The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-03
ARTILLERY FOUND
MOST PROMISING
Captain Spaulding Makes Off
cial Report on Recent
Encampment.
NEED MOUNTED PRACTICE
Most Defects Due to Want OF
Horses for Constant Drill
Use.

Summing up his report to the War
Department on the recent encamp-
az Camp Lindsay Walker, Captain
Oliver l.. Spaulding. Jr., OF the Fifth
Field Artillery. has this to say:
In general. it may be said that the
battalion is a promising organization.
The character of the personnel Is very
good and all seem Jealous. What
they need is more practice"
Captain spauldinS further points
out that the lack of practice Is main
~ due to the fact that the batteries
have had little no opportunity for
work with horses. Prior to this year.
mounted work has heen almost an un-
known quantity in the battalion
dreamed OF. but not realized. "Appar-
entity conditions" says the report,
copy of which has Just been received
by Major T. NJ. Workman. have i'm
proved in this respect, and perhaps
more horses can BIO had from time to
time hereafter But there is room also
for great improvement in cennoneers'
work. and in the management of the
firing battery. Most OF the officers
have had work in the school at Fore
Riley. and during the past winter
correspondence echoo! was conducted
in the battalion itself: but as yet the
practical work has not been brought
up to the level OF the theoretical"
Should Increase Number.
Captain Spaulding also suggests
that some. means should be found for
increasing the numbers in the bat
teries. snc also for getting out
larger percentage tor camp duty
Details Of the comments of Captain
Spaulding, who was official inspect
ing officer at the camp. are as follows:
Firing battery principles under
stood. but much practice needed; pre-
paration and conduct OF FIRE, direct
laying and indirect laying. both fair.
saddling. Harvesting. fitting and adj
5usting harness. riding and driving,
poor at opening of camp. rapid i'm
provement made, but time insufficient
to get very far; arm signals. not
enough used; manoeuvring batteries
can hardly be said to be able to man
oeuvre-they can merely move from
place to place, over easy ground more
or less In order: scouts and communi-
cation agents, very little used, no per-
manent details.
AS 20 signalers, Captain Spauldins
says there were no permanent details
some instruction was given in use of
telephones during camp to acting SER
Eeant-mator and one man from each
battery and instruments We're used
with Sood results on battalion prob
lens at end of time. Reconnaissance
and occupation OF position is classed
as fair Stable duty was not Well nm
derstood. but officers and men wer.
found anxious to learn and willing to
work
taxing camp was very slow, while
breaking was somewhat better the
operations being hampered by scarcity
OF transportation. The care OF mate
rial was very good.
Need Horses.
1t VIII be noted that most OF the
unfavorable criticism is directed to-
ward that part OF the work with which
the batteries have had no opportunity
to become acquainted. because of lack
or horses for mounted work.
sanitation and messing receive in
general good report The general
police. the camp, the tents. the kitch-
en- were all well cared for.
&c condition of revolvers, car
fridge belts, haversacks and mess out
nts. canteen shelter tents is given the
grade of very good" So also is the
horse equipment and the general tent
age. while the sabres are graded as
good"
Uniforms and quertermaster's equip
ment were found satisfactory through
out. this being a high rating The only
other comment is that many men had
only one shirt and pair OF breeches
Coming to the personnel. the report
Is most gratifyin. 1t is as follows:
Offlcers-AIilitary bearing, very good
physical qualifications, very good
mental qualifications, very good; pro-
fesssional qualifications. good; zeal In
performance OF military duties. excel
lent.
Enlisted men--Military bearing. fair:
physical qualifications, very good
mental qualifications. very good; zeal
in performance of military duties. ex-
oellent