Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-30
Special Dispatch from Staff Correspondent OF
Tbp Sfar

Special Dispatch from Staff Correspondent of
The Star.
CAMP ROOSEVELT, MT. GRETNA, Pa,
July 3O.-The clouds that hover above Mt
Gretna are energeticaliy beIligerent, and,
therefore. are In thorough accord with
the martial spirit that pervades this To-
cality. With regularity that breathes
of military system rain and sunshine al
ternate in holding sway. The sun shines
beautifully for as much as fifteen min
utes at a stretch and then, of sudden,
a driving rain is very much in evidence.
Thus the situation has been since the
arrivaf-here last Saturday afternoon of
the troops of the National Guard of the
District of Columbia. The abundance OF
rain, however. may be blessing, for as
a result the air is pleasantly cool, and the
dust that last week was disa agreeable has
been efrectually laid
Not only the District guardsmen but
the regulars as WELL are hard at it. A
bugler at division headquarters promptly
at 515 O'Clock this morning sounded first
call 1t was repeated by bugierS almost
without number. Fifteen minutes later
reveille roll call, with setting up exer-
cises. was in order Immediately there
after fatigue parties were cleaning up the
several camps At ten minutes before g
o'clock breakfast was served and then
the guardsmen set about filling their can
teens with boiled water and making other
preparations for morning of arduous
effort.
The mixing up of District National
Guardsmen with regulars occurred at Z
o'clock, when the provisional brigades
were formed The regulars wore blue
trousers and blue shirts and the National
Guardsmen khaki trousers and chambray
shirts, so that after the mix-up the APP
pearanee was conglomerate. The drill
fields are from one to two miles from the
camp ground proper, and Gen. Harries
headquarters front alongside the road
leading thereto.
Just as the column moved off Gen. Grant
rode over TO see Gen. Harries and the
pair informally reviewed the combined
National Guard and regular troops
General Grant set Off at once to observe
the works of the troops. He was soon
Joined by Gen. Harries and Col. Biddle En-
gineer Commissioner of the District of Co
lumbia, who is In camp with the guard
The several commands were back in camp
at noon. There was plenty of work for all
the remainder of the day. Everybody con-
nected with the citizen soldiery of the ma
tional capital took advantage of the time
available yesterday to straighten up camp
and get settled. A box containing 200 bed
sacks. intended for the I'd Regiment, has
gone astray, and in consequence members
of the organization are existing under con-
ditions as severe as though they were act
ually campaigning. No ground exists for
crlticlSlng the NatfonaI Guard as TO Tin
soldier methods, for the regulars are pro-
videG with cots, while the guardsmen must
sleep on bed sacks.
The only military duty required yesterday
was OF the companies detailed for guard.
The LIST Regiment, I'd Regiment and LIST
Separate Battalion each had a company
participating in the ceremony of guard
mounting, with music.
The band of the 18th United States Cav
airy. mounted, last evening gave concert
in front of Gen. Grants headquarters. I'M
mediately thereafter concert was given
In front of Gen. Harries' headquarters by
the National Guard brigade band. C. F. c.