Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-03-17

fore at the outbreak of the present
war'was just such as 1t is held 1t would
be in the United States II instead Of
increasing the regular army until 1t
became fighting force adequate to
any occasion. the main dependence
should be placed on National Guards
men and some kind of a continental
army Of volunteers.
Territoriais Versus Reserves
The territorials in England CORE
spond to our militia Your correspond
ent saw some of these territorials in
the training camps. 1t was supposed
that they had learned a good deal
about military matters generally and
drill and discipline in particular. 1t is
perfectly true that these men knew
how to wheel by fours. by platoons.
knew guard mount and skirmish drill
after a fashion. and knew about some
other things military. but they were a
long ways from being in condition to
stand up against the enemy In Elan
ders.
AS for the men of the army reserve
they were ready after a few weeks In
camp to go against any proposition
that any enemy might offer. These
were the men who had seen service in
the regular army and who had gone
into the reserve on the expiration Of
their enlistments.
The special reserve Of the British
army, as Mr.. Oliver says. was no re.
serve like the first, for 1t was wholly
unfit to take the field upon the. out
break OF hostilities." This special re.
serve was supposed to be we'll trained
and in fact laws had been passed
which 1t was thought would keep the
reserve In good shape and ready for
emergencies. The trouble was that
enforced and the result was that a
force that was depended upon to be
ready was far from ready.
The National City Troop.
There are forty Washington news
paper men who are so thoroughly COM
mitted to preparedness and to the mill
itary service of their country that in
case of war every one of them would
be morally bound to desert his news
paper work and to report to the war
department for duty.
Under the title National City
Troop" the newspaper men have been
in training since last autumn. The
commanding officer of the outfit is
Lieut.. H. NJ. Groninger Of the Fifth
United States cavalry The newspaper
men report for drill at least once a
week. and frequently oftener. at Fort
Myer. Va. which Is Just across the Po-
tomac from Washington.
One of the members of the organiza-
ton has written the story Of its incep.
ton. its work and its purposes. 1t is
presented herewith.
THE troop was organized in Sep
tember. 1915. upon the initiative OF the
newspaper men themselves. and com
mittee appealed to Secretary of War
Garrison to see what assistance he
could give. Secretary Garrison was
quick to take advantage Of the offer
of the correspondents. and It was
largely through his personal interest
that matters were arranged satisfac-
torily. Every facility has been thrown
open to the troops. and while there has
been very little advertising of Its ex'
istence, those in Washington who are
close in touch with army affairs are
familiar with what is going on and are
watching the experiment with inter.
est. Mai. Gen. Hugh Scott, chief OF
staff and now acting secretary of war.
has personally inspected the troop in
its mounted work
For the three months ending in De.
cember. 1915. the work of the troop in.
cluded fifteen hours dismounted drill
and about six hours pistol target prac-
tice. five hours rifle target practice.
two hours saber drill. four hours equi.
tation and one-half an hour lecture.
Beginning with January l. 1916. the
work was materially increased. The
troop reports for duty at Fort Myer at
$3.50 on Sunday morning and is dis
missed between twelve and one
o'clock. This period is devoted to rid
ing. either in the drill hall or out Of
doors. to gymnasium work and to dis
mounted drill. On Wednesday eve
ming the troop reports at seven
o'clock at an armory In Washington.
where 1t goes through dismounted
drill for one hour. followed by an hour
and a half or two hours of classroom
work in which the elements Of map
making. strategy and military science
are taught.
Most Of Them Raw Recruits.
Some Of the members of this troop
have had experience in militia organi.
cations. and some have had the rudi-
ments OF military education in pre-
paratory schools or in colleges. but the
majority are absolutely raw recruits
who have to be told how to stand up
straight. how to make a right face.
how to salute. not to say how to exc