River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-05-04

past that this body OF sea soldiers VINO are pre-
sumably no longer needed on our Warships aa
they were in the days when most of the sailors
were foreigners, should be transferred to the
army Some time ago all the marines were ia
ken off the warships, but later by order or con-
gress they had to be restored. Now that hun
dreds of the marines scheduled to partlcl-
pate in extensive land operations,-either indie
pendently or in conjunction with the sold1ery OF
the regular army-it is hoped that evidence will
be forthcoming as tc whether or not they would
render better service if actually enrolled on the
army roster.
The team work. of the army and navy which
is consistent policy with Uncle Sam is being
followed along with other upto-date Ideas In tho
operations on the Gulf coast. Cooperation be-
tween military and naval forces is of course, an
axiom with all the great powers OF the world
but many of the European nations which nave
no very extensive sea coasts have not given the
attention to this that has been bestowed In the
United States. 1t will be remembered that IN
most recent war games the Atlantic coast
there was joint responsibility between the two
arms Of the service. However many persons had
little expectation that such concerted action
would be advisable when planning operations not
in reference to a foe from overseas, but rela'
tive to possible disturbance in neighbor repub-
lie on our own continent. In this respect the
present activity has proven something OF rev.
elation But it has been realized that not only
can the warships render a service by patrol or
the Gulf coast but are also factor in that they
can land for shore service thousands of seamen,
trained by regular small arms practice for serV-
ice as infantrymen and light artillerymen.
One Of the marvels of the recent quick work
in the southwest is found in the very credtable
manner in which the commissary department
has met the responsibilities suddenly thrust up
on it, Here again there has been most crafty
ing contrast to the conditions Of the Spanish
period, but it must be remembered that
Uncle Sam has made very tangible progress
these past few years in the very vital pr 'lems
of subsisting troops in the field. The army has
made most advantageous use Of ireless cooking
by means of freless cookers on wheels, designed
to cook the food while the military force to
which the equipment is attached is on the march
and to have the meal piping hot and ready to
the minute the force halts for the noon
day respite to pitch camp at night.
There has been plenty Of work too for the en-
gineer corps of the army in this Texas cam
paign" for there have been big camps to lay
out and to lay out such sites in various sizes up
to a divisional camp covering 500 acres means
an immense amount of work for the surveying
corps and the map makers in the field The en-
gineers also likely to find some opportunity
for their searchlight Notwithstanding that with
their new portable searchlights conveyed by au-
tomobile trucks and the war game" is con-
cluded they likely to have more or less prac-
tice in bridge building. And finally the opera
lions of 10000 soldiers in the field cannot fail
to afford its share of work for the hospital corps
the more SO by reason of the effect upon the
health of many Of the officers and men of SO
sudden change from cold to warm climate.
And the best part of all this practical try-out
of our military preparedness Is that not only
will the rank and file get experience but the
higher officers of the service from Gen. Leonard
Wood down, will personally direct or observe
the important movements, thereby learning at
first hand the tactical and strategic lessons IN
volved.