Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-08-23
From Washington.
rCor. espondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington. d. c., Aug. 20.

Washington. d. G., Aug. 70.
The nrenarations for the mammoth
army manoeuvers of the regular army
ind national guard organizations have
nearly been completed at Manassas, va,
and Thoroughfare Gap, where the big
camps of the rival armies are to be To-
Gated. Already troops are beginning 10,
arrive, and Virginia in that vicinity has
a more martial air than it has had
since the days of the civil war, when the
historic hills of the Blue Ridge were the
scene of bloody strife. Never during
the civil war, however, were the troops
of the opposing armies given the COM
forts. and even luxuries, which they are
to enjoy during the period of the man
oeuvers. Each big camp, not including
the camp at Gainesville, Va, where the
corps headquarters will be located, has
been fitted up at an expenditure of nearly
$4,000. Spurs of the Southern Rail-
way have been run from Manassas sta
ton across the fields to the camp,
and trains are arriving each hour
with supplies of food, clothing, am
munition and the many other things
which will be needed by the army
during the forthcoming manoeuvers.
Everywhere is hustle and activity, but
nowhere such is the excellence OF the
management, is there confusion. Army
officers who have had charge of the work
of preparing the camps say that the
farmers, as a rule, have been most cour-
teous and obliging, realizing perfectly
that whatever damage is done to their
property will eventually be well paid for
bv the federal government. In one or
two cases, however, large property
holders have attempted to make the
work OF the officers as hard as pos
sible. but even with this obstacle the
work has been well done. Several
months ago, when the board OF army
officers went to Manassas for the purpose
of seeing about obtaining ground tor the
camp sites, large tract of land adjacent
to where the Manassas camp is now loca'
ted was selected for the camps OF two
regiments. This land, according to far
mers in the vicinity, has been in grass
for the past five or six years. AS soon as
the land owner ascertained that his prop
erty had been selected for Vancouver pur-
poses, it is said he Immediately planted
il in corn. with the idea, it is said, OF
making the government pay damages for
thousands OF bushels of corn, which he
might claim was destroyed by the troops.
Appreciating his purpose the army au-
tborities. at considerable inconvenience
to their plans, refused to use this land
at all, but placed the camp all around 1t
but not touching il at any place.
The Central Labor Union last night
discussed the charges that certain OF its
leaders we're "grafters. The charge
was made by publication supposed tC
represent the brewery workers. No sPe'
ci6c names we're mentioned and after
discussion the matter was laid on the
table.
According to a statement issued today
IS. 795. 1913 was received by the federal
government in the fiscal year ended
June 80 last from the sale of public lands
involving more than sixteen millions
acres.
ActingSeeretary of State Adee this morn
inc cabied to U. S. Minister COnger, at Pekin
asking Cor further light upon the situation u
REGARD TO Chinese neutrality and the occur
re1ces at Shanghai and Chefoo. IT Is sIaIee
that no action will be taken by the State, DE
nartment until after reply shall have been
received. From the fact that the U. 3 gun
boat General Alaga was sent yesterday by
Admiral Stirling from WOosung, the port o
Shanghai, to ChefOO, presumably with dis
patches and for the purposes of reinforcing
the Cincinnati and the Frolic, now at tn
latter harbor. il is believed that the admira
views the situation at Chefoo as being quite
as grave as that at Shanghai. There has beef
considerable mysterious scouting OF Japanes
torpedo boats about ChefoO recently ant
several parties of japanese officers and sailor
| in civilian attire are reported to have beer
landed nearby The superstition is that the.
are contemplating an attack upon the Rus
sian wireless telegraph station there, agSalnS
fhe maintenance of which the japanese hay'
made number of vigorous protests.