The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-01

When military nations like Germany
hold maneuvers in which 100000 men par
ticipate, other nations send military at
taches as observers. and the citizens OF
all nations marvel But when the Ma
tional Guard OF the District of Columbia
leaves yearly for camp. the average citi-
zen Of Washington shrugs his shoulders
and says: There they go 70 play sol
der again.
1t is not realized that the District
troops are en- route 20 participate in
maneuvers equally as extensive as those
OF the German army. and. II anything
more practical. This year the District
militia goes TO Gettysburg the latter part
OF July and, while there. will work with
large body Of troops Of all arms from
the regular army
This programme during the months
Of July. August September. and Oc-
tober is repeated by the guardsmen Of
practically every State and Territory. In
the aggregate the maneuvers will involve
as many men as do the gigantic Ger
man maneuvers. The only difference is
that the United States army and its re-
serve force. the militia. has its units
spread over the entire country at va
rlous camps OF instruction. while the
German forces are massed at one point.
The latter Is spectacular, but Is not re-
garded as more practical than the
American idea.
The credit for the system OF joint
camps Of instruction IS due 70 the divi-
sion Of military affairs OF the War De
parnent Since its creation. SIS labors
have produced a fighting force over
balancing the standing army OF the
United States. equally well equipped in
every respect and becoming more ef-
hcient in training with each year. While
the militia, or reserve army, cannot be-
| come as efficient as the standing army
/ II IS universally acknowledged by mill
/ tary men that the next war Will find the
/ United States ready with an army that
VIII surprise not only the world. but
/ the average American citizen, In whose
mind still remains the idea Of the Ma
/ tional Guard as Il was before the Dick
| law wrought its great change.
! Few realize that while the regular
/ army numbers approximately $500 off,
! GERS and men. the organized militia num-
bers more than 1900 officers and men
( Between $500 and 1000 members OF
/ the militia viii spend two weeks this
/ year NJ joint camps OF instruction This
means that they are we'll equipped and
/ their units organized according 20 the
! regulations and organization laid down
( by the War Department for the United
/ States army. II they were not they
would not be permitted TO so 10 camp
| Il also means that a force greatly OK
ceeding the standing army OF the United
/ States is ready 10 take the field in time
1 Of war on short notice.
In general orders providing for the ter
/ camps OF instruction this year, the Wal
! Department says: 1t IS the purpose OF
the department in carrying out The
/ scheme OF instruction outlined in this
order 20 approximate 90 the march and
in camp as nearly as may be the con.
Z dition OF field service in time OF war.
/ Continuing. this order says: And as N,
Z object IS 70 perfect the field training OF
| troops. the maximum OF drills. exercises
and problems looking 20 that end is en-
/ joined. together with the minimum OF
formal ceremonies and a total absence
of merely spectacular exhibitions"
The ten camps and their dates viii bt
, ChickamaUga Park. Ga. July; Getyys
/ burg Pa. July; American Lake, Wash
! ington, August; Leon Springs. Texas
! August: Fort BENJAMIN Harrison. Ind.
/ September; Sparta, Wis. August; Pin,
Camp. jefferson County, y. Y. August
Fort D. A. Russell. Wyo., July Is {,