WHEN one reads about the “approaching army maneuvers,” his thoughts turn instinctively to some one of the Old World military powers which comprise the vast armed camp of Europe, where the mustering of armed hosts and the clang and din of armies playing at war are familiar sights and sounds. But now that the United States has joined the “war concert” of the nations, army and navy maneuvers in imitation of battle are not to be confined to the Old World. The Western republic will henceforth play at war like the other world powers. Very truthfully is it stated, in the announcement of this, which comes from Washington, that “nothing just like the joint army and navy maneuvers which will take place next month in Narragansett Bay have ever before been seen in this country.” Then follows this description:— As the plans are elaborated, they provide for one of the most interesting military games ever known, and the navy is to demonstrate its ability to make a sudden attack on the fortified posts without enabling the army to concentrate for its defense. On the other hand, the army, through the signal service, expects to be able to determine the presence of the attacking fleet in sufficient time not only to make use of the great guns, but also to concentrate so as to prevent a landing. The Long Island coast and Sound have been selected as the scene of action, and “the line of defense will extend from the eastern entrance of Long Island Sound to Fort Rodman, at New Bedford. The navy is to be permitted to make its attack at any point, and the descent on the coasts is likely to be made on any one of two or three different nights. It will be the duty of the army to see that the line of defense is completely manned,” etc. “Umpires on the ships and the shore will determine whether the attacking or the defending party has the better of the great game.” To be “like the nations” was Israel’s ruin; and the great republic, which, like Israel, was providentially separated from the nations, is now following her example.