Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-22
ROUTINE Of
COAST DEFENSE
Initiation of National Guards
men at River Forts.
REGULARS AS INSTRUCTORS
Militia Formally Mustered Into Uncle
Sans Service.
ORDERLY'S RIDE AGAINST TIME
The Star Dispatch Boat Prevents a
Standardization in Camp
Yesterday.
ORDERLY'S RIDE AGAINST TIM

District troops stationed here and at Fort
Hunt had their first taste Of the routine Of
the Joint coast defense exercises.
At o'clock the supports started in on
patrol reconnaissance and outpost duty,
Company K being stationed near head
quarters. The reserves were. put to work
on the big guns under the instruction of
the regulars, Company E at Wilkin bat
terry, Company at Meigs (mortars) and
Company G at Humphreys. Regular OIL
GERS and soldiers were at each of the bat
teries, instructing the militia in every de-
tail Of the work. Some instruction was
given casually at the mortar battery yes
terday but it was continued more care
fully today.
Beginning tomorrow the militia will be
permitted to handle the guns themselves,
under supervision, and will be the whole
thing at the batteries, the regulars re-
manning in camp merely to assist Inc
regulars went into camp the !3th OF the
month, but will return to their barracks
Saturday when the District troops will be
paid for their tour Of duty for the United
States.
In the big gun drill the elevation of the
muzzle Of the gun above the parapet ends
the execution OF orders. the aiming having
been completed beforehand the tripping OF
the blocks to let the counterbalancing
weights raise the huge rife into firing po-
sition being omitted
Gun drills will be held tomorrow and
Wednesday morning, while on Thursday
and Friday they will probably be omitted.
as the big land and water attacks on both
forts will then be made. If Col. Coffin de-
cides to- adhere to the present program. The
question Of boats for use in the naval at
tack is still undecided. The artillery dis
trict has the Cushing. War Department
steamer, half tug and half freghter. That
will be used. The Evening Star dispatch
boat Fairbanks, being swift and nearly as
large as a young torpedo boat, may also
Apnr In he M
The proceedings will be carried out as II
hostile fleet was endeavoring to force the
passage of the river but no decision as to
the victory will be given, as the affair is not
looked upon as a mock battle to amuse
the participants and spectators but as a
drill of instruction. where each side Is do
ing the best 1t can, regardless Of any win
ming or losing.
Beginning Of "Hostilities."
There will probably be a land attack by
the supports upon Fort Hunt tomorrow
night, and Wednesday night land attack
on Fort Washington, both attacks taking
place between 8 and II pm. The land and
water attacks will be made Thursday and
Friday
Maj. G. w. s. Stevens, fire commander.
lectured this morning to Maj. Smms and
the field, staff and company officers Of the
reserves on Position Finders" The lecture
was given at the fire command station,
where all the points explained could be H.
Illustrated practically. Maj. Stevens empha-
sized the care which is taken to remove the
chance of human error in the calculation
of range and Interpolation of corrections for
atmosphere, speed Of target wind, etc,
showing the machines that compute ranges
mechanically, after the corrections have
been obtained.
Capt Philip s. Golderman, U. S. A.. lee
lures tomorrow on Submarine Mines" in
the mine classmates. and Lieut.. James K.
Grain will describe Fuses and Primers"
Wednesday.
How to Address Letters.
Letters to the men at Fort Washington
and Fort Hunt should be addressed with
the company letter to regimental head
quarters at Fort Washington and bat
talon headquarters at Fort Hunt. Mail
will be delivered to the men by their COM
pany officers about Pm daily.
The following regular officers have been
assigned by the War Department to sup
porting companies of militia;
At Fort Washington-First Lieut.. Rubot-
tom. 9th Cavalry. to Company 1; Second
K; Second Lieut.. Donnelly, 18th Cavalry, to
18th Infantry, to Company NJ. At Fort
Hunt--Lieut. Fuqua, 10Th Infantry, and
Lieut.: West Ssd Infantry 3dan to Company c;
panies and D, and Lieut.. Dawson, to
Company B.
At Fort Hunt this morning Maj. Stephan
missioned officers out for reconnaissance.
dividing them into three parties each with
a regular officer. and covering the woods
and roads approaching the forts. There is
some uncertainty as to whether the SIM
ulated attack on the fort is to be confined
to the river front of the reservation or may
understanding is that attacks from the rear
must be confined to roads until the reser-
walton Is reached when the attacking force
may go where 1t chooses.
Mustered Into Federal Service.
Officers and men Of the District troops
spent Sunday In getting more completely
settled and their bearings for the
approaching simulated attacks. Head
quarters Of Col. Urell, under its sheltering
locust grove, was during the morning the
goal of officers from the outlying camps.
who came to pay their respects after the
great business of the day was done. That
was the mastering of the District troops
into the federal service, which was made eff
fective from Saturday.
Col. Coffin, at S:15 in the morning, crossed
from his home to headquarters Of the I'd
Regiment and had every officer on the mus
ter roll to answer to his name. All went
we'll until 1t came to the non-commissioned
staff.
Where are those menu" called Col. Urell
"In the bathtub, answered an orderly
who had been dispatched to find the de-
hnquentS.
After the quickest dressing time yet made
in the I'd Regiment the missing men APP
peared and were mustered in. Col. Coffin
waiting for them to get into their clothing.
1t was nearly noon when 1t was discov-
cred that Antonio Lorenzo. Col. urells
mounted orderly. would have to leave head
quarters and cross the river to join his
company-C-at Fort Hunt II he wished to
be mustered in, and that he would have to
arrive before noon. Then there was haste.
but there was little speed until Col. Urell
Thought of The Star dispatch boat Fair
banks and telephoned to the dock asking
n Iorenzo could be hurried over to Fort
Hunt for mastering.
Saved by The Star Boat.
,ara followed a race against time, the !
nowerful engine of the Stars boat driving |
the long craft through the water till the |
foam dashed from her bow and her wake
was a seething whirl Of boiling eddies. But
the man was landed In time by Capt Ten |
nyson and was duly mustered in as a fac
tor in Uncle Sans fighting force
Part of the day was spent by the privates |
in amusement, boating. walking or reading |
The Sunday Star, which reached camp four
hours before any other newspaper.
The men are more than content. They get !
the full government ration and an addi- |
tional allowance Of ten cents per man, to be |
expended by company commanders for ex-