The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1911-09-14
SOLDIER LADS TO
ENCAMP IN OMAHA

Two neg lmenls o. UeDIaSka ID
tional Guard for naneuvers
Dates During k-Sal:Ben.
Program Will Extend Over q Period
of Ten Days, Beginning September
Is and Ending October Scamp
Near Bellevue.
When the visitors from all over
the world 90 to Omaha to witness the
festivities incident to the coronation
OF King Ak-Sar-Ben XVII, they will
have the opportunity to witness the
Nebraska national suard-Nebraska' s
contribution to the citizen s0ldiery of
the national its best.
For at the same time, the national
guardsmen will be attending their an
nual encampment, located this year a
short distance south OF Bellevue. per-
taps twelve miles south of the bust
ness district OF Omaha, and easily &C
cessible by the interurban railway
leading to Bellevue and Fort Crook.
In fact, a trip to tine camp to visit
Nebraska's soldier boys may be made
q pleasant outing in various ways, for
also may be visited Bellevue, where
the French voyageurs Of 100 years
ago. delighted beyond measure at ma
lures panorama spread in magnificent
cOlors and scenic grandeur before
them, exclaimed la Bellevue" and
Fort Crook. within a mile of which the
camp will be located, may be visited.
and Uncle Sans soldiers in their
splendid army post may be observed.
Once each year the Nebraska ma
tiOnal guard. like the national guard
Of other states, goes into camp from
one to two weeks. This year it will
last ten days. This IS the period of
the year when full time is devoted to
military instruction.: when by the
massing of large bodies Of troops in
structiOn of q character which can
not be given at the home stations is
given. and when larger military prob
lens are worked out; when camp life
is tried out, and the men taught and
hardened by experience for the active
service to which they may at any time
be called; when all become enthused
over military affairs. and return to
their homes with a new zeal and in
SEPARATION for military duties.
Long years ago, before the civil
war. but yet within the memory of the
older men and women, the military in
structiOn of general character for the
citizens consisted of general train
ing day" once a year; a gala day OF
unique efforts and uniforms; day
when the old people met and gOssiped,
and the youngsters ate gingerbread.
while the aDle-bOdied men were SOL
diers for the day.
But the civil war taught one terri
tie lessOn-that raw and unframed
men will die in camp like sheep from
disease before they ever reached the
front; and that loyalty and patriotism
without organization often are virtues
that lead to dire disaster on the bat
tlefield. The Spanish war taught an
other lessOn-that men must not only
be trained in their local organizations.
but that these organizations must be
uniform in their makeup, quickly an
swerable to a single head. and pre-
pared to act promptly as the second
line of defense of the nation, the reg
ular army. of course. being the hrst.
To that end, since the Spanish war
the national guard Of the various
states has been made a part of the
regular army.
The Nebraska national guard con-
sists Of two regiments Of infantry
the First and Second; one company OF
the signal corps. located at Fremont:
one field hospital company. located at
Lincoln; one machine gun company.
located at BEATRICE. and one engineer
company. located at Omaha
| Though the two infantry regiments
would consist of twelve companies
each, IL filed. the attitude Of the state
military department in recent years
has been that Of promptly mastering
out a company that does not maintain
itself at a high standard. and to not
oil the vacancy until new company
organized with at least fOrty-fve mer
OF good character, officered with mei
of experience. and enjoying the mora
and financial support Of the commu
nifty, is offered to take its place. a: