Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-27
JOINT MANEUVERS
BROUGHT TO CLOSE
Battle This Morning Concludes
Hostile Demonstration.
SEARCHLIGHTS AND BOMBS
Imagination Put to Test When Fleet
Appeared Last Night.
ENGAGEMENT A HUGE SUCCESS
Social Festivities at the Fort-Capt.
Cowan the Recipient of
Memento.
SEARCHLIGHTS AND BOMBS
ENGAGEMENT A HUGE SUCCESS


Special From a Stan Correspondent.
FORT WASHINGTON. Md. July q
With a brief mock battle this morning the
Joint coast defense exercises of the artillery
and militia at Fort Washington were
brought to close. The troops will have
almost whole day more before they leave
for Washington but in that time there
will be no more onerous work for them
than little guard duty. The hard labor of
drawing pay was performed without muir
muir of protest. not a man failing to do all
that was expected of him in the way of
stepping up to Capt. Parker and getting all
that was coming to him.
Last nights land and water attack upon
the forts wounr up in blaze of fireworks
Just for fun as Mai. Stevens expressed it
it.
After the booming of thu big guns ceased,
when the conVerging search!ights and the
red bombs had signaled that hostilitias
were over. rockets, bombs and Very lights
were set off both sides of the river,
making spectacle that would have put
to shame the ordinary Fourth of July
night entertainment.
No more beautiful night could have been
desired for the closing of the maneuvers.
The full disc of the moon bathed the
heights OF Fort Washington and the ex-
panse of Fort Hunt In its bright rays while
the Potomac, sw elled to its banks by the
spring tide ran like it broad band OF sill
Yer between its two bulwarks
Signal for Hostilities.
At exactly 40 o'clock in the evening
the call TO AIMS was sounded. and a s gnal
bomb exploded, ordering hostilites to be-
gin. Lieut., Col. O'Brien. commanding the
supports at Fort Washington, who was at
a dinner party in the officers mess hall,
dropped an ear of corn and dashed out of
IL Wi tIF ha,t Of n
gun, the battle on. Far down the
river the Oneida and the little boats which
she had under her wing were discovered
by the range firda on both sides of the
river emerging from the cover of a point
about seven miles away. With searchl gifts
fixed upon her, and in the lace of the fire
of the long-range guns she steamed stead
lily UP the river. regardless of shot and
shell that did not hurtle toward her.
BY this time the parapet of old Fort
Washington was covered with spectators,
while on the Fort Hunt side everybody
who did not have to take part in the fight
was busy looking. though some of them
put their fingers in their ears in vain
effort to exclude the of the guns.
Maj Stephan, who had been at Fort
Washington to make a call upon his erst-
while foes struggled for some time be-
fore he could escape being captured to
grace the table of his former enemies at
dinner. and rushed back to Fort Hunt
just in time to get mixed up in the fight.
His supports on that side of the river were
pOSlst against attack Dy lana, WNlle on the
Fort Washington side Lieut.. Col. OBrien
had his stationed In Cossack outposts
and held In reserve at points whence they
could be rushed at once to the defense
of the threatened spots.
Din of Battle
On up the river the Oneida steamed until
she was abreast of the forts. which were
pouring upon her rain of inag nary shot
and shell. rapid-fre guns upon the piers
adj heir
the bigger guns, while the rattle of mus
kerry and the crackle Of the Colt auto
mates Joined in the chorus. \ little to the
north OF Fort Washington the Oneida turn
ed and steamed bravely down the river
again. only to be put out of business at the
end.
AdJt. Brooks who is primarily a land SOL
der, became one of the web-footed contn-
gent last night and headed amphiJious
contnsen in four boats. that attempted
10 land and capture one of the searchlights.
From friend ne became foe, but he
completely routed. making a landing, OF
course, as has been done in almost every
case. but one on the order OF the con
structive recess.
II was necessary to work the imagination
little harder than usual to regard as real
the simulaCrum of q fleet out of the mod
est and unassumtng naval force OF the
Oneida and her convoy. But with that
cept'on the affair of last night was mag
nificent Spectacle besides being OF great
value TO the District militia VINO worked
the guns and managed the infantry de-
lenses exactly as II there had been real
war. and thorough demonSt ration was given
of the use of TIE National Guard for theF
defense OF he National capita
While the rage of battle in it's incip-
lent stage there was a dinner party Just
getting ready to begin to stop IN the hall
OF the officers mess. Gen. George II. Har-
ries. commander of the District militia. who
had arrived in the afternoon with his aid.
Capt. A. 5. COwan, L. >. A. military in
q Of
Col. Ureu hers at the coonels table
were Mrs. DoOres, wife OF Capt. William
Doores of the Artillery Corps Miss Perry
daughter Of the chaplain of the post; Mr..
and Mrs. Fred e. k.einsChulidt and Miss
Helen Whittlesey OF Washington; Capt.
Cowan. Ma Simms and chron.cler OF the
bloody battles waged at the fort Lieut..
Col o Brieu. relieved when the fight began
by Capt Schraeder. headed the other table
with Chaplain Dudley opposite. Mrs. Annie
s. Bond Of the post and Surgeon Woodman
doing their best, with some assistance to
NIL the void between the ends CT the table.
Learns the Cause
After the booming OF the first guns one
young woman from Washington. who had
not sat perfectly still when the first reports
shattered the air. called up to Gen. Harries
and asked what the guns were being fired
for.
THAT last one" the general replied.
twas signal that you must eat your pine
apple at once"
And what viii the next one be for?'
That answered the commander Of the
District troops. will he the last call. If
you haven't eaten what is on your plate
by that time X Will be taken away from
you
Thus it is seen. the horrors of war may
be mitigated by the smiling arts of peace.
even for those who dwell in the midst of
alarms.
Gift to Capt. Cowan.
After champagne glasses were filled Col.
UreIl arose and said:
1T was a great pleasure TO me and to all
the officers and men of the regiment to find.
after We had arrived at Camp Ordway this