The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-07-14

the men drawn for guard service are cer-
tainly given valuable and necessary ex-
perience.
Following retreat at 1880. the men
on the line. freed from the tension or
their days drilling. set out TO MAKE the
most OF the time before taps PAD.
ding was I'm vogue and other forms or
hazing found willing advocates ana un
willing victims throughout the quarters
At the machine gun ordsr ea'iery attended With
red fire illumination. the burning OF ,n,l rsu
or and other harmless jollhcation. This
celebration was In honor OF those men,
20 or more who have qualified on the
range.
WORK OF SIGNAL CORPS.
The signal corps. under Capt. Cook. was
busy all day long. The morning was spent
in establishing signal station near tne
shore to thee. the east & OF the as paS,e carried e on
The station was successfully arranged
and during the afternoon signals were
freely exchanged with Fort CREPE by
means OF the heliograph. Tonight the
same messages have been flashed between
the stations by acetylene lamps ms
work brings reports OF the same success
that marks the conduct OF all the Depart
ments.
Revolver practice has been going on
since the establishment OF the camp ana
upwards of 40 men have so far qualihed
Wednesday evening was clear and ex,
ceedingiy cold at the camp and the oano
concert by Clarke's Providence band In
the pavilion at headquarters failed on tnls ms
account to draw the usual crowd OF rs
teners grouped beyond the guard hnes'
CALL TO ARMS,
At midnight the camp was very quiet,
| only the challenges OF the outposts break
| ing silence The incidents OF the follow
| ing two hours were among the most STIR
| ring and spectacular features that ever
| arise In military life. At 1875 the bugle
! at headquarters rang out To Arms
! To Arms" The call the soldiers love and
/ dread the most Instantly the camp was
stirred 70 intense action. Bugle after
buele caught the clear notes and carried
/ them to the limit OF the quarters Sew
eral in the excitement sounded fire cail,
| instead OF the call to arms, and some
slight confusion arose, especially with the
mounted commands.
The air was biting cold. yet the men
turned out scantily clad and In bare feet,
| At first little idea OF what came next
| caused considerable mixing up. yet In
each command response was ready,
| prompt and determined according to the
| interpretation OF the call by commanding
officers Lights flashed throughout the
camp. and across the parade ground was
heard the dull tread Of marching feet as
the men fell into line awaiting develop
ments.
| sembly" and inside Of 10 minutes reports
were received at headquarters as 10 the
| readiness OF certain commands for action.
SPEEDY FORMATION.
The infantry. speedily regsining their
normal steadiness, fell into line. company
roll calls followed Then the First regi-
ment reported at headquarters through
one OF their officers, Lieut.. Peck. while
I the Second regiment hustled across the
parade ground and reported In body.
! The Hospital Corps rose to the occasion
in most excellent fashion and In IA min
utes after the call the corps was in COM
plete readiness horses harnessed and
equipment thorough This was the only
command TO secure their horses and
much credit II due II for Its efficiency.
The Machine Gun Battery did great
work and Captain Bixby brought his
command promptly 70 the mark
THE FIRST TEST
II was the nrst time In the history Of
state encsmpments that the call 10 arms
had been sounded and results OF the ex-
pertinent were anxiously watched by the
brigade staff az headquarters. II was A
practical affair with q vengeance and put
the entire brigade TO a severe test The
individuality OF the officers counts for
much in matters OF this kind and import
ant facts will result when the whole
story k at hand. The cavalry and ar
tillery commands displayed little OF the
proper spirit. and their work was not ur
10 the standard set by the infantry regi-
mente
After all possible chance had been given
for Developments Of the affair. recall was
sounded and the men returned 10 their
quarters. Hereafter attention will he
directed 10 this spectacular and iavalu-
able branch OF duty and more certain will
be the results in later encampments all
IN all the AFFAIR was commercially carried