Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-12
Rapid nre
Slow fire. Rapid