Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-15
OF INEsT|MABLE BENEFIT
TO SOLDIERS ON BORDER
Field Maneuvcrs, During Pursuit OF
villa, Far From Being Period
OF StaSnatiOn.
GREAT CHANCE FOR OFFICERS
Gives Them Opportunities to Handle
Largo Bodies Of Men Under Con-
ditions Nearly Akin to Wharf.-The
Control" Drills Important Factors.
lHy Associated Press.l


FIELD HEADQUARTERS. AMERI-
MENfCO, October Il. = Fire control
drills. which, in Il months time. have
Increased the effectiveness of cavalry
regiments FIRE 100 per cent. are i'm
portant factors in the field mancuvcrs
being held by the American punitive
expedition
tion for the cxpeditionary troops. the
hiatus during the last few months in
the pursuit Of Villa has been Of almost
tnestimable bcnefi, to them, particularly
TO the mounted arm. II has given
commanding officers opportunities TO
handle larger bodies Of men under con-
ditions more nearly akin TO those OF
war than have obtained at any time
since IN the past nifty years
The maneuvers. which arc varied
progressive and In accordance with
well-defined plans. include such simple
exercises AS horsc-training and ascend
to solving OF warfare problems that in
volve the handling Of brigadcs Eirc
control. although clasEed among the
elementary exercises. is virtually new
10 the cavalry. although tho infantry
has been working on IL for several
years.
Pamphlets issued by ;he School OF
Musketry Fire at Fort Sill. Okla. have
been furnished commanding officers.
and problems they contain In skeleton
form arc amrlifcd and worked out.
Exercises suggested In these pamphlets
also are being tried out and sueges-
tons for Improvement. resulting from
actual practice. are being noted Rec
concentrations by rcgimcntal officers
are b"irg studied by General J j.
Pcrshine and his chief OF staff. Colonel
de r. G. Cabcll. and those considered,
worth while are being incorpora, c,.
in tentative manuals
Studying developments OF the Eu-
ropcan war. and realizing that. under
modern conditions of warfare. cavalry
docs most OF It's aEhting on foot. com
naHderr OF that arm or the service are
giving their troops a great deal OF dis
mounted work. paying particular at
tcntion 10 attack. In this connection
!; is noticeable that the ringing bugle
no longer sounds the charge. for every
msncuver ia made by signal. Save for
the ramp of hoofs and the leather
softened rattle OF equipment. troop
movements are made silently. not :.
voice being raised in command.
When "a problem prepared by the
commanding general his stan is
given out an observer accompanies
each OF the opposing leaders and an
umpire watches the operations. After
each mimic combat critique is held.
Tactical errors observed are pointed
out and suggestions made relative TO
better mancuvcrs that might hav. been
employed.
Full advantage is being taken Of the
fact that there are four regiments Of
cavalry at headquarters camp. cir
cumstance without parallel in army
annals for years. All the regiments
being used. il also is observed. are
being maneuvered at full war strength.
AS provided under the new army re-
organization bill. This affords the
first opportun!ty American commanders
have had OF handling troops Of this
size In maneuvers.
The war game will reach a climax
when the mancuvers progress TO the
point whore every fighting man avail
able will be marched against an imag-
mary enemy under conditions that
almost approximate real war.
Drilled from six 10 eight hours a
day and performing duties which. II
not carried out. might turn n healthy
camp into 4 dangerous one. the expo
dition thus far has not stagnated