Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-24

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rected by the searchlight They kept on,
however. through a mushy mass Of lily pods
and eel grass until they got in as far as
the boats could go. Then everybody cam
bered over the sides. some of the men get
ting wet to the waist and waded ashore
through a viscous mixture Of mud and
water. One husky private carried ashore
Lieut.. Britton. U:S.A., and reporter who
SHE'D at getting his feet wet. Lieut.. Brit
ton says he had neglected to wear his
spurs, as he had not counted on riding, but
that as it was his mount was we'll gated.
When the men had waded laboriously to
shore they, too, were face to face with a
machine gun, and were informed that they
were "out of business Then the war was
utes past 10. Some time was consumed
after that in counting noses, to be sure
that all the men were safe and that none
had been begged in a mudhole. and at
a quarter to II o'clock two red bombs were
fired at Fort Hunt were answered by two
similar bombs at Fort Washington. and
once more peace brooled over the Potomac
But it was half-past IL o'clock before Lieut.
Col O. Brien's command returned to camp,
for the small boats had to be returned and
everything made shipshape before the men
Tonight Fort Washington will have to de-
fend itself against similar attack by Maj
Stephans' force from Fort Hunt.
Object Of the Maneuvers.
The object of these exercises, as given out
in general orders by Col. Coffin, is to discov-
er whether landings can be effected and
what are the best methods of attack and de-
Tense The actual work is new to the
regular officers as to the militia, and every
body enjoys it.
With the defending companies at Fort
Hunt were the regular officers detailed for
the work-Lieut. West. with Capt Walker;
Lieut.. Merchant, with Capt. Heep, and
Lieut. Dawson, with Capt. Feand.
At Fort Hunt yesterday base ball team
from the artillery defeated a nine from
the reserves by score of 80 to .. The
militia team was made up as follows: Beck
stein, pitcher; Mcdonald, catcher; Har-
wood. first base; Burlingame. second base;
MacElfresh, shortStop; Regis third base;
Cunningham, right field; Loveday, center
field, and Boyland, left field. The winning
team shared box of cigars given by Capt
Ballantyne.
A bowling team from the battalion at
Fort Hunt has challenged the artillerymen
to roll match.
Surgeon Woodman, who is at Col Urelrs
headquarters, spent last night at Fort Hunt
as the guest of the post surgeon, DR.. Hart,
on his way back from Washington.
Lieut.. Fuqua, U. S. A, is instructing the
officers of Maj. Stephans battalion in
plotting positions This morning he went
over in detail every step of last nights
operations.
In base ball game yesterday Private
Fusco of Company D, who was playing
first base, had his eyelid split by pitched
ball.
Road Full of Bumps.
1t is possible to reach the outlying bat
teries at Fort Washington by the narrow
gauge railway from headquarters when
the little locomotive runs with its two
diminutive cars with transverse benches
for seats, but at times when the train is
resting, which is often, a winding road
that wanders through the woods, as Maj.
Stevens built 1t, along the line Of least
resistance, is the only means Of getting to
the guns Loud are the lamentations of
those who travel that way by carriage,
for 1t is full of bumps and ruts and Its
angles are unexpected. The shorter roads
near headquarters are excellent, macad-
amized and well laid, but the officers are
anxious for a good road to the batteries
and another highway leading to the main
road to Washington, about five miles back
from the post. Now communication with
Fort Washington is only by water.
One Of the officers at Fort Washington
has an 1nsidious watch shaped device with
little horses on the disc that goes round.
and round, and round. Every horse bears
a number, where the Jockey ought to be.
and when the ponies whiZ about the cir
cunlleTenCe OF tne INSTRUMENT dHypouy 10
entitled to his opinion to which num-
Der will stop in the rectangle marked win
ner" Whether this amusement should
properly be confined to the cavalry arm OF
the service, whether its mathematical
abstrusity causes it to appeal especially to
the Artillery Corps. Is question. Its
practical working is that when it begins to
whiZ an interested circle gathers, and mill
tary hardships are for the time forgotten.
Now one cannot draw out watch with
out having some curious person cast a
one of the things you bet on?"
Increase in Enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm over the camp increases
among the militiamen 1t Is no exaggera-
ton to say that the conditions are IDEAL
The reserve company camps, scattered
through the woods, are nestled cozily amid
the trees. and even far from the post the
officers tents are lighted by electricity. At
Fort Hunt the whole battalion is enthusl-
ast,c and cannot understand how conditions
could be better at Fort Washington and at
Fort Washington the miltiamen are in
credulous over the possibility Of any camp
being better than theirs.
Already men and officers are figuring over
next year and wondering whether the whole
brigade of the District Guard can come
down. The officers announce that the COM
panies of the I'd Regiment will be 80 per
cent stronger If 1t can be given out that
Fort Hunt and Fort Washington are TO be
next years destinations. and Col Coffin
is greatly gratified. both for himself and
his officers, and for the Artillery Corps, that
SO great an interest is taken in the work.
The content of the men is ue to pleasant
camp conditions; drill not excessive and
what there is Of it interesting. and the
hearty cooperation and painStaking in
struction by the regular officers.