The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-04-19

the eastern counties of Massachu-
sets. In which militiamen from four
states and the District and detach-
ments from the regular army partici.
pated, have been declared marked
success
Gen. Wood, commanding the depart
ment Of the east, under whose super
vision the army of the reds was
pitted against the blues, comprising
the Massachusetts volunteer militia,
IL Is said, Is more than pleased with
the outcome.
In his report to the war department
concerning the maneuvers, 1t Is under
stood that he will recommend that
like maneuyers, on even larger
scale be conducted next year, when
the troops which were on the defen-
sive this year will constitute a part
Of the attacking force, while the at
lacking forces will be the defending
army.
It Is yet too early to ascertain just
how much truth there IL In the many
reports flying thick and fast from the
war department 1t is known, how
ever, that the wa: department officials
are seriously considering the propos.-
ton of getting together for instruc-
tional purposes the largest body of mi
litiamen the world has ever seen, and
that the battle ground will be In the
vicinity of the District.
Several of the officers of the regular
army, detailed by the war department
for Institutional purposes with the
District militia during the Massachu-
setts campaign, are not In favor OF
such a move. 1t Is likely that they
viii, without single exception,
recommend to the war department
that the District National Guard be
permitted to 90 through less strenu-
GUS campaign next year.
The guard should be sent TO some
point near Washington--Ha rpers Fer
ry or the lower Potomac forts--where
the company officers win be given an
opportunity to Learn; II: she why's why's and
wherefores of everything military
which is required 81 them
While the officers gained much val
liable information In the New Eng
land meneuvers, yet the policy Of the
war department these days to leave
the general plan Of each campaign d.
rectly in the hands Of the command
ing officer, thus eliminating to a large
extent his subordinates, does not tend
to make Of the suboriin&tes expert
military men
The commanding officer has in mind
O certain plan which he wants carried
out From his headquarters he di.
reefs that one division occupy GER
tain point; a second Is ordered to adj
vance SO many miles, while a third
Ia told to push forward to a town
miles away. Each division comes face
to face with detachment OF the EN-.
emys forces, UNEXPECTEDLY.
The results may be favorable to the
mute commander, bit about the only
advantage to be derived by his suhor
dinates Is the practice In handling
their men under fire, Not until long
after the smoke OF the battle has
cleared away, even If then, do the Of
ficers know exactly the objects of
their commander
1t ia the belief Of the regular army
officers that the militiamen should
have brigade camp of their own at
least every other year. AT this the
little details. as well as the general
plans of tho campaign can be worked
out by the company officers. They
are given q good ins'ght into the raal
objects of certain lrcpss. Then, when
/ that militia finds itself part of 2
large army. the purpose OF which 81
! to attack a certain stronghold, the or
ders from general headquarters are
more ineligible. and every move can
be understood while 1t is being carried