The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-01
TROOPS in TEXAS
CANNOT BE MOVED
Mobilization Apparently Value
less for Active Service
in Field.
VIRGINIA OFFICER TALKS
Captain Wise Tells Of His
Experiences at San
Antonio.
VIRGINIA
TALKS

Enemy or no enemy. the modified
force at San Antonio Is not ready for
any sort OF active service, In the
opinion Of Captain Jennings c. Wise.
adjutant OF the First Battalion of
Field Artillery of this State. who has
just returned from the manocuvrc
camp at Texas. Captain Wise was a
member of the first detail sent from
Virginia.
While great deal has been said, in
statements from Washington, about
the success In mobilizing the army in
Texas, IT appears that though the
army is there. that is all that can be
said. 1t couldn't do anything if it
tried. There are no wagon trains. for
instance. Commands took some
wagons with them, but Acre Is no
way In which the troops could be sup
piled with food and ammunition and
the other necessaries of an army on
the move. This would seem. though
Captain Wise expresses no opinion on
this point. to argue that the army is
not In Texas for the purpose of talk
ing any sort of action whatever.
Not Enough officers.
Again. there are about half enough
officers on the ground. according TO
the Virginian. The reason for this
was that the War Department hasn't
got enough officers to go around. a
very large percentage of the enlist
cd men are green recruits, picked up
over the country, and with only Il few
months or even only a few days eX-
periencc. The result that is a good
many raw men are being handled by
second licutcnants. who are devoid OF
the necessary length OF service for
the proper handling of troops
n
Wise blames the powers that be-
which means. in the last analysis.
Congress He thinks the officers on
the ground are doing the best they
can. M
Tho health of the camp is remark
able. Ten thousand men have been
there for two months. and not a single
case of typhoid fever has been treat
cd This Captain Wise regards as n
striking illustration OF the advances
made in medicine. All officers and
men are vnccinatcd against typhoid
on their arrival There is very little
sickness of any kind
Must Dig for Knowledge.
AS to tho practical good to be de-
rived by the details of militia officers,
this depends. says Captain Wise. on
the man himself. If ne has sufficient
| experience and persistence to gain
knowledge from observing what other
people do, he can le&rn some things.
But there is nothing approaching or
gained instruction for the State Off
GERS.
Each officer Is detailed upon his ar
| rival to be with a command OF his
own rank. There is a joint mess,
| each visitor paying his part of the
expense, as is army camps every
where. Horses must be secured by
individuals whenever possible and
| this Is sometimes difficult to do The
camp is situated three miles from the
city of San Antonio and outside OF
Fort Sam Houston
| The trip is described as very long
and tircsome. Captain Wise remain
ed twenty days. having stayed six
days longer Ian the official period,
and II rained seventeen of these days.
The whole face of the earth was n
| mass of mud. making movements OF
any kind unpleasant. But las has al
ready been said. the army couldn't
move If It tried