Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-20
GREAT cAMPiAT ALDERsHoT
British Soldiers Assemble There Before
Setting Out for Foreign Service
Just Now 1t is a Scene of the Greatest
Activfty-One1 of London's
Main Defenses.
From the Chicago Tribune,

rrom tne Cnlcag0 Tribune.
The scene Of greatest activity in all Eng
| land today is the great camp at Aldershot
the principal military depot, where troops
are being massed with feverish energy
Aldershot is situated on a tolerably level
but somewhat dreary plain at the conjunc-
ton of the border lines of Hampshire
Berkshire and Surrey The camp lies thir-
ty-fve miles southwest Of London and some
two days march from Portsmouth and
southampton, the principal points for the
embarkation of troops ordered on foreign
service.
Either of these ports could be reached by
rail- in couple of hours but as far as rail-
roads go, Aldershot does not occupy par
tcularly good strategic position, since it
must depend entirely for its service in this
respect on a. branch Of the Southwestern
road. This. however, runs direct to both
portsmouth and Southampton, while the
country between the camp and these two
towns affords every facility for the rapid
movement by road of large bodies of
troops.S
But when Aldershot was selected rail-
ROADS We're not the factor they are now,
ana the spot was chosen because an army
stationed there could rapidly occupy the
adjacent Surrey hills, which furnish Lon
don main safeguard against an enemy ad-
Vanclng from the south coast.
The soil of the plain is particularly suit
able Tor camp, as it is light, and being
underlaid with gravel and sand dries off
rapidly after rain 1t produces little but
ing and heather with occasional groups of
black pine in low spots. mingled with birch.
The camp was first established during the
Crlmean war-1S55-by Lord Hardinge, then
commander-in-chief, and at the end of the
war was made a permanent institution.
Inc original intention was for all the oc-
cupants to live perpetuaily in tents under
conditions somewhat similar to those they
might expect to meet with during a cam
palgn, but from time to time huge bar
racks and enormous stables have been
erected, so there is now accommodation of
this sort for nearly a full army corps. A
large portion of the forces stationed there
still camps out for practice, however.
The camp Is always kept scrupulousy
csean, and the discipline maintained Is
strict. Drilling is perpetually in progress.
while field days and sham fights occur con-
stantly, their frequency depending on the
general in command. This post is much
most distinguished lieutenant generals.
During his tenure of Office there the queens
third son, the Duke of Connaught, rendered
himself unpopular by working his men UNI
usually hard, but his successor, Sir Red
vers Butler, who resigned the command to
go to Africa, was much more lenient in
this respect.
To most American tourists Aldershot
would always offer attractions, for with
good field glass the ;naneuvers can be plain
1y observed from several positions that VS.
itors permitted to occupy. AT present
a visit there should be peculiarly interest
ing, for preparations that dwarf anything
ever heretofore attempted by England are
in progress there and strenuous efforts are
being made to gather a force at least sui1i-
GENTLY large to replace the troops ordered
to Africa. AS most of the new levies are
comparatively unframed mimic campaigns
will be in progress there daily, so that low
ers of warlike sights should be able to get
their fill of them with ease and safety.
Visitors can find ample accommodation In
the town adjoining the camp, for the prox-
unity of the camp has caused a town to
spring up-though the region before was
practically uninhabited-the population of
which. according to the last census, exceed
ed 10000 civilians. Still plenty of room will
always remain for the camp. for the gov
ernment's original purchase consisted of
tract over three miles square. and large
purchases have since been made south Of
the Basingstoke canal, which divides the
tract into the south and north camps.
The number of regulars stationed at AL
dershot always exceeds 10000, to which
must be added during the clement months
a constantly changing assemblage Of mil
tia and volunteers.
Like most places where British soldiers
congregate. the camp can boast of a we'll
appointed race track. Its commodious
grandstand is but little used. for prettily
terraced knoll on the opposite side Of the
course Is the fashionable promenade from
which to see the races. These are all over
hurdles, and confined to men riders. The
fields are large and the course severe, hence
spills are frequent though some rev OF the
army men are among the best riders on
earth.
Within a short distance of this race
course was fought the worldfamous bat
tie of Marlborough, i'll which the American
favorite Heenan. defeated the English
champion, Tom Savers the fight taking
place in the open in a ring pitched on the
bare heath.
To the east of Aldershot lie the hills,
which are fondly looked on by cockneys
as London's most efficient safeguard
against any foreign invader. This range-or
rather series of ranges, for the hills rise
one behind the other-has an average
height of several hundred feet and extends
across Surrey well into Kent. Some of the
hills are too steep to permit the growth or
trees on their sides. Others are beautifully
wooded, while in the valleys separating
them are some of the handsomest trees in
the world the limbs of many supporting
huge punches of mistletoe.
These valleys are so deep and winding
that, with the hills manned by the Alder
shot army, the passage of them might well
prove impossible to an enemy advancing
from the southeast. from which point mill
tary men seem to agree that any invasion
of England must come. The River Mole,
which drains the district, derives its name
from the habit of frequently burrowing its
course through subterranean passages.
This river washes the foot of Bore Hill,
the highest and NEST sOutherly of the Sur
rev range The south face of this curious
mound rises almost perpendicularly for
over 500 feet. Immediately below it on a
level plain stands the town of Dorking,
around which military experts, both British
and continental. declare a battle to decide
the fate of London will some day be fought.
MATRIMONY lessons CRIME.