Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-03-31

TO HAVE 700 HORSES.
Summer Manoeuvres VIII Require
Great Expenditure and Consider
able Amount of Labor.

Richmond, Va, March 31.-Sixty
army escort wagons for the use of the
Virginia militia were ordered yes
terday from the War Department by
Adjutant-General w. w. Sale. The
requisition was made on recommemSa-
tion of Lieutenant Colonel Allen
Potts, Quartermaster-Gen of Vir-
ginia Volunteers, who is rapidly get
ting his department upon war foot
ing The wagons will be delivered i'm
mediately, and will be used for the
first time in transporting supplies for
the troops participating in the maneu-
vres in and around Washington this
suntrer.
General Sale has received a num-
ber Of communications from General
Evans, U. S. A., commander of the De-
partment of the East, relative to the
big war game which will be staged
in this state. The arrangements for
the maneuvres have not been complet-
ed, however, and about the only thing
definitely settleii is the fact that Vir-
ginia, the largest unit of the eighth
division of the National Guar33, will
form part of the defending army
which will repe lattack upon the capi-
tai by the seventh division, composed
wholly of Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Delaware, Maryland and West Vir-
giria troops will assist the Virginia .
militiamen.
In order to give some idea Of the
work connected with the manoeuvres,
1T will be necessary to furnish more
than 700 horses and mules for the
troops of Virginia alone. The State
officials have not yet been informed
whether the animals must be supplied
bv them. or whether the War Depart
ment will provide them. If the form
er, it may be necessary for the State
to buy the horses, as was Zone two
years ago, when the First Battalion,
Field Artillery, went into camp at
! Taylor's Crossing.
The horses were afterwar1 SOLD al
about the cost prices, but if this pro-
cedure is to be adopted again, it will
| be necessary to open negotiations IN
| short time. as it is different under
taking to get horses equal to the heavy
tasks which they will be forced to
do.
The War Department has notltied
| General Sale that $4,000 will be the
amount of Virginia's allotment tor
the maneouvres. In addition to this
SIM there will be 100000 available
from the annual general approprla-
ton. The pay of the troops will be
nearly $4,000, railroad fares, ST.
600. and food, forage for the horses
ART: incidental expenses will take up
the balance. If the State furnishes
its own horses the money at hand
! will not be sufficient to meet the re-
mands as there is no provision under
the Virginia law for an appropriation
from State funds.
No date has yet been set for the
war game. The War Department mas
requested the military authorities OF
each State to notify it in regard 10
the mcst convenient time. General
caIe has selected from August l to ID
as the best time for the troops OF
th:s state, but the War Department
5 ,;,;u make no decision until the other
troops are consulted.
! With the arrival Of the wagons or
, dered yesterday, the State Will nave
seventy-nine wagons and twelve am
bulances at its disposal This num-
I,bcr is required as the equipment IN
time Of actual service. The new wag-
ons Will be stored at the state camp
5 site at Virginia Beach, with the ex-
: ception of twenty, which will be kept
here at the local armories.
, Each of the wagons requires four
I mrJ,es. making a total Of 316. Inc
D three batteries of artillery neef BIZ
horses, while the individual mounts
n for the officers will be less than 100.
: lit is not thought possible that this
!, number of animals could be rounded
up il Virginia for the ten days OF the