymasters distributes
among the Nebraska men the last day they
were at the maneuvers $1,000, or all but
$1,000 required to pay the men for their
services while at Fort Riley. This re-
naming amount Is all that the state Is
required to pay toward the earnings Of the
Nebraska men.
One of the most pleasant remembrances
of the Fort Riley camp, and one strongly
felt by all of the Nebraska men, was the
conduct of ali officers toward the men
under them. From the acting adJutant OF
the cornhusker troops down TO the second
lieutenant OF each company there was not
a single officer but had the welfare OF his
men constantly on his mind This was
forcbly shown when, following a day OF
extreme heat when scores Of men were
Frustrated during a hard hike" Colonel
Mack of the Second Nebraska and Colonel
Eberly of the First both insisted that their
regiments should be allowed a full days
rest, Thelr wishes were compiled with,
and every Nebraska man that day, silently
OF OlneINlBet SWOIo arrogance 70 Nhe ibl-
onels who had thoughtfully considered
their condition before taking orders for
days maneuvering.
The Nebraskans, most Of them unused
TO the strenuous life of army maneuvers,
were upon their return home almost
unanimous in expressing themselves as well
pleased with their stay at the large ma
tlonal military reservation. Every one OF
the companies went away better drilled
and better prepared for war than they
possibly could have been with simply eN-
periences OF a state vancouver camp be-
hind them. Were the benefits to be meas
ured by but the lessons learned the day
OF the big sham-battle the stay would
have been worth while, but when those
OF nine days are added no one has yet
been heard to say that II was not worth
a great deal more than any instruction
camp in which Nebraska troops ever par
ticlpated, EARL Il. GADDIS.
Hodregc. Neb,