Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-06-11
To Assemble, Tuesday, at
State Muster Field
For The Fourth Annual School
OF Instruction.
Lieut.. Edwin Butcher of the Regular
Army, instructor of Camp.

/ VI tlit IoAiAi lttlt1s tAtE St1iis menu
| and line officers of the I'd Infantry,
| National Guard of the State. will as
| semhie, Tuesday, on the muster field,
| for their annual School of instruction,
as provided by the federal govern
! ment. under. the guidance of an Of
| fcer of the regular army.
| These schools, which have become
/ a permanent institution all over the
| country, in those states supporting
| militia service. ard which found their
conception in this State in 1903, when
| Capt. s. T. AnseI, instructor of law
at the National Military Academy,
/ was detailed BY the general staff,
| upon request of our adjutant general
| To come here and try the innovation,
| which are now ia session all over the
| country. The results were SO bene-
fetal and practical from the first
| school that Army headquarters took
| the matter up with every state in the
Union.
| In 1910 and 1911, the general staff
at Washington, to show their apPre-
citation .r-the interest displayed, and
| results accomplished. dispatched. at a
great sacrifice quartet of its most
able officers, men who are known as
high brows' in the Army. and 1t
was with this contingent our officers
gained an inestimable wealth OF
knowledge Of the war game, SO that
when in maneuver camps, when they
are forced to show their knowledge
of things military, it stood them "a
great stead, and brought them COM
pliments.
Most of the officers will be here,
Tuesday. to take up instruction ana
start in at p. n. and by night It
is expected nearly all will be, present.
These men who are coming from
nearly every part Of the State are
making great personal sacrifices IN
Offering their time. money and home
ties in service to the State. which IS
prompted by nothing less than a spir-
it of patriotism and a sense OF citi-
zenship These men represent nearly
every walk in the professional HE
from medicine, law, science, govern
ment service, Industrial crafts ana
mercantile positions and all are in
dividuals of standing in their respec-
tive communities.
The hours of study and practice
will he long and arduous, commenc-
ing at sunrise eand continuing late in
the night.
The course of instruction will be un-
der the personal supervision of Lieut..
Butcher the permanent instructor
detailed by the war department about
a year ago. Lieut., Butcher, who is
modest and unassuming, yet great
diseipiinarian, is a general favorite
.,nnens the officers and the Guard in
general. He is a thorough soldier an
,x.eltent tactician, with = fund OF
knowledge in military matters, pa
tient tutor who has accomplished the
art of proper Interpretation. dispensing
II In a manner easy of comprehension
and has now the confidence of the Of
fieers under his instruction.
MANY new things will be introduced in
this school TO supplement the knowledge
gained by the past schools. Tic new
regulations Will be brought up for a uni
form Interpretation, something tfat has
never been properly done with past is
sues, as nearly every officer had his per-
sonal view in the interpretation, which
at times was confusing and had to be
settled by referring to authority in COM
! mand.
Practical map reading will be the chief
subject for indoor work, and two mill
| tary maps, such as used in the war
College, will be used, one of Leavenworth
| and one of Gettysburg, also topographic
maps of local country.
| Another novelty that will greatly as
! sst in map making ana readings is
sand table, similar to those used in pubic
! schools. Here the men viii be obliged to
! explain how they read the map rs TO un-
dulations, contours. streams. hills, roads,
I etc.
i On the maps, war games will be work
! ed out by pins representing troops etc.
and viii prove practical as Wen us inter-
| esting.
/ Not only will the officers be schooled
in the fine points of the game, but the
/, handling of the company with arms Will
| be taken up each day. in which each
officer will have the opportunity of drill
/ ing the officers assembled as a company.
| This will happen in period each fore
noon and afternoon.
The plan is laid out so as to alter
nate the time with field officers and COM
panv officers. The field officers to take
up in the forenoon terfane exercises,
out over tile hilts and roads, swhile the