Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-28
CLOSE OF THE
IMAGINARY WAR
Second Regiment to Leave
River Forts This Morning.
INSTRUCTION TIME OVER
Value of Militiamen's Experience
With Regular Soldiers.
SCHooLED IN DEFENSE TACTICS
Pleasant Relations Engepdered Be-
tween Uncle Sans Forces and the
Citizen Soldiery.
IN DEFENSE TACTICS
speelal From q STAT Correspondent.

Special From o staff Correspondent
FORT WASHINGTON, Md, July 27-To-
morrow morning the District Militia, which
has spent a most enjoyable and instructive
week at this place and at Fort Hunt, across
the river. Will embark aboard the steamer
Jane Moseley for Washington, and, after
marching to the armory, will divide UP into
It's component parts and those parts will
seek their homes.
But the Homecoming will not be like the
return from SO many camps, with clamors
for a square meal and a satisfactory ba h,
for those two requirements have been salts
fed at the camp, the only thing lacking for
the men at either fort being electric ele-
vators-alnost.
After the men had received their pay
there was little for them to do this after
noon. Capt Andrew Parker paid them for
their service at Harrers Ferry, and Capt.
Charles D. Dwyer was the federal pay
master for the week spent at the forts in
the ssrvice of Uncle Sam. The soldiers
marched up by companies and took their
money-without the least objection
1t was reported this morning that the
companies were TO strike their tents. get
everything packed up and sleep under their
dog tents tonight, but they found. to their
relief. that the tents are to be left stand
ing and that all preparations for departure
will be made tomorrow morning
Lieut.. Col and Mrs Coffin received the
officers at Fort Washington in their resi-
dence, opposite Col. Urells headquarters
tonight. The cordial relations existing be-
tween the regular and militia officers and
the warm friendships THAT have sprung W
between them made the function more than
usually enjoyable, while the gracious hos
pitality of Mrs. Coffin and the ladies OF the
pest who assisted her in receiving heighten-
ed the pleasure of the evening.
he Of he bot
officers and men. are looking back upon
the experience of the past week as one
that they would not have missed for any
thing. 1t is certain that many of them
had expected to experience most unpleas-
ant week. Many had thought the duties
would be irksome and onerous; that there
would be Triction; that the men would find
good cause to gru,nhle and that the tour
or duty here would result in decreased en-
Gstn1ents next year. The ID Regiment con-
sidered itself most unlucky in being ordered
II the river forts. and thought it had drawn
worse than n blank.
What Experience Proves.
But experience has shown the exact OPP
posite of what was feared has come to
pass. The officers and men are making
ready with regret to leave Fort Washing
ton and Fort Hunt. On every side they
have met with the most thoughtful con-
sideration, which began even before they
arrived, IN the erectlOn or Kitchens, shower
paths, ETC., which were all ready when the
companies entered their camps From Lieut.
Col. Coffin to the most recent recruit Of the
regulars, patience, helpfulness and good
fellowship have been the ruling character
tStfcs. In fact the members of the District
regiment have been treated like guests and
the kindness Of their reception has not been
lost upon them.
That the coast artillery is anxious for
more men Is true. and further the govern
ment wishes to train militia near the coast
defenses SO that it will be able to help in
time of need, but no mere general order
could have evoked the sincere courtesy that
has characterized the attitude OF the regu-
lars toward the militia at these mane,ivers
for it was genuine and spontaneous. Not
so many years ago, when regulars and
militia seemed bound to clash this situation
would have appeared inpossi ble-perhaps
mIllennial-like the lion lying down with
the lamb. Furthermore the work of the
regulars at the post. always eXact:ng and
bGrdcnsorne from lack of numbers, has
been increased greatly by the presence Of
the militia, yet all the added labor has been
performed cheerfuly, whereas, II is con-
coded, il would have been no mean hook on
which TO hang a grievance.
Company officers and men who handled
the guns. among the reserves, are enthu-
siastic over the progress that they made.
Possibly no mil tia gun crew reached per-
lection In handling the great engines of
death. but many % them came within
by the regular crews in getting their guns
into action. The careful explanations Of the
working OF the guns and the assistance OF
the regulars In initiation into practical de-
tails bore fruit at once.
Quickly Becomes Proficient.
1t was not long before each man became
familiar with his appointed task and then
it was for the drills to get the men working
together with the precision of clockwork-
and the drills did It, When it is considered
that this has been accomplished in five
days and in most cases in three the re
suits seem marvellous
1t is, Of course. partly due to the intelli-
gcnce of the mlitiamen and to their quick
ness in srasping details and understanding
eXplanat ions. but even the acuteness of
the pupils Iuinds does not detract from the
credit due their teachers.
For the supports who We're on outpost
duty and general defensive work there was
no chance to learn the work at the big
guns, for every could not be taught
every hing. But their officers say that they
and their men learned more of outpost and
advance post work than they had ever
kho"h before, together with methods of
enafaihs against attacks and repulsius
them when made. The supports had the
use of some of the small caliber quick
firing guns and soon learned to handle them
with skill, ease and precision.
In a word, il is declared. both divisions of
the militia at each fort learned nuch ns
the art of war hat will he of practical and
permanent value to them as mi 'itar-v men
and they had their lessons impressed unon
them by practice that was not oniy in
structive, but also interesting and anus
ing.
or all the joint coast defense exercises
those which seem to have been of the most
general interest and TO have excited the