The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-09-29
FIRST COMPANY OUT ON |
SK|RM|SH DRILL |
AsToR1A's NEW MILITARY OR
GANIzATION DOES ADMIR-
ABLE FIELD WORK.

The first skirmish drill ordered for
the First Company, Coast Artillery.
OF this city. was indulgcd on Satur-
day and Sunday last, and was alto
gether successful Under the leader
ship OF their officers, Captain Charles
H. Abcrcrombie, First Lieutenant
Karl Knobloch, and Second Lieu
tenant J. 0. Sutton, with First Ser
gcant G. r. Osborne and all nom
commissioned officers in line, score
or more Of the company departed
from the city, in heavy marching or
der, at o'clock on Saturday after
noon, heading over the hills to the
snug camp chosen for them at the
foot OF Seventh street on Young's
Bay and named Camp FINER" in
honor Of the acknowledgement Of Ore
gon.
The boys reached camp in good
time and were joined by 40 others Of
the company at $50 o'clock, these
men being so employed as not to be
able to get away with their comrades
earlier in the day.
There were f6 tents set up; IS for
the men, four TO tent, the officers
tent, the guard-tent, and the mess
tent, and after pleasant hour at the
campfire the men turned in and
slept soundly until reveille at 5:45
Sunday morning. Breakfast was had
lat 7 o'clock and the company put
their arms and equipment in fine
shape and Strengthened up the camp
and then went out for target prac-
tice in squads, the high score Of the
day going to Corporal Bergman, who
took 10 out OF a possible rs. This
work was concluded at l1::30 and
then dinner was served, and a good
dinner at that, which was heartily
enjoyed.
In the afternoon the whole COM
spany fell in for the skirmish drills
| of the day and took the neighboring
heights, in extended order, and in
squads. Captain Abercrombie acting
as referee in the tactical premise.
The problem of the day was set for
First Lieutenant Knobloch, with his
squads aggregating S. men, to cap
ture Second Lieutenant Sutton and a
squad Of seven men, in the brush OF
the surrounding country. The sew
eral attacking squads we're command
ed by Lieutenant Knobloch, First
Sergeant Osborne and Sergeant
Rogers, operating in fanking move
ments, with the lieutenant in charge
of the center and Sergeants Osborne
and Rogers commanding the right
and left wings respectively. The
scouting through the brush was care
fully done on all sides and involved
several hours of maneuvering, which
was watched from the roadways and
valleys by hundreds of Astorians who
were lured to the district by the
engagement.
The capture was. achieved after
the attacking party had lost II men
and was wrought by flank move
ment. Sergeant Rogers leading the
successful squad at the critical in
slant. After the battle was ended,
the soldiers, dead and alive, fell into
ranks and marched back to camp,
where drilling was again carrier on,
and camp-hring attended to; which
latter, by the way, was warmly
commended for the precision of its
lvolley work by an ex-army soldier
who happened to be present and en-
joyed the work Of the day in all its
| points.
Supper was had at S o'clock, after
which the boys broke camp and fell
into line for the home-hike, which
was routed around Smiths Point and
which was made in one hour and
twenty minutes, with one rest, to
the center of the city The officers
warmly commend the work of the
men from beginning to end and all
concerned admit that the experience
was enjoyable as we'll as instructure;
and it goes without saying, that all
those citizens who had the good for
tune to be in touch with it, were
pleased and gratihed with the sol
dierly bearing and movements Of the
l62 young Astorians engaged
| REAL ESTATE