Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1915-08-06
VERMONT SOLDIERS IN CAMP

Vermont's army is in service this week,
or at least very nearly all the soldiers
the State has on her rolls, and they are
camping on the State Reservation ad-
iacent to Fort Ethan Allen under as
near war conditions as regular army
men practice in times of peace. There
is only one regiment, twelve companies
supposedly of sixty-five men EACH but
not all are of full strength and the
actual number on the ground is about
$50. This regiment, with some $50 of
the Norwich cadets, who are organized
as company of the Vermont national
guard, is all the army Vermont has.
Surely the State has not gone very far
in the direction of militarsm. If the
nation were really called upon to defend
herself, Vermont could do much better
than a few hundred men. The relative
small number of Vermont men in train
ing as soldiers makes a graphic picture
of the national unpreparedness, for in
proportion to her population Vermont
has an average number of citizen
soldiers.
1t makes pretty sight on the wide
sandy plain north of Burlington, the
rows of khaki tents in company streets,
with the national and State flags by the
Colonel's tent in headquarters row.
Mount Mansfield and Cancels Hump are
in plain view, in half circle of pro-
tecting mountains to the east and south.
The cross on the Fanny Allen hospital
adds a subdued tone to the landscape
and the ordered buildings of Fort Ethan
Allen remind the State soldiers of their
near utilization with the army of the
nation.
Soldiers of today, even citizen
soldiers, work hard. First call sounds
at 5:15 a. m. and at $50 every man is
on the parade ground for fifteen min
utes of vigorous physical drill. From
that time until taps at half past ten at
night there is something for almost
every moment, fuller program than
many citizens have for their hardest
days in the year. A schedule for the
entire encampment was made weeks
ago and it is being carried out to the
letter. The staple is rifle practice or
the national range, carried out to the
last detail in the latest methods known
to produce an accurate firing soldier
1t is hard work, shooting under these
conditions, trying on the eyes, the
muscles, and the patience. The care
full schooling on the range does moi
show on parade, but it will show if Yer
mont soldiers are ever called upon t.
defend their country.
Of course there is also what is popu
larly known as military drill, how t.
carry and present arms, squads RICH
into line and all of that, which is neces
sary if an army is to be moved any
where, but even that is not for display
The most thorough as well as the hard
est, drill is in EXTENDED order" wher
the men take actual battle position
under the modern principle of protect
ing each man as much as possible
There is none of the old notion o
Fighting like a man" marching i
solid ranks toward the enemy until yo
can see the whites of their eyes. In
stead the men are taught to take car
of themselves, to fire from behind
tuft of grass after hard run from tn
available cover next behind. The Who'll
idea is to train men to do what soldier
of their branch would have to do i
actual warfare.
Years ago the militia were left t
themselves, one citizen officer teachin
another, and there was a wide breac
between the regular army and tn