New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1916-08-16
GENERAL PARKER EXPLAINS
So PLAN TO PROVIDE FOR
GREATER ARMY
MEN ARE SETTLING DOWN TO
CAMP ROUTINE WITH MORE
CHEERFULNESS
Llano Grande, Texas,
Aug. 18th, 1916.


Especial to the Review:
The Minnesota troops have been at
Llano Grande over three weeks now
The hard drilling at Camp Bobleter and
the training received here has done
wonders with the national guardsmen.
Commands which officers would not have
dared to give two months ago are now
executed with surprising snap and pre-
cision.
Ever since the men came here they
have been wondering and asking ''Why
are we here?" No doubt the folks at
home have been doing the same.
That the training Of thousands of
National Guardsmen on the Mexican
border at this time is laying the foun-
dalton for future great American Army
is the opinion of Brigadier General
James Parker.
A few extracts from an article written
by Gen. Parker for the "First Illinois
Cavalryman'', paper published by the
Illinois boys, will probably help to clear
matters somewhat.
General Parker says:
''The question is now being asked by
many men of the State troops here in
camp, What are we here for?' 1t is
well that an answer be made to this
question, and that it is kept in mind
by all. The Government and the people
of the United States certainly appreciate
the sacrifices that are being made by
officers and men of the State troops in
performing this service. They have
left homes and families. They have left
Important positions. They have come
to a hot and sometimes disagreeable
climate.
''But they should feel that what they
are doing is not being done in vain, that
they are rendering to this country a
wonderful service, that they should be
thanked and are being thanked by the
people of the United States for the patrio-
tic service done for the country.
what is this service? In the first
place, this country was and is still
Threatened by war. The conditions on
the other side of the Rio Grande are
worse than they have ever been before.
Villa is still at large. He is likely to
make another raid. The temper Of the
American people becomes more and more
impatient. The people are realizing that
the prestige of the country is suffering.
Unforeseen situations are constantly &C.
curing and some of these situations
may demand action.
1t is therefore apparent that this army
may be Of service as fighting force. 1t
is therefore apparent that it should be-
come prepared. That the officers and
men should be fully trained. This can
only be accomplished by long hours OF
drill each day and by enthusiastic work
Secondly, if it is desired to exercise
diplomatic pressure, the existence of a
large armed force is necessary.
1t goes without saying that this armed
force should be we'll trained and fit for
fighting. It should be trained in drills
OF precision, close order drills, because
y these bring about dicipline and prompt
= obedience to commands. 1t should be
drilled in target practice in order that
when it goes into battle it's fire would
be formidable. A soldier who cannot
shoot is not half a soldier.
"The very fact that the weather is
sometimes hot or wet, that the camps
are dusty or muddy, prepares the troops
for the inevitable conditions OF cam
paign, and for the hardships that the
troops may have to undergo. It is we'll,
therefore, that troops should become
hardened and accustomed to undesirable
conditions such as these.
'Thirdly, We are here because this is
~the greatest step toward preparedness
re Unit rs has ever taken. We
ere training n,=@, especially officers, for
future wars. IA case OF any great war
We will need an immense army of
millions OF fa .lJilg men, and to train them
we viii need tens Of thousands of officers
and non-commssioned officers as drill
masters.
''The National Guard is a school for
arm. It is to the Nat Il Guard
f,arge y that we must look ior the men
y 9Th military training who are to whip
our millions of conscripts into shape"
The above article sizes up the situation
(Continnod on 'nS+ >