Evening star., 1901-07-22

victed. The matter was then carried to
headquarters, where the action of the bat
TALON officers was approved and the man
dishonorably discharged from the guard.
He was stripped of his uniform and, at
tired outwardly in a pair of overalls an
old shirt and straw hat was drummed
out of camp. section of the corps OF
field music headed the little procession,
playing the "Rogues March" The ma
jority of the members of the brigade fol-
lowed the disgraced individual to the camp
limits. giving vent to expressions of dlSap-
proval of his conduct The man was placed
aboard a train by detail from the bat
TALON guard.
Leesburg Police Approve.
With the exception Of some singing along
the road and the almost constant challeng-
ing by sentinels for short period after
taps, Saturday night was entirely orderly.
Those guardsmen who went to LeesblTS
on pass conducted themselves IN Mariner
entirely satisfactory to the police officials
of the town
An apparent evidence of the complete or
ganization of the District of Columbia is
the symmetry of the present camp. AS
soon as the LeeSburg site was selected by
Gen. Harries. orders were issued directing
First Lieut.. Roy B. Hayes, commanding the
Engineer Corps. to proceed to the Virginia
town and make a reconnaissance survey or
Georges farm. a map, copy OF Whlch
has heretofore been published in The Star,
was prepared by Lieut.. Hayes. 1t showed
the proposed localities of the several or
ganizations. The command not only in the
preliminary work, but since has performed
excellent service.
The law providing for the militia of the
District of Columbia permits the mainte-
nance of an Engineer Corps, made up OF one
commissioned officer, four non-commisslon-
ed officers and thirty-two prfvates. The
original organization soon developed into
provisional battalion of three companies.
one being made up of sharpshooters one
of engineers and the other construction
company. The company of SharpShooters
earned an enviabe reputation for itself as
well as for the brigade. In view of the fact
that the existence of the provisional bat
talon was not in accordance with the terms
of the organic act, the battalion, shortly
before the Spanish war. transformed
intOan infantry command and the Engineer
Corps re-established. The corps during the
Spanish war was depleted in numbers
through several of its members serving in
the volunteer army. Shortly after the
muster out of the District regiment Gen.
Harries detailed Lieut.. Hayes. who had
been an officer of the regiment, to assume
command of the corps. 1t has had a
healthy growth since Lieut.. Hayes has
been in command
Capable Engineering Work.
The Engineer Corps this year made
survey of the camp site, marked the tent
locations by stakes, has built a bridge
the parade grounds and is now preparing
maps for use in connection with field ma
neuvers the latter part of the week. while
the guard was in camp in this locality two
years ago the corps prepared map show
ing one hundred and sixtyfour miles of
road reconnaissance, which. with what Is
being added this year. will constitute a
very complete map of the section bounded
by the Shenandoah river the west the
Potomac river on the north, Goose creek
on the south. and as far as the city of
washington the east OF It's tWpnfV-
five members the corps boasts of twelve
long service men.
AS was to be expected from past exper-
fences the 1St Separate Battalion of COL
ored gnardsmen, commanded by Mai. Ar
thur Brooks, is thoroughly at home and
performing military duty in the field in
manner worthy of regulars When an in
spectfon of the camp is made, no previous
notice of the same being given everything
about the quarters of the 1st Separate
Battalion is found to be far above criti-
cism.
Company A, Capt. F. L. Webster COM
manding. has a duty and pleasure club.
few evenings ago the members were at
home to the officers of the battalion
Speeches were made, and a few minute es
before tattoo" the guests returned to
their respective quarters well pleased with
the evenings entertainment Capt Web
ster established reputation as a toast
master
The guard duty of Company r Cant
Piper, commanding, and the guard mount
of Company c. Capt. F.. r. Webster. com
manding, received the commendation of the
inspector general
Cutting Telegraph Wires.
On three different occasions since the be-
ginning of the encampment, the Signal
Corps had effected connection with the
telegraph system running from Leesbure
and each time, 1t is charged, some one
unknown to anybody in authority here has
<-,,f BIC yuyira a
munication that had been established
The Signal Corps wires from the signal
station to the main telegraph line are
conducted under the railroad tracks by
means of cable, and on two Of the three
occasions, when the wires have been cut
this cable has been unearthed.
What the signal men characterize as Vigo-
rous and persistent efforts have been made
and are being made by Lieut.. William Me
meyer, commanding the corps, to discover
the person or persons who have been re-
sponsible for the annoyance, but success
has not thus far attended the investigation
IT was at first supposed that some one
had fnnocently cut the wires and removed
the cable without realizing that such ac-
tion was an interference with a legitimate
use Of the telegraph system.
Several important messages accumulat ed
at the signal station last evening and
Lieut.. 'Niemeyer, in an effort to transmit
them, went from the camp to the main
telegraph line, where he established a sta
He made direct connection with the main
line, using a new box-relay of the same
pattern that Is used in the Signal Corps
of the army and in the offices of the man
ayers of the commercial telegraph compa-
MES of the country. The instrument was
in perfect working condition. and the con-
nection being direct one, was absolute1
accurate, while the electrical current on
the wire was normal Despite all these
| favorable conditions. Lieut.. Nemey er who
is an expert telegrapher, called almost con-
| tinuously for more than an hour without
| receiving a response. The messages there
| fore, had to be returned to the writer's
! Notwithstanding the foregoing and many
| other equally discouraging conditions. the
| signal officer appears determined to secure
| satisfactory telegraphic communication
| from Camp Ordway.
| To Return Saturday Next.
| The brigade will break camp and return
! to Washington next Saturday afternoon
| The "generaI' will be soundeu promptly at