Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-02
FIELD MEET A
BIG event At
CAMP BISHOP
Militiamen Will Engage in
Feats Of Skill Tomorrow
for Valuable Medals and
Prizes; Close Contests
SHAM BATTLE IN
PROGRESS TODAY

PROGRESS TODAY
All Day Maneuver Covering
Many Miles Of Territory
is Being Carried Out Dy
Regiment.
One Of the greatest and most AZ
tractive events of q Fifty-fourth regi-
ment encampment to winch every M 4hs
itiaman looks forward with tne
keenest interest is the regimentAl nelu
meet in which members OF every Iom
pany participate. This will be ne,a
tomorrow at Camp Bishop. Here atn
letic skill as we'll as the accuracy :.
military training Is matcneo, no.
alone for the handsome prizes tna.
are given the winners but for .ne
honor of being acknowledged the pes.
runner. Jumper, or the best drilled
souad In the regiment. The flity-
fourth has some athletes OF rare anil
itv and since many Of them are SO
evenly matched it will be close anu
hard fought contest for the tnree
places. Since the opening OF camp
the prospective participants have Deen
1.reparing for the field meet events
and each company is picking It's pest
SQUAD for the competitive drills. MS
field meet should find q large croWa
az visitors in attendance as It VIII pc
one Of the best events OF the encamp-
r,ent The morning will be taken up
by competitive drills between com
panies to determine which is the pe.,
ter In It's action. Each captain VIII
AIN .his company for twenty MN q
ntes putting them through the ma
}nauyers specified by the rules govern.
Ing the meet. The event is scheduled
to take place In the road entering the
camp which will be properly graded.
I, Prizes Of gold, silver and bronze
medals. handsome and costly trophies,
win he given the three men making
the best time In the fifty and one
hundred yard dashes and the 22O yard
run. The same kind Of prizes will pc
awarded the winners Of the broad
and hirh lump. To the captain that
places the best drilled squad OF 2 cor,
roral and seven men In the Held, Will
be presented handsome saber, one
that every officer In the reglment
coveted. For the individual competl.
ton event. equipment race, musicians
contest, race for retiring sharp snoot,
ers and cartridge race, medals VIII
also be given. Pennants Will be the
prizes for the tug of war (eieven men
on each side), shelter tent pitching
and winners Of the competitive
SQUAD drill. The prizes are given by
the Ottumwa Commercial association.
Sham Battle Today.
The first sham battle wherein firing
takes place, is being held at Camp
Bishop today Firing has been going
on ali day in the woods for several
miles around the camp and many
rounds OF ammunition are being used
In this great school OF the battlefield.
The battle differs somewhat from the
old shams which were held at regt-
mental encampments as there Is more
maneuvering and actual field expert
ence given the soldiers. It is not
merely q display for the public but q
military maneuyer which places every
company on it's mett1e to gain the mark
of superiority in this or that series
Of military tactics. The sham re
ouires the entire day and covers q
space OF many miles on every side OF
the camp.
About 8 o'clock this morning the
twelve companies under their respec
tive battalion commanders and with
Colonel Howell and his staff In the
lead marched out Of camp to the
bridge which spans Kettle creek in
wildwood park. Here they changed
their course to drive that leads tc
the westward and marched for several
miles to the woods on the crest OF
the horizon. west Of the camp. Here
thew began their maneuvers, prac
ticinr the tactics Of warfare. They
J worked for point Of vantage against
the enemy, endeavoring by strategy tc
get IN the most effective position
They formed the line Of skirmish, the
f,ri..r line, charged at double quick
retreated and advanced. They were
made to form into stalwart bulwarl
IN their retreat that they might b<
strong In their organization and thu:
nreyent utter rout by their scattered
and uncombined efforts. When dinne'
time came they cooked their own din
nerg on the field, having received thei
raw rations before leaving camp thi:
morning. When the meal was finished
thew again began their sham battle
and continued to perform the maneu
vers OF actual warfare during the at
I. ternoon. It will be tired lot OF MIL
it1amen that comes marching back t
camp this evening. The work duI
ing the day has been very strenuous
None sh.rked the hike however, a.
though :hey were fully aware OF tn
tSaatleued on Page 81