The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-03-09
GIVEN A TRIAL
Maueuvers Oh Grand Scale Suddenly Or,
dered on Coast Of fTezas.
SEVERE TEST OF ARMY

The Purpose of the Movement is
Given Out to be q Means to
Refute the Charges That Our Army
is Much Too Weak to be EfRec-
tive.
Mysterious messages dispatched
from the War Department Monday
night, ordering 10000 troops to
Texas and a fleet of war vessels to
waters of the Lone Star State, it de-
veloped Tuesday, provide for the most
severe test of American army ma
chinery ever attempted outside OF
times Of war.
The orders flashed from the War
Department Monday night, arranging
for an imposing martial demanstra-
ton in Texas, seemed astounding.
Wild rumors flew about in army cir
cles and grew as they travelled. The
real meaning of the thing no one at
tempted to fathom. Army men frank
|ly admitted their lack of knowledge
! of it. Members of the general staff,
the President and the cabinet only
knew the inner significance of the
attempt to transport one-quarter OF
the American army to the borders of
neighboring nation.
The mysterious maneuvering Of the
army was explained yesterday morn
| ing. It comes as If in answer to the
charges that the land arm Of the
American force of defense is not pre-
pared for actual warfare and that it
| is lacking in all the essentials that
20 to make up an effective fighting
force-a snappy, rapid moving organ
ization. Within five days one-fourtn
the entire army is to be transported
from distant posts to Texas. This
feat will be at least partial refuta-
| ton Of the accusation that the army
is but snail. Already the units that
will go to make up this force are en-
their way to the big Southwestern
State.
The troops at Galveston will hold
Joint maneuvers with the Fifth di-
vision Of the Atlantic feet, which has
been ordered from New York to
Southern waters. The program con-
templates an attack upon Galveston
by the navy. It Is also said there
may, be joint maneuvers between the
army and navy at Los Angeles, YES
sells of the Pacific feet making an at
tack upon that port.
The present number of men on the
armored cruisers which will partici-
pate in the operations in Galveston
lis $500. This number will be aug
mented by 600 marines ordered from
the barracks at Norfolk, New York,
Annapolis and washington to the
United States naval station at Guam
tanamo, Cuba. The marines will en-
, bark shortly at Philadelphia on the
United States ship Dixie. The ar
mored cruisers of the Fifth division
will 20 directly to Guantanamo from
New York and there its present per-
sonnel and the additional marines
will be assembled. From the Cuban
ports the vessels will operate against
Galveston in the war game.
In the quick movement of the
troops from the two Georgia forts Is
found an intimation as to how the
army will answer the charges against
lit. Soon after the orders-unexpect-
ed commands-were received at Fort
Oglethorpe and Fort Mcpherson Tues
day night these troops, fully equipped
for any duty which might be demand
ed of them were on their way. They
will reach San Antonio tomorrow.
The navy is to play its part and a
formidable fleet Of armored cruisers,
Supplemented by auXiliaries neces-
sary for the successful maintenance
of a naval hostile force on the coast
of an enemy will take it's place off
the Texas shore line. These cruls-
ers comprise the present Fifth di-
vision of the Atlantic fleet now at
New York and which are ready for
sea. The division comprises the fla0-
ship Tennessee, the Montana, North
Carolina and Washington, all pow
erful armored cruisers Of 14,500
tons displacement, under command of
Rear Admiral Syndey A. Staunton.
The military force will establish
its headquarters at San Antonio un-
der command of Major Gen. William
| H. Carter, as the chief Of staff, as
sisted by several brjgadier generals
who will command the brigades into
which the grand division will be di-
vided. These brigadcs will he placed
at strategic points throughout the
deuartment OF Texas, including not
only the Mexican border towns to
which particular attention will be
given, but also Galveston, and the
other seaports.
The orders so far issued contem-
plates the assignment to Gen. Car
ter's command OF fifteen regiments Of
infantry, five 3f cavalry and two or
| three Of field artillery. In addition
two full regiments Of coast artillery
will be transformed into infantry,
which will be 4 novel departure in
military practice. 1t is the intention
to have this entire force assembled in
Texas within five days.
AS matter of fact that great body
of tronns hns alreadT hegnn 10 move