Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-25
The National Guardsmen in Readi-
ness for the Event.
COMMENTS OF LIEUT.. GEN MILES
Eight Thousand Dollars Will Be
Paid Out Saturday.
NO USE FOR DOCTORS

CAMP OiDWA9, LEESBURG, Va, july
25-The assistant secretary, of war, who
has indicated his intention to visit Camp
Ordway, is expected to arrive late this
afternoon. In the event he appears he will
be met at the Leesburg railroad station by
the commanding general and the general
staff, and will be furnished with a special
escort Of honor. AS he enters the camp
grounds salute will be fired by the light
battery of regulars. The program will
also include review Of the troops by AS
sistant Secretary Sanger. General Harries
last evening received a telegram from the
Secretary of War, who had been expected
to visit camp today. Secretary Root an
nounced that he had been called to New
York business, and much to his regret
would be unable to take advantage of the
opportunity extended him to visit and re-
view the brigade while under canvas.
The drilling today embraced the school
Of the battalion In extended order. For
four hours the several commands were
hard at work, every moment being devoted
to practice preparatory to the field ma
commanding general continued to decline,
up to a late hour this afternoon to dis
close anything relating to the details Of
the exercises The impression remains that
the troops will be out of camp before day.
light and that the maneuvering may not
be concluded until late in the day. Aside
from the general interest DelnS taken III
the work mapped out for tomorrow the
routine of the camp now regular and firm
ly established. was not disturbed today.
Greeting to Gen. Miles.
The visit of General Miles yesterday, in
addition to being a notable, event in the
camp life of the guardsmen, proved an In
cident Of Importance to the citizens of
Leesburg. The sidewalks of the town were
thronged with persons when the head of
the army rode through. Many of the citi
zens personally greeted General Miles and
every salutation was returned by him.
Just prior to his departure for Washing
ton the general was Introduced to one of
the prominent citizens of the town. The
latter remarked that the behavior Of the
guardsmen during their stay here had been
more than satisfactory. General Miles
piled that If the department of the citizen
soldiery of the District was of the same
high standard as, In his opinion, is their
efficiency, their soidiery qualities and their
camp he could think of nothing further
to be desired, SO far as the brigade is con-
cerned.
Lieut.. Overton late yesterday afternoon
gave the second of the series Of interesting
lectures on the Boer war he promised to
deliver. The majority of the officers of
the camp We're his hearers. Lieut.. Overton
is an entertaining talker and his discourscs
are proving not only instructive but de-
cidedly entertaining.
Discarded the BIouses.
While parade last evening the bri-
gade, including the general staff, wore blue
flannel shirts, having discarded their
blouses. The change resulted in comfort
for all. The concert by the Brigade Band
In camp last evening was omitted the mu-
sicians proceeding to Leesburg and giving
a concert on the lawn in front of the town
hall. The entire population Of the burg
out. Speeches were made by the
Hor
being engaged in planning for the field
maneuvers for tomorrow found it incon-
venient to leave camp, but was represented
In town by officers Of the staff. A large
number of officers and men from the Ma
tional Guard were among the concourse.
Captain Andrew Parker, aidde-camp and
acting paymaster of the militia, will re-
cetve tomorrow by express 5000 In cur
rency, the major portion of which will be
expended Saturday morning in paying off
the guardsmen entitled to pay for the six
months ended the Both of last month Pay
rolls have already been prepared. and the
disbursement of the funds wilr be accom-
plished in very short time.
Not Interrupted by Rain.
One Of the most remarkable features Of
the present encampment is the fact that
not drop Of rain has yet fallen upon
Camp Ordway. In consequence drills and
other outdoor work has been carried on
without interruption and, of course, the
results are much more satisfactory than
If the men were compelled to busy them
selves in an endeavor to keep dry rather
than maneuver on the drill field. During
previous encampments practically without
exception rain has descended in some cases
In veritable torrents during a goodly por-
ton of the ten days outing. Just now the
chief of the weather bureau Is the most
popular man on earth in the estimation of
those District National Guardsmen who
are IN the field.
Strange as 1t may seem the medical de-
partment Of the District of Columbia Ma
tional Guard to all appearances sincerely
regrets the absence Of sickness in camp.
The surgeons are actually lonesome and
the forlorn expressions noted on the faces
of some Of them tend to create feeling
of pity throughout the camp. The surgeon
general and the members of his important
department came to camp fully prepared
to receive and treat any number of cases,
no matter what the character Of the same
might be. They We're prepared not only
other forms of surgery as well. Up to this
late day, however, all they have been
called upon to do is to look after a few
cases Of exhaustion.
The brunt of the work. II 1t may be
called such. has fallen to the lot of the
ambulance corps, commanded by First
Lieutenant W. d. Fales. Each day at
dress parade one or two of the men usually
give way to weakness and the ambulance
corps then comes to the front. With their
stretchers they artistically hoist the strick-
en- warriors into the ambulance, which has
dashed madly to the scene of Distress and
the ambulance next proceeds on what has
all the symptoms of a race for life for the
hospital. BY the time the horses are
brought to a standstil the soldier Is usual
ly able to proceed to his tent without
treatment or assistance, And the hos
pital force then resumes its state Of lone
someneSs.
Plight of the Hospital Corps.
There really was a patient under treat
ment In the hospital a few days ago, and
the determination with which the medical
men sought to keep him there attracted
widespread attention. A soldier who had
been dishonorably discharged upon con-
viction before a summary court last Satur-
day was drummed out of camp. The oc-
currence was a novelty. and the hospital
force in common with almost the entire
remainder of the brigade rushed to points
of vantage that they might witness the
sight. When the surgeons returned to
their post of duty they discovered that the
zealously guarded patient had during their
absence made good his escape. The dis