New-York tribune., 1912-08-25

we'll" exclaimed the general pointing.
Yes. but We were told not 10 go upon
any private property replied the troop
ers. General Verbeck smilngly gave
them permission TO ask the folks at the
farmhouse for drink of water This
illustrated the scrupulous obedience and
good conduct OF the soldiers.
While riding In an automobile with Gov
ernor Dix. General Nerbeck stopped at 4
farmhouse to ask an elderly woman
which way Red detachment had gone
The woman gave an obviously wrong di-
rcction. The motor car carried blue
pennant, and she, evidently thought that
the occupants were enemies OF her friends
the Reds. When reproached FOR her mis-
information and told that Governor Dix
OF the State Of New York was IN the car
the woman laughed and replied: That 5
what they all say.
The lay observer OF the weeks oper-
ations did not have TO look far or hear
much TO learn that there was serious IN
efficiency in feeding and caring ior the
troops in the field. In the first place
camp sites we're improperly chosen This
fault cannot be excused on the ground Of
immediate need. for every camp site was
selected long in advance OF the maneuNres
"a detail that in itself made the war
game as a game rather ridiculous. Many
Of the Reds had to pitch their dog tents on
newly ploughed ground at Orange, and
the entire division camped for two days on
Means Brook a foul little pasture dribble,
which was the source OF all water for
drinking, washing. cooking and watering
the animals Many men performed their
ablutions with jack knife scraping away
the excess OF dust and CRIME from their
anatomles There were but two or three
wells In the vicinity, and the water In
them did not go far.
Those soldiers who had taken the anti
typhoid serum congratulated themselves,
for not only was the water Of Means
Brook suspicious looking. but IL was in
adequately guarded above the drinking
and dust choked lungs could scarcely be
blamed for violating rules. which never
theless should be sternly enforced. The
water problem could have been easily
solved by water carts Of the type used by
the English in the campaign against the
Beers In South Africa. or the street
sprinkling tank carts used in the Massa-
chusetts maneuvres two years ago.
At more than one camp on the above
mentioned brook space was lacking so
that the tents Of officers and men were
pitched within ten feet OF the latrines, a
violation Of sanitary first principles This
was the experience Of members of the eth,
18th, 6sth and list New York and the
Maine and Vermont regiments among
Others. Flies abounded In tents and
around kitchens, though the Connecticut
hills are notably free from flies The food
was generally good. but II was served
only twice a day TO men who worked
hard. some Of them on the 60 from 80
O'Clock In the morning until late in the
afternoon. II ii was possible for huck-
sters to travel with the troops and sell
them food in the middle Of the day IL
should have been possible for the COM
missary department 10 provide some sort
Of midday meal Finally on Friday night
when II was chilly enough TO wear over
coats, the shirtsleeved men of General
Overs brigade bivouacked on the hills ir
the scanty protection Of ponchos and dog
tents Their blankets and coats were
somewhere on the road With the wagN
train. Some OF the men burned the soles