The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-03
WOOD is PLEASED
WITH MANEUVERS
Chief of Staff of q. s. Army
Gratified by Reports.
DICKINSON ALSO ENTHUSIASTIC
Delay Of Troops in Reaching Camps
on Mexican Border Due Almost
Entirely to Unpreparedness of
Acknowledgment In Mobfli-
ration Methods Well Demonstrated

Gen Leonard Wood. Chief of Staff, U.
S Army. constantly in touch with the
operations of the maneuvers division
of the army now on Texas soil, is
delighted with the character of the
official and nonofficial reports which have
reached him
1T Is evident" he commented. that
the experience which the American
troops have gained in recent years in
the movements to and from the Philip
pines has taught them how to move
and to move quickly
Secretary of War Dickinson is equally
enthusiastic over the showing 1.-The rec
ord is a remarkable one" said he. The
railroads had no opportunity whatever
TO prepare for the movement Had notice
beer given to them, it would materially
have shortened the time"
The official records show how quickly
some of the troops moved after the or
derS for mobilization were issued from
the Wa- Department on the afternoon of
March 6, the Tenth Infantry, at Fort
Benjamin Harrison, Ind, entraining
within eighteen hours after receiving or
derS.
Delays Due TO Railroads.
" nat delays are INV OlNcO, Sdlu IIeD
Wood. were occaSioned by the fact that
the Department gave no preliminary
warning to the railroads. The troops were
moved under the conditions that may
be considered as being as disadvanta-
Seous as possible The orders TO move
came out OF an absolutely clear sky.
The manner in which the orders of
the President were carried out" Gen
Wood said yesterday, show the advan-
taSe of having a well worked-out plan
for mobilization. The maneuvers as far
as they have gone, make it clear that
there has been a very great improve
ment in methods since the year 1896 and
that SO far as the regular army is con-
cerned, we took to heart the lessons then
learned and profited by them. The ma
neuvers also show in forcefuI manner the
results of the work accomplished by the
General Staff and what may be expected
of its work in the future The great
problems to be studied are the sufticiency
of equipment and suitability of organiza-
ton. As we are now revising the infantry
regulations and considering a reorganiza-
ton of our cavalry, the assembly of the
troops at this time is not opportune for
these purposes
The troops now assembled officers and
men. number 17,410 OF which 1I.949 are
in the maneuver division, those TO be
deducted consisting of the proviSinal bril-
gade at San Diego, the separate brigade
at Galveston, and the cavalry troops
previously assigned 20 guard the
border. According to the report of
Gen. VIM. II. Carter from the head
quarters of the maneuvers division at
San Antonio, the whole movement has
produced nothing but satisfaction as a
military situation.
Confusion Utterly Absent
All the staff departments have acquitted
themselves well. The quiet ease with
which the movement has been carried
out. the utter absence of confusion, is
made the subject of commendatory com
ment. The success is attributed to the
general plans worked out in advance and
the great improvements which have been
made with a view to just such contin-
GenCeS within the last ten yearS-im-
provemcnts attributable directly to les
sons learned in the Spanish-American
war
In 1895 all the reauisitions came after
the arrival of the troops, and some of
them never reached the troops for which
they were intended. In the movement
toward the Texan border all the troops
brought their own supplies with them
All inc OHlCerS mad tnen equipments
ready as though in time of war. Under
the new regulations, the baggage carried
is limited. whereas in 1885 it Uttered the
fields and camps. The enlisted men carry
their shelter tents, blankets, towels
combs and brushes, tooth brushes, and
soap. and everything is ready for their
comfort within a very short time after
Decentralization from the trains. Guns
and ammunition is all the troops had in
1898 when they arrived in the camps
Since then system has been perfected
which keeps the troops on a practical
war footing, capable of immediate mo-
bIlizatiou and prompt action
Troopers All vaccinated.
Interesting accounts are given in the
War Department reports of the orders
that were issued to safeguard the health
OF the troops while in the field and in
camp Before the manuever orders
were issued it was optional with the
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