Norwich bulletin., 1912-09-02
The ManOeuvers
 Prove Beneficial
MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT IS
 GREATLY IMPROVED.
INCREASE OF INTEREST
Militia More Enthusiastic as RssuR Of \ Them and Regular Army Regarded
 as More Effective Fighting Force.


 Washington, Sept. 1.-Reports thus far received by officers of the war de. partment on the recent country wide army manoeuvres indicate thnt the militia establishment of the nation in more enthusiastic and of a yyrcafer force than has been the case since lSsS, when the war with Spain arous- ed the citizen soldiery. The regular army judged by the same maouevrcs. is regarded as more effective fighting force because of the Texas mobilim- ton and the participation with the ml- litia in >manoeuvre camps.
 RVmors of Trouble Arouse interest.
 Regular army officers attribute the greater interest being taken in the militia arm to the frequent rumors of trouble with Mexico and the unrest in Central America At such times, nav the military authorities. the citiz<n soldiers always respond.
 There is undoubtedly another reR~ son also,' said Captein Dana T. Mer- Till of the militia division or the war department, and that ls to be found in the more liberal regulations now lsid down for duty in the joint manoeu- vres. We have endeavored to elimin- ate the drudgery of these camps. re- duce guard duty to the lowest and do away practically entirely with parades and show affairs. The men now set work and problems enough to ketep them interested and enthusiastic"
 Defects in Our pefsnsss Disclosed
 In the absence of official reports from the umpires who ofiiciated at the va rious problem centers, including the at tacks on New York and San Francis co. military experts tonight were not prepared to comment at any length on the lessons learnd from the field exer- cises. It was admitted. however. that the unofficial reports indicated the analysis of the movements against both cities would disclose defects in their defenses.
 Reforms in transportation and camp methods are expected to grow out of the n1anoeuvres. The recommendation of the umpirss will be considered hy the general staff in connection with | lessons learned during the mobilization of the regulars on the Mexican border | some months ago.
 Manosuvrss Cost s2,5oo,ooo. The manoeuvrcs cost $2 300. .ooo. o1 which the federal goYernmert pfoVid- cd s1.35o,00o the various states where | the militia participated making up the l balance. Army officers Insist that such Ia sum annually is not enough and congress will he asked for q larger ap- propriation next year.
 While the principal ma1oeuvrts were against San Francisco and New York, resulting in the theoretical cutting on of the water supply of the latter city by the invaders" three other joint camps of instruction were held--one in | Wisconsin, another in Kansas, and the | third in the. state of Washington | Target Practice for Coast Artillery At the same time the militia of such states as were not represented fin the general manoeuvers undertook field work on their own account. | In addition to the land n1anoeuvree, the militia reserve of the Coast Artii- | lery along all of the Pacific coast and on the North Atlantic seaboard as far south as North Carolina were. given | target practice.