is lost as soon as their term of service is ended. These men should receive a small monthly pay and in return should keep the War Department informed of their address, and should be required to attend the annual maneuvers for a short period, every year or two years, receiving

Present Unpreparedness for a Great War. The spirit of the Army to-day is that of work and of systematic preparation in the present time of peace for the next great war in which this nation shall become involved, a war that is some day sure to come, how soon or with whom no one can foretell. To pre- full pay while on this duty. A law pare for the defense of our country for this purpose would soon place at against this hidden war cloud of the the disposal of the nation in time future, vast amounts have been ap- of need, a reserve of over a quarterpropriated for our Navy and seacoast million trained men, who have served defenses during the past few years, in either the regular army or milibut our mobile army (infantry, cavalry and field artillery) has been comparatively neglected. In the words of Gen. Wood, Chief of Staff: "Our present condition is one of unpreparedness for war with any firstclass power. This unpreparedness is principally due, first, to the lack of any sufficient preparations for a mobile army, and second, to our failure to assemble an adequate reserve of war matériel.

A further discussion of this subject is out of place here, and the interested reader is referred to two articles by the well-known civilian authority Frederick Louis Huidekoper, appearing in the U. S. Infantry Journal, May to August, 1911.

tia.

THE TEXAS MANEUVERS

Rapid Concentration of Troops.On the night of March 6, 1911, unexpected orders were simultaneously received at a large number of army posts in the United States, ordering the concentration of a maneuver division at San Antonio, Texas, and a separate brigade (3 regiments of 12 companies each) of coast artillery troops at Galveston, the latter organized and equipped as infantry. All troops were ready to move within a few hours, and a large proportion fully equipped, and were eagerly waiting for the necessary transportation by rail or water. Transport ships were soon under way, and the railroad companies with a few exceptions, lost no time in doing their share, so that within a very short time all troops had arrived and were ready for field service.

A National Reserve the Greatest Need. One of the greatest defects in our present military system, is the loss to the United States of the services of the soldiers it has trained. The regular army graduates by expiring enlistments about 25,000 men The troops assembled at San Aneach year, all of whom have had tonio comprised nine regiments of three or more years of excellent mili- infantry, three of cavalry, two of tary schooling. A similar condition field artillery, one battalion of enexists with the organized militia. gineers, two companies of signal All control of these trained soldiers corps, four ambulance companies, and

Soon after July 10 most of the organizations were returned to their respective stations, and on Aug. 7 the Maneuver Division ceased to exist.

four field hospitals. On a war foot- self-closing covers, and burned out ing these troops should have to- daily with straw and crude petrotaled 20,000, but official reports show leum. Picket-line droppings and the that the average number present straw bedding for horses were colduring the encampment was a little lected and burned, and picket-line less than 13,000. areas sterilized once а week by burning them over with straw and crude petroleum. These several precautions effectually kept down the number of flies and afforded no opportunity for their access to infecObject and Lessons of the Concen- tious material. tration. The political and strate- Typhoid Prophylaxis.-Voluntary gical object of the concentra- anti-typhoid inoculations were introtion in its relation to the Mexi- duced in the army two years ago, but can revolution and the rumored the Texas maneuvers marked the first negotiations of Japan with Mexico application and test of this preventive for a coaling station in Magdalena treatment of typhoid fever under serBay, is almost entirely one of con- vice conditions. About one-fourth of jecture. (See V, International Rela- the troops arrived already immunized, tions.) Aside from the diplomatic and the Medical Department of the significance and considerations in- Maneuver Division began immediately volved, the concentration from a to inoculate the remaining threemilitary viewpoint was a practical fourths, and proceeded with this test on a large scale (for the United work as rapidly as the prophylactic States) of the present system of culture could be supplied from the transportation, organization, supply Army Medical School at Washington. and camp sanitation, as developed (See also XVII, Public Health and and systematized since the Spanish- Hygiene, and XXXI, Medicine.). American War. The War Depart- Results of Rigid Camp Sanitation ment has shown that the regular and Typhoid Prophylaxis.-The army can be quickly mobilized in health of military commands is usuany part of the country, fully armed ally measured by the average numand equipped, supplied with proper ber constantly sick or non-effective food rations, and kept in excellent in each 1,000 men. This for the health-a strong contrast to the Maneuver Division was 22 per 1,000 condition that existed when the Spanish-American War broke out.

