Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-19

A the rife range of the National
~ Guard Of the District of Columbia,
"A on the Hamilton road. a model
4 camp has been established. Lo-
Gated on high ground, the site is
regarded as ideal and the appointments
make 1t most attractive. Every provision
within reason has been provided for. the
convenience of the guardsmen and the
members of the organizations that visited
the camp the past\week regarded the outing
as one more of pleasure than as involving
the performance of military duty.
acquisitions have been forwarded for
camp cots and mosquito bars In order that
those members Of the loeaRbrigade who will
participate IN coast artillery work with the
regular troops at the Potomac forts next
July may be as comfortable as possible.
Bread Of excellent quality is to be drawn
from the post bakeries and, 1t is stated. the
ten days on the banks Of the river Will be
pleasantly and prof1tably spent by those
panies ordered to the forts.
Many inquiries have been made as to
how the selection will be made. 1t is om-
cially explained that companies as now con-
stituted will go intact and that there is to
be no mixing or consolidating Of companies,
nor will the poorest companies be consid-
cred in connection with the assignment
The field Is open to all and no favors are
to be shown. The companies must be
strong to fulfill the requirements Of the
War Department and they must be eff
cient to represent the District Of Columbia.
~
Enthusiasm In the LIST Battery, Field Ar
tillery, increases as camp time approaches.
Men who hunger for instruction are being
fattended on the drill book; men who
have an appetite for artillery work
are being given all the nourishment
they need and those who require stfmula-
ton are having the proper medicine ad-
ministered by the officers and non-eoms;
Last drill night fifty men answered Here,
as the sergeants called the roll of sections.
Three pieces and their limbers were taken
to the White lot and the work Of hmbering,
Numbering mounting, dismountfng, post
ing cannoneers and executing detachment
front and rear from various positions was
executed.
Lieuts. Nevils, Clark and Lands COM
Sergts Vogt Powell and McDermott and
the gun detachments working were those OF
Gunners Sirlouis, Chandler and Shannon.
ed under direction Of caisson corporais
Stowell, Mullan and Barnes. The major
part of the time was devoted to drill IN fire
service. Pieces were laid according to fir
ing data. loaded, primed, fired, sponged,
loaded and relaid. Lookout was kept on
the gunner Of each piece that he did not
slight his work and that the range and
difference in gun-wheel levels corrected.
Numbers one and two were drilled In the
breaking Of the piece, number one was In
structed In the use of the short-rammer
staff, actually driving home a. shell tih 1t
caught the lands and actually cleaning with
the plush-head after each shot. Number two
operated lanyard and primers, and as serv-
ice primers were used the shots attracted
crowd.
An effort was made to adapt the new
tactics to the Rock Island gun, but the
result was not satisfactory, except in the
matter Of posting Icannoneers and in posting
detachment in front, rear and at the sides
Of the piece.
After drill the unmarried men and some
Of the others held informal smoker at
the Battery Cafe and talked of battery
subjects past and future. These informal
smokers on drill nights have done much to
promote the happy family feeling among
the men of the battery.
Stable sergt. Long last Thursday after
noon gave instruction in Harvesting and
fitting harness and Sergt. McDermott drill
ed squad in dismounting the gun from
its carriage and in changing spare wheels.
Instruction was also given in cutting out
disabled spokes and the substitution Of
sound ones.
A meeting of the gunners, to which all
cannoneers are invited for instruction in
shrapnel, is to be held this afternoon.
Transfers have been ordered as follows:
Seaman Apprentice William F. Au, Atm
Division, Naval Battalion to the Signal
Corps; Private Louis Schapiro, Company
c. I'd Regiment. to the Ambulance Corps.
The following-name enlisted men have
been ordered honorably discharged on their
own application: Private Miriam L. Carter,
Company c. 1st Separate Battalion; Quar-
termaster Sergt Joseph B. Murray, I'd
Regiment; Sergt. Horace G. Shull, Com