New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-06-10
MILITIA ENJOY WORK.
LIKE THE REGULARS.
Say They Haze Easier Time an Forts
than at PeekshW.

About the chief topic of conversation yesterday
among the militia and artillery men encamped at
Forts Wadsworth and Hamilton was the fine treat
ment they receiving from the regulars. Hav-
ing been accustomed TOughing it in the camps at
Peekski they anticipated that life in coast defence
service would be a rather tedious regime with
few comforts. Quite to the contrary. they are
living officer put it, Iuxuriously.
why" said Private Durham who has charge
of the for Company X OF the 9Th at Fort
WadswOrth, I'VE have far more comforts here
than at Peekskill. There fed in the open; here
we've been provided with fine shacks for mess
rooms and nice downy cots to sleep on, which the
regulars call Helen Gould cots I've cooked mess
in water up to my knees. This is real bonanza
But" he added. I'VE don't know what's in store
for us when the real work begins
There are four companies of the 9TH at Fort
Wadsworth. under Major Lydecker A battalion
of the 18th. consisting of parts of five companies
of artillery. under Colonel Austen. are also there
numbering. in ALL about nine hundred officers and
men. They arrived early Saturday afternoon and
assisted by the garrison officers at the fort
in settling their camps.
Practically all the work done yesterday was to
muster the visiting troops. From to 10 o'clock
the artillery reserves We're conducted through the
Notifications and 10 to y o'clock the artillery
supports. The of the day spent In enter
tanning visitors. From early afternoon to late in
the evening crowds focked TO the camping grounds,
the south end of the fort They were entertained
by the officers and privates in regular military
fashion Every point OF interest was NlSLttu
on the hill back of the camp Major Lydecker
and his staff we're kept busy receiving callers.
out on the athletic field, at the south of the fort.
a battalion OF the 18th consisting Of Companies l.,
], NJ and c, under command of Major w A Tur-
pin held the evening parade" This the spec
tacular event of the day. Fully two thousand per-
sons circled the field. Many of them were lined
up the breastworks at the lower end of the fort
where the disappearing guns point threateningy
seward Colonel Austen and his staff saw the
mauoeuvres from the south end of the field.
A cheer went up the companies. standing In
triple coIusuu across the field went through the
Star Spamgied Banner the crowd stood with hats
off uutil the air had been played through Each
of the companies came in for share OF the hand
ciapPEg as {Ley marched IN double eou"" past
To-day The real work will begin. For the militia
it will be novel. for This is their first attempt at
coast defence service. The artillery has seen ser
Plum Island and once at Fort Wright. on Fisher
Island. in the morning the artillery win receive
cature and the use OF material In the afternoon
there VIII he battery drH by the infantry. After
outpost and patrol duty from the regulars 1T,
About tie SAM GgSrt " III Tplr.h al or ~
suhcaIibre practice for the artillery and plenty OF
viii be taught how to take up a position Tor re
polling landing parties. This is new 20 the Ith, and
They're not going to feed US on pap All the
time, YOU can gamble on that my boys. said one
OF them. Wen get "a few tough lessons before We
get through-aud We need them They will DO US
good guess We can stand some hart exercise o"
Au the officers ana men have nothing but good
the 18th spoke In most complimentary terms. At
MS camp i4E AZ on ne ,s al Tac RoT{R g9d of
men had received at Forts Wright and Terry
I'm every particular. the larger equipments AZ Forts
Hamilton and Wadsworth would, he Thought
IN ought to be Prosperous week for both The
risas,d With the PROSPECTS, and l think all Of my
officers and men are. too