The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-10-18
EFFICIENCY OF j. S.
TROOPS INCREASED.

Field Headquarters, American Pun
tive Expedition in Mexico, Oct. IT.
Fire control" drills, which, in a
months time have increased the eff
fectiveness of cavalry regiments fire
100 per cent, are important factors
IN the field manoeuvers being held
by the American Punitive Expedi-
ton.
Far from being period of stagna-
ton for the expeditionary troops, the
hiatus during the last few months in
the pursuit of Villa has been of al
most inestinable benefit to them,
particularly to the mounted arm. It
has given commanding officers oppor-
tunities to handle larger bodies of
men under conditions more nearly
akin to those of war than have OBJ
tanned at any time since in the past
so years.
The manoeuvers, which are varied,
progressive and in accordance with
well defined plans, include such SIM
pie exercises as horse training and
ascend to solving of warfare prob
lens that involve the handling of
brigades. Fire control, although
classed among the elementary exer-
cises, is virtually new 20 the cavalry,
although the infantry has been work
ing on it for several years.
Pamphlets issued by the School of
ldusketry Fire at Fl. Sill, Okla, have
been furnished commanding officers
and problems they contain in skele-
ton form are amplified and worked
out. Exercises suggested in these
pamphlets also are being tried out
and suggestions for improvement, re-
sulting from actual practice, are be-
ing noted. Recommendations by
regimental officers are being studied
by General J. j. Pershing and his
chief of staff, Colonel De r. G. Ca
bell, and those considered worth while
are being Incorporated in tentative
| manuals.
Studying developments of the Eu'
ropean war, and realizing that, under
| modern conditions of warfare, cavai'
nv does most of its fighting on foot
| commanders of that arm of the ser
vice are giving their troops a grea'
deal of dismounted work, paying par
ticular attention to attack. In TINS
connection it is noticeable that th'
ringing bugle no longer sounds tne
| charge. for every manoeuvre is mace
bv signal. Save for the ramp O
/ boofs and the leather-softened rat
! tie of equipment, troop movements
/ are made silently, not voice oeine
raised in command.
When problem, prepared by tns
i commanding general or his staff, II
/ given out, an observer accompanle'
/ each of the opposing leaders and al
/ unapire watches the operations. Aftel
/ each mimic combat, critlque IS heio
Tactical errors observed are pointed
out and suggestions made relative
to better manoeuvres that migh
have been employed.
Full advantage is being taken o
the fact that there are four regl
] ments of cavalry at headquarter'
/ camp. a circumstance without parai
/ lei in army annals for years. All tn
| regiments being used, it also IS op
served, are being manoeuvred at Iui
war strength rs provided under tn
new army Reorganization bill. Thu
affords the first opportunity Amen
can commanders have had or hand
ling troops of this size in manoeuv
4 res.
i The war game will reach climax
i when the manoeuvres progress to tn
point where every fighting man avail
j able will be marched against an mag
mary enemy under conditions tina
almost approximate real war.
i. Drilled from to hours da,
i and performing duties which, if no
carried out, might turn health,
camp into dangerous one, the ex
petition thus far has not stagnateo
1