The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-08-16
>'AFFAIRS AT CAMP COFFIN
Continued from First Page,)

encampment.
 Those passing through Company I street during the day would have seen in nearly every tent an old soldier teach ing one of the new recruits some of the tactics. The men are studying every hour when not on the parade ground, and judging from the present condition of affairs it will not be long before the new men will be as well if mot better versed In the manual than some of their older comrades. These recruits went out on guard for the first time at 1.S0 this afternoon and they went through the form of guard mount as though they were old regulars. They will be ready tonight to tell the officers the duties of sentries, and why.
 Among the arrivals at Camp Coffin to-day may be mentioned Colonel Doh erty, formerly colonel of the Second reg iment He was looking we'll and eX- pressed himself much pleased with the camp. Another visitor was Dr, Charles A. Lindsley of New Haven, secretary of the state board of health. He came to Mantle to inspect the sanitary provis- ions of the camp, and made a thorough examination of the tents the stables and mess rooms, and, in fact, the whole grounds. After he had concluded he said that the grounds were in excellent condition and that some of our Connect icut cities might take pointers from the National Guard. Mayor Coe of Meriden was another guest at camp. He came down with friends for the day, and IS more than pleased with the soldiers.
 A feature of the day at the guard house was the arrest and temporary confinement of Privates Hammersley, Morrissey and Harvey, of the troops stationed at Fort Trumbull, New Lon don. Sergeant William Basely received communication from Lieutenant Kim berlake this morning to arrest the men, as they had overstayed their time, and this afternoon they were sent over to New London under guard,
 The field telephones, which, it Is be- lieved, will tend to revolutionize modern warfare, were tested on the grounds this morning The connections were be- tween General Haven's quarters and Colonel Burdette's tent. A reel of in su1ated cable is attached to bicycle, \ a trooper mounts the machine, and,
 
 speeds away toward the point with which 1t is desired to have communica- ton. The reel unwinds as he rides and the line is established. 1t is then but a moments work to connect the instrl ments. The test this morning was most successful, and it is thought these in struments will prove of great value in case of war.
 The photographer was abroad on the grounds this afternoon and many were the pictures taken. General Haven and a group were photographed this morn ing, and the pictures are in great de- mand among both soldiers and civil ians
 The Signal corps were out again to- day, and some long distance signalling with the helfographs was attempted, with admirable success. The men were not so far away as New London, but were stationed on hill some distance from the camp.
 The mortar practice on the bluff by the river attracted considerable atten- tion among the visitors, and there was a large crowd around the mortars all the afternoon. The huge shells were K ploded with a heavy report, and the flying pieces of iron fell into the river, causing the water to fly into the air in the form of spray to a height of three or four feet. The shells were so guag- ed that the gunners could tell to with in a fraction of a second how far they should travel before they exploded, and could determine approximately the spot in the blue sky where they should ex- plode and leave a, cloud of smoke. The guns were firing nearly all the after noon, and filled in the intervals be-
 tween the firing of the machine gun platoon and the battery of the field guns. The rapid fire machine guns al- so came in for a share of admiration, and when they wheeled around in front of the governors circle, pointing their mouths toward the flag, and were fired every eye was fixed on them. All marvelled at the rapidity with which the guns were discharged, and many were the speculations of these deadly engines effect on a crowd of rioting civilians or a column of trained regu- lars The general opinion seemed to be that the safest place in which to be was De01nQ the guns. Dur1nS the Qrlll { the guns were unlimbered, the wheels taken off the axles, and the whole guns dismounted. They were laid fiat on the ground, while the members of the company lay prone on the grass, as they would in time of war when they were facing an enemy and were not \ ready to fire their deadly volley of leaden bullets into the enemy When the word was given the gunners dis { played remarkable agility in springing 2 to their feet, two with a wheel apiece, { and others with the body of the gun. How quickly were those guns put to- gether, and ready for a volley. The work showed almost unlimited drilling on the part of the men and officers.
 The battery of field guns also show X ed some good work in the way of rapid ! ly driving onto the field of battle, un- limbering, loading the guns, firing limbering up and driving to the rear 5 again. Young America was pretty ] much in evidence on the grounds; where is she not, and she was much taken with the smoke and gunpowder used by X the artillerymen.
 The crowd of visitors at the camp as to-day was the largest that has been