Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-27
IS SAFE
FROM ANY ENEMY
National Guard on Duty at the
Potomac Forts.
GUNS COVER THE CHANNEL
Sentinel Shocked by Lightning tho !.
First Casualty.
SKY ARTILLERY GETS BUSY
Citizen soldiery Of This City Breaks
the Drought, as Of Yore-Learn-
ing the Game Of War.
SKY ARTILLERY GETS BUSY
special From a Staff Correspondent.
FORT WASHINGTON, Md,

special From STAFF Correspondent.
FORT WASHINGTON. Md.
July q. 1908. ,
The National capital is adequately de-
Tended from the attacks of an imaginary
enemy. The entire National Guard Of the
District Of Columbia, with the exception
Of the Naval Battalion, is on duty in the
field the troops being divided between this
post and Fort Hunt, directly opposite on
the Virginia shore Of the Potomac river.
For the ensuing two weeks, until the 9th
Of August, the brigade will be indulging
in joint coast defense exercises with COM
panies Of the Coast Artillery Corps. United
States Army. The proposition. originated
by the War Department. is a distinct nov-
city to the organized militia Of the city
where is located the seat of government.
or least the major portion of the COM
mand. The Cd Regiment last summer.
after one week under canvas with the re-
mainder Of the organization at Harpers
Ferry, visited the Potomac forts for six
days but for the brigade as q whole the
project is entirely different from anything
ever before attempted.
Gen. Harries is not in command, but is
on the ground with his staff. very inter-
ested observers. the army appropriation
bill providing the money with which to
meet the expenses of the exercises stipu-
lating that the direction of events should
remain with the officer of the army at the
head of the artillery district The latter
Is Lieut.. Col William H. Coffin. Coast Ar
tillery Corps. warm personal friend OF
the commanding general Of the militia.
The other officers of the brigade are as
signed to duties under regular officers.
Instead Of operating as infantry the
a
reserves and supports IN camps widely
| scattered. At Fort Hunt the list Battery
Field Artillery. the Ambulance Corps and
form their customary duties. The Signal
Corps Is expected to attain satisfactory
results in wireless telegraphy.
Make I'm Early Start.
| Assembling at the various armories
about 6 o'clock yesterday morning tho
! guardsmen. notwithstanding rainfall.
were aboard the steamer Jane Moseley.
under way shortly after $40 o'clock and
by noon were comfortably settled in
camp. The Ist Battery. Field Artillery.
with the Signal Corps wagon and the am
bulance, marched to Fort Hunt over the
Virginia roads.
Cen Harries and his staff made the trip
from Washington aboard the United
States steamer Oneida, reaching here
few minutes before o'clock in the
afternoon.
Establishing camp for the National
Guard was the principal work yesterday.
Company commanders Of the regulars
personally supervised the establishment
Of the National Guard companies assign
ed to their batteries and saw to 1t that all
orders and regulations regarding the same
were understood. They gave every assist
ance In their power, as circumstances re-
uuired, but the command of the individual
camps devolved on the National Guard
officers concerned.
What Is on Today.
An informal inspection of guns. en-
placements and position finding station
for the purpose of giving a general idea
of the elements of coast defense consti.
tutes the program for today. The bril-
Rade commander and staff. regimental
and battalion commander and STATS at
Fort Washington were invited to accom-
pany the artillery district commander and
the regimental and battalion commanders
at Fort Hunt the fort commander Com
pany officers of the reserves accompany
the captains of the batteries to which
they are assigned. Non-commlssloneo
officers go with the lieutenants, and pri-
Yates with the first sergeants and otner
non-commissioned officers of the coast ar
tillery Non-cSmmissioned stan officers
of the brigade regiments and battalions
are accompanying the adjutant, sergeant
major and non oncommlSsloneu StdH ouicerS
of the Coast Artillery Corps.
The general plan being followed is to
sta:t at the emplacements. take every
thing in detail, so as to give as far as
practicable a working knowledge or me
armament, storage of ammunition, kino
and service of the same and the fire con-
troll system. The supports are being given
a general idea of the position OF emplace-
ment, the surrounding country and the
protection necessary to be given by them.
Excitement Last Night.
The first happening in the nature Of
casualty occurred last evening during an
exhibition Of heavy artillery work, a night
attack. SO to speak, that was not on the
program and was really startling and at
tines positively alarming. The artillery
practice was of the heavenly type,
thunderstorm centering directly above
the artillery district OF the Potomac:
lightning seeming to strike in all parts OF
the reservation. The electrical display
was accompanied by heavy rain and some
folks in uniform received wetting.
Excitement was created when a report
spre ad through the camp that Private
Robbins of Company NJ, lst regiment,
while walking post as sentinel, had been
struck by lightning. Rumor had II that
another guardsman, name unknown. was
also the victim of bolt. Prompt inves-
tigation disclosed that Private Robbins
had sustained what Is ucSlSlldtcu a cCS-
ondary shock and was not Seriously In
jured After a bolt had descended some
where near him, he was able to move
considerable distance along his post and
call for aid. Then he collapsed The cor
poral of the guard. with a relief, soon
reached the stricken man. an ambulance
was summoned and he was hurried to the
post hospital. The surgeons could dis
cover not the slightest evidence OF purn
or symptoms of anything other than
shock. The proper treatment was accord
ed and a nurse remained constantly with
the patient At the hospital today 1t is
stated that the condition of Robbins Is all
that could be desired.
Rainmakers Par Excellence.
Through a mixup somewhere large
number of cots were misplaced and some
OF the suardsmen were compelled to sleep
as best they could. Difficulty was ex-
perienced by those through whose tents
small streams flowed.
Again it has been demonstrated that the
National Guard of the District Of Co
luunbia can be depended on to overcome