The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-29
PALMER SAYS
NOBODY KNOWS
Fifteenth Infantry Captain Dis
cuSses Presence of Troops
on Border.
OFFICERS AND MEN ARE
DISGUSTED WITH AFFAIRS
Water Supply Is insufficient
and Weather Unusually
lnclement.

That ''nobody knows" very much
about the why's and the wherefores OF
tie mobilization OF United States
troops at San Antonio, Tex, is the
conclusion arrived at by Captain j. Nj.
Palmer Company II. Fifteenth infantry,
who returned Friday afternoon from
the scene OF the maneuvers.
Captain Palmer brings the informa-
ton that the officers and men OF the
Fifteenth are in good health. as are
the troops generally, Notwithstanding
the unsatisfactory weather which has
prevailed during the big cncampment.
Captain Palmer is the first officer
Of the Fifteenth 10 return to Fort
Douglas since the regiment LETT
March s this year. and he will leave
again at noon today for Washington.
war department. Captain Palmer when
seen al mis- dismantled quarters at the
post last night was busy delving
through his household effects prepara-
tory TO his trip 10 Washington. and
placed no further significance on the
orders received by him than that he
had merely been assigned to temporary |
duty at Fort Douglas and was 10 con
tinue on 10 Washington at once TO re-
port 10 lne uepdI lNlcni mere.
Don't Like the Job.
Conditions for the maneuvers are
not altogether satisfactory at San An
tonio,' said Captain Palmer, "and 10
add to the discomfort of the men the
weather has been unusually inclement.
The officers and men are rather dis
gusted with affairs generally. but nev
theless are in good health and MAX
ing the best of the circumstances.
1.-The topography of the country In
and about San Antonio is not fitted for
extensive maneuvering 10 the best ad-
vantage There are no stretches for
good long marches except to Leon
Springs, and the troops take that trip
By turns. Regulation camp life Is
being lived and the time is spent In
drilling. target practice and the usual
routine attached TO army life, Another
the lack of sufficient water supply. \
few hundred visitors in that section
would find it ample. perhaps, because
they could locate wells if nothing else
20 supply them. but for an army OF
several thousand soldiers the supply is
deficient. There has been too much
rain, however, and the accompanying
mud has made marching and drilling
unsatisfactory.
ALI pI tHt iIbppS lbGL btuI hO"
originally are still there. and so far
as the Fifteenth is concerned at least
we have had no intimation of when
Ive will move
Promotions Expected.
at is the general impression among ]
The officers that the promotions talked
Of Just before the regiment left Fort
Douglas Will be made in the near fu
.urc. There has been some little hitch
n the proceedings, but official an
viii probably be made
soon.
Both the Wright and Curtiss com
panies had aeroplanes participating In
he maneuvers when | left camp Tues D.,
lay. and this new branch of the work {
5 naturally attracting considerable at
ention. The encampment VIII doubt i
ess prove of great benefit to the army :
in general. 1t will offer the officers
opportunity TO see where improvements
n the service can be made. and it will
certainly give the men much good train
ng they could not get in any other
way.
Gas ! say, however. the conditions /
lown there are not Just suited to the a
purpose of maneuvers, though the best .
S being made of conditions as they do !
Exist. Why the soldiers are down there (
10 one seems to know.
Opinions Differ.
"Opinions as 10 the outcome Of the i
rouble. over the line is divided in San :
Antonio and vicinity. though it is the a
general impression now, Just as the
say. that the prospects for
peace are bright As is always the
,ase, it takes a difference of opinion
o start trouble, and so among those
Interested there Is difference OF
opinion as the the status OF the
rouble.''
Fort Douglas as Captain Palmer c
,ound It upon his return yesterday is y
'astly different in appearance than it $
vas on the day the regiment marched y
away. The post is virtually deserted :. .
civilian guard walks his lonely beat I
md glimpses through the windows OF
he officers quarters disclose house s
lold effects all packed up, apparently q
n readiness for long journey u
Captain +. w. Rowcll is still In "com. :
nand' and there are one OF two Off s
.ers' families still occupying their G