Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-05

these flags are SO arranged that the
combination Of colors indicates exactly
what organization Is using them.
These things are a part of the new
regulations. 1t is a highly specialized
warfare, and all Of It's effectiveness
depends on whether or not the man
with the rifle is taught the proper
thing.
The program for the fortnight's work
shows that three-fourths of the MORN
ings will be devoted to schooling COM
panies in their proper functions In q
line of battle. Advance guard work
and extended order will be large parts
of the instruction.
Probably more depends on an infan-
tryman who scouts ahead in advance
guard work than the ordinary person
knows. and therefore much stress IS
laid upon it, Each infantryman in an
advance guard becomes a human
antenna-a feeler for the big column
which moves along mile behind him.
If he fails. his country's flag Is dis
honored Extended order sounds war
like, and is warlike.
Men don't stand UP in closed ranks and
fire volleys like the British grenadiers
did when the redskins ate them al1ve IN
the forests Of Virginia. They are placed
has been devised to make line In eX-
tended order as effective as possible. with
the least loss of men and motion
officers to Go on Walks.
In the afternoons the officers will go
on tactical walks. a sort of mental war
fare is followed in these walks. The Of
ficer in command will have a problem
for his companions to solve. All en-
gagements must have a starting point.
SO the officers will assume that the
enemy is ensconced in the woods behind
the ridge on the right. with battery OF
rffl
question is, how to take advantage OF the
river and that cornfield and make an
escape from an overpower1ng force.
The game of chess has to be worked
ont like mental arithmetic. and fell
lows wits have to be sharp. else he may
lead his phantom army right into the
mouths of the cannon. which, mentally,
have been galloped around the ridge to
cut off the obvious retreat in that di-
rectiOn, and SO forth.
A signal corps company and a bat
terry of field artillery make a pic
turesque part Of the National Guard of
the District OF Columbia. The signal
corps company now has part Of its
the finest organization OF its kind in
the country. The way these men lay
a mile of telephone wire In the grass
at full gallop is modern miracle. The
distribute orders over miles of terri
tory would make the inventor OF the
wig-wag system gasp for breath.
The entire usefulness of this COM
pany consists in getting into commune
cation with every vital point on the
miles away. Nor is it allowed to take
time
A force of men moves forward 10 do
battle with the enemy. and before the
posed to have in working order
complete telephone system. a telegraph
system. wireless apparatus and nu-
merous small auXhiaries in case these
break down. 1t takes week to in
stall a telephone in an office-it takes
about seven minutes to lay a mile of
telephone wire and ring up headquar-
tiers in actual war. 1t all depends on
what the necessity is.
Bullets Cause Speed.
With shells popping In the air a reel
cart with two miles Of wire will gallop
over a cornfield, string wire behind it
like something f1endiSh. and an infantry
man. under the gentle influence of OPP
posing bullets, will be able to dig a
trench with a pieknife in ten minutes. A
steel-tipped bullet is great incentive 10
speed.
The battery Of artilierymen has slight
connection with the infantry work at
camp. although toward the end of the
time it will undoubtedly be called upon
to furnish an clement in one of the prob
lens which are planned. The use Of ar
tillery in warfare is still matter of
conjecture among civilians Many poo
pie do not understand that an artillery
man never sees the mark at which. he is
firing.
Yet, there are men in the 1st Battery.
Field Artillery, y. G. d.. c.. who can
fire over a mountain range and stop
column of infantry. How is it done?
Well, it is a long story. At any rate, it
is done. and men OF the Presidents
own" as the local battery is called, could
do it any time.