Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-19
COAST DEFENSE PLAN
GUARDSMEN TO AID IN MANEU-
VERs AT RIVER FORTS.

BY tomorrow evening twelve companies
of the District brigade of guardsmen will
have been transferred from Harpers Ferry
to Fort Washington and Fort Hunt, and
will have coast defense maneuvers jointly
with the regular forces of the artillery
district of the Potomac. Five companies
will be stationed at Fort Hunt and seven
across the river al Fort Washington, the
latter being regarded as the center of oper-
atoms.
The troops will reach Washington about
10 o'clock tomorrow morning at the B. & O.
station, New Jersey avenue and street.
and march thence to the wharf of the
steamer Jane Mosely, to embar,. for the
forts.
Initiation into the complicated mysteries
of the guarding of the Potomac will be the
first part of the program for the members
of the District National Guard, and a.,
soon as the rudiments are mastered the
actual maneuvers will begin. A tentative
program has been drawn up, but has al
ready been changed several times and Is
subject to still further alteration, though
the general scheme remains the same
Night attacks are to be made upon the
force by boats and landing parties and
vessels manned by men from the forts will
attempt to pass the two frowning guardians
of the Potomac, while the immense search
lights seek them out 6 checkmate their
moves. These night attacks will be not
only spectacularly beautiful, but also will
serve to demonstrate actual conditions of
warfare in case of an attempt to make an
attack by sea upon the city of Washington
Land Attack.
But approach from the river is not the
only form of attack to be attempted. Back
of both forts there Is tempting wealth Of
shores of the river there is a heavy fringe
of bush, where crawling men may be eff
fectually concealed. Detachments of the
guardsmen will have the privilege of wrig-
Cling through this underground in an en-
deavor to sneak up on the forst and take
them by surprise by landward attack, while
other guardsmen and regulars will stand by
to repel the advance.
All possible conditions of actual warfare
SO far as the movements of the men are
concerned, are to be reproduced, under
service conditions, giving drill most valu-
able in practical educational results.
Regular officers In charge of the forts
have been preparing for the joint ma
neuvers with the greatest interest and care
and are enthusiastic over the prospect.
Sites for the camps have been selected
with view to the comfort of the visitors
and sanitary arrangements are perfected.
The water that the men will drink comes
from artesian wells and is so pure that
hardly any trace Of minerals can be found
init The officers tents at Fort Washing
ton will be pitched near Col. Kauffman's
summer camp, close to the parade and
opposite the officers houses Electric wires
were being laid yesterday to furnish light
for the officers quarters.
High on the plateau overlooking the
Potomac, the campers at Fort Washing
ton can pity their sweltering friends in the
city, for, though packing a heavy gun
around in the broiling sun will be warm
work. there is always cool breeze to be
found when a man is off duty. At Fort
Hunt the conditions will be similar to
those at Fort Washington.
Planning the Campaign.
Col. Kaufman and Maj. Stevens at Fort
Washington are planning the campaign Of
instruction, and their intense interest in
the coast defense work can hardly fail to
be transmitted in some degree to the visi-