Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-22
LEARN ART OF WAR
Guardsmen Studying at Camp
0rdway.
DIG FIELD TRENCHES
HANDY WITH sHovELs AS WITH
THEIR RIFLES.
Gen. Miles and Other Prominent Visit
ors Are Expected There
Tomorrow.
Special from a staff Correspondent.

| Special from staff Correspondent.
| CAMP ORDWAY, Leesburg, Va, July %.
| The District of Columbia National Guard
is strongly intrenched today at Camp Ord
way. A series of trenches has been con-
structed near the brow of headquarters hill
on one side, while over night a masked bat
terry sprung into position on the other side.
The trenches command a sweep of the
camp of the I'd United States Cavalry,
while the battery is in absolute control of
the camps Of the I'd Regiment, the LIST Regi-
ment and the LIST Separate Battalion.
AS has been stated before, this is primarily
a camp of instruction. The educating of
the guardsmen is v fairly in progress.
The brigade established itself here last
Thursday afternoon. Friday and Saturday
were devoted to the ordinary routine of
drills and other duty incidntal to camp.
The terrific storm on the occasion of the
visit of Secretary Root and party occupied
the major portion of attention yesterday.
What may be termed the real schooling,
however. was lnaugurated yesterday and is
now well under way Without previous no.
tice Officers CALI was sounded. The Off
GERS, when they had appeared in response
to the summons, were shown to the
of General Harries tent and found there
several rifle pits, breast work and
trenches for use when kneeling and also
when standing. The purposes of the pits
and trenches and the proper manner of con-
structing Them was carefully explained.
When afternoon drill call was sounded the
list Regiment was marched to headquarters.
Picks Instead of Rifles.
The men laid down their rifles and han
died in their place picks and shovels.
new trench was started and for nearly two
hours the members of the command worked
diligently and as though under fire Of the
enemy all the time 1t was the first time
| the District National Guard has ever been
| called upon to do such work, and it tends
| to show that the brigade has attained
advanced state of proficiency. To be sure,
| one private who was faithfully welding a
| pick was overheard to remark remorse-
| fully, II had good home and l left it,
| but 1t was apparent that he was merely
joking. When once they had become inter
| ested in the work the members of the list
| Regiment continued to dig with good spirit.
| To the surprise of nearly everybody the
| masked battery, which was most effectively
| constructed, was discovered at daylight
; this morning, on spot which had been
| level the preceding evening. Investigation
! brought to light the fact that the LIST Sepa-
| rate Battalion was responsible for The pres
| ence of the battery. The men Of Major
| Brooks organization labored under service
| conditions in the dark Long before mid
night they had completed their work and
! placed two field pieces behind the bulwarks.
! 1t was creditable display of military en-
| thusiasm.
Gen. Harries a Busy Man.
General Harries seemed to be everywhere
| about the camp at reveille this morning
| His visit was entirely unexpected, and took
a number of officers by surprise. All Off
, GERS are expected to be with their COM
mands at reveille roll call, but certain of
! them slept little longer than they should
| have done, and in consequence may have to
| submit eXpla nattonS. Immediately follow
! ing revelle roll call the men were drilled
| for a short time by battalions in the manual
| of arms. This was something unusual, and
| was due to the fact that at brigade parade
yesterday afternoon the execution of the
| manual was decidedly ragged in some in
| stances.
Lieutenant General Miles, commanding
the United States army, will visit Camp
| Ordway tomorrow. He will leave Wash
| ington in a private car attached to the 1
| o'clock train. He will be met at the rail-
| road station in Leesburg by the Command
| ing general and general staff of Tie militia
| Mounts will be provided for General Miles
| and his officers. An escort of honor at the
| camp grounds will be supplied. 1t will con-
sist of double line of sentinels, facing in.
AS the head of the army passes through
the passage thus formed the sentinels will
successfully present arms. The salute to
which General Miles is entitled will be fired
The general will inspect the camp review
| the troops, and very likely remain to wit
| ness brigade parade.
School for Officers.
| A school of instruction for officers was
| estab lished today. Those attending will re-
ceive as thorough a course of instruction
| as Is possible under the existing conditions
and in the brief time available. They will
be expected to impart the knowledge thus
derived to the men under their command
| Ominous-looking clouds lowered above
| Camp Ordway yesterday afternoon and
| caused some apprehension of trouble from
the elements The prospects of bad weather
deferred many persons from visiting the
grounds so that the attendance of specta-
tors at brigade parade was comparatively