up to the first of July, and its smallness can be appreciated when it is Rigid Camp Sanitation.-Never be stated that the average number sick fore in our army have such rigid for all troops in the United States sanitary measures been required and for the year 1910, was 34 per 1,000. carried out. Food stored or in the In other words, the health of these course of preparation had to be cov- soldiers in camp, sometimes living ered except when actually being in deep mud, and in other times in handled. Paulins which at first cov-clouds of dust and under a semi-tropered the kitchens were soon replaced ical sun, was better than in barby wooden shacks and screened. The racks surrounded by the comforts kitchen wastes, both solid and liquid, were consumed by fire, in kitchen crematories, which consisted of shallow pits a foot deep, 42 ft. long, and 22 ft. wide, filled to the level of the earth with broken stone and surrounded by a wall of clay or stones a foot high. A fire was kept The following condensed table burning on this continually, and con- shows the sanitary relation of the sumed all garbage thrown on it Texas Maneuver Division to that of while the heated stones quickly the Second Division of the Seventh evaporated the slops. Latrines were Army Corps, assembled in 1898 at covered with fly-proof box seats with Jacksonville, Fla., for about the

and sanitary appliances of post life. (See article by Colonel J. R. Kean, Medical Corps, U. S. A., entitled "The Sanitary Record of the Maneuver Division." The Journal of the Military Medical Association, Aug., 1911, Vol. LVII).

* One of these two patients had not been immunized, the other had received but two of the three injections. This last case was very mild. Forty-nine cases of typhoid fever with 19 deaths were reported as occurring in the city of San Antonio during this period.

As a result of this proven value of anti-typhoid inoculation, typhoid prophylaxis will in future be compulsory in our army, and the treatment administered to all officers and enlisted men under 45 years of age, who have not had a well-defined case of typhoid fever.

Military instruction at the maneuver camp was handicapped by the large number of recruits to train, and the poor facilities afforded for field exercises and maneuvers in the neighborhood of the camp, except at Leon Springs, about 26 miles away.

Target practice, field exercises and problems were carried on at Leon Springs usually by one brigade at a time, but troops could not remain there long on account of the scarcity of water. The practice marches to and from Leon Springs by large commands were of much practical value. The last of these was a night march made by the entire division from Leon Springs to San Antonio.

Another feature of value was the opportunity given our general officers to command a larger body of troops than the usual maneuvers afford.

lowed to take an active part in the problems and maneuvers. The reports from others are enthusiastic in their portrayal of what was seen, and of the useful information picked up. Militia officers were dependent for instruction largely upon the organization to which they were attached, but all were given an opportunity to see the mammoth division bakery, division hospital, and other important features of the camp.

MILITARY AVIATION

Appropriation.-Congress appro priated this year $125,000 to be expended in the interests of military aviation, the first appropriation for this purpose that has been made in this country.

Flights and experiments have been made almost daily, principally at College Park, Washington, D. C., and eight officers have become proficient in handling the aeroplanes. The following are the types of machines now in use by the Army: one Curtiss 4-cylinder; one Curtiss, 8cylinder; one Burgess-Wright; two Wright.

Wireless telegraphy has been proven feasible but no suitable wireless equipment for use on an aeroplane has yet been devised.

Militia Officers at the Texas Maneuvers.-Militia officers in large numbers from all the states were invited to attend the camp of instruction for short periods, as observers, and at times the number of militia officers in camp almost exceeded the number of regular officers. The reports from these officers show a varied difference of opinion regarding the benefits derived. Many Aeroplane Control.-Glenn H. Cur

been found

Bomb dropping has practicable, and a very promising controlling device is being perfected by our army aviators.

tiss has invented a means of instant- | fords, structure of bridges, depth of ly shifting the control to either oc- streams, density of woods, etc., the cupant of an aeroplane, a valuable aeroplane will be of use only as a asset when flying long distances or vehicle for quickly transporting toin case the pilot operating the ma- pographers to and from the location chine becomes disabled by the ene- to be mapped or reconnoitered. Aeromy's fire. The post to which the planes will also be of use in observing steering wheel is attached is hinged and directing the fire of artillery. at the bottom and can be instantly The Aeroplane as a Weapon of Ofmoved so as to place the wheel in fense.-Although aeroplanes will be front of either occupant. The spark control is attached to the wheel post, and the throttle placed between the two seats, so as to be accessible from either.

Night Flight.-Capt. Patrick C. Hamilton, an English army officer, and George Dyett, also an Englishman, made a flight at night to demonstrate that flying in darkness is not only practicable but safe when a searchlight is installed on the aeroplane as a means of finding a suitable landing place. This experiment took place at Hempstead, N. Y., in Oct., 1911. The light was covered at times while the machine was in the air, and when the motor was throttled down the location of the aeroplane could not be determined. Scouting by searchlight in aeroplanes may prove to be an important element in future wars.

Reconnaissance.-On Oct. 23, 1911, the aeroplane was employed for the first time in actual warfare. Lieut. Piazza of the Italian Army made an air reconnaissance from Tripoli. He circled over the desert in a Nieuport monoplane and located the Turkish infantry, intrenched in Zanzur Oasis, between 12 and 20 miles from Tripoli.

The officers of our army who are experimenting with the aeroplane, are trying to determine its powers and limitations in warfare. They estimate that on a scale of ten, the gaining and transmitting of information weighs nine, and the aggressive factor weighs one. There is no doubt that by far the greatest value of the aeroplane in future wars will be that of major reconnaissance, i. e., the location of large bodies of troops, ascertaining their front and depth, defensive positions, outposts, lines of communication, etc.

For minor reconnaissance, i. e., the determination of roadbeds, gradients,

able to do some damage by dropping bombs on the decks of vessels, on fortifications, storehouses, arsenals, railway bridges, etc., a few isolated shells of the small size that can be carried by an aeroplane, dropped with uncertain accuracy, would work only a limited amount of damage, and not have any serious effect upon the outcome of a war.

Dirigible Balloons.-The waning reputation of the dirigible airship is emphasized by the destruction of the mammoth military aircraft built by the British Government. Its construction was purposely delayed to take advantage of the experiments and experiences of other countries, and represented what seemed to be the best in a military airship, yet it collapsed in a nine-mile breeze as it was being taken out of its hangar for a trial.

The comparatively small scale on which our Army has so far taken up aviation can best be realized by a comparison with the French Army which has six aviation centers, employing nearly 200 aeroplanes, and many more machines being built. (See also XXXII, Aeronautics.)

CAVALRY

The International Horse Show.The showing made by the entries from our Army in the international horse show in London, June, 1911, was only fair. However, the riding of our officers was excellent and the performance of our horses never gave cause for any ridicule. This is the first time that our Army has been represented in an international horse show abroad. Nine horses were entered in the competitions and were ridden by five selected cavalry officers. Some of the horses were owned by these officers, while of ra were donated to the govern public-spirited citizens.

FIELD ARTILLERY

The School of Fire, a school for the instruction of regular and militia officers of field artillery, has been established at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and raises the number of service schools in the army to 13. This school fills a need existing since 1905 when the field artillery was equipped with the present rapid-fire field guns, mounted on recoil carriages, with their almost unlimited possibilities of use in the open or behind a mask, firing over a protecting hill or woods with almost the same accuracy and even greater control than in the open.

The horse show consisted princi- | nevertheless many of the old school pally of jumping competitions. Our will regret to see discontinued the horses went at the jumps boldly and dignified, close seat of the American freely and were much admired for cavalryman. these qualities, but none of the horses that went at high speed, either from our own or other countries, took prizes. The winners were animals that took the jumps under perfect control, cool and deliberate in their action. The style of the winning riders was that of the famous French school of riding at Saumur. There were about 5,000 entries in all. The best showing was made by Russia, Belgium and France. Italy was not officially represented. (The official report of Major F. S. Foltz, 15th Cavalry, who in charge of the American team is published in the Journal of the U. S. Cavalry Association for Sept., 1911). Remount Depots. Another remount depot has been added to the Quartermaster's Department for the general supply of horses to the army. This new remount depot was established at Front Royal, Va., and is known as the Front Royal Remount Depot.

was

The system of supplying horses to the Army from remount depots instead of by purchase, that we were so long in adopting, is gradually improving the quality of horses used in our Army. The system however has not been in operation long enough to make its advantages fully realized. (See XXII, Live Stock.)

THE ORGANIZED MILITIA

A long step in the right direction was made when the number of officers in the regular army was increased by 200, a large portion of this increase being for the purpose of furnishing instructors for the organized militia. At the request of a governor of a state, officers are detailed for duty with the organized militia of that state, not to exceed one for every regiment and separate battalion of infantry, or the equiv alent in other troops. A large number of regular non-commissioned of

ficers have also been detailed with The McClellan Saddle.-The Mcdifferent organizations of the organClellan saddle, which has been used ized militia. The War Department in our Army since 1859, will soon be relegated to historical museums. This saddle was designed by Col. George B. McClellan, 1st Cavalry (later General), and adopted upon the recommendation of a board, two of the members of which were Col. Robert E. Lee, 2d Cavalry, and Col. J. E. Johnson, 1st Cavalry, later of Civil War fame.

The new army saddle (not yet officially adopted) now being given a thorough test, is more on the style of the flat or English saddle, and designed for rising to the trot, for which the McClellan saddle is not suitable.

Rising to the trot has proved itself easier on both horse and rider,

is only too willing to give assistance in any way that may tend to increase the efficiency of the organized militia, and during the past year classes of militia officers were given a special course at some of the service schools of the army. The attendance of a large number of militia officers at the Texas Maneuvers has already been spoken of.

FORTIFICATIONS

The Panama Canal.-In spite of considerable opposition in Congress, it was finally decided to fortify the Panama Canal, in order to render it secure in time of war and keep it open for the use of our Navy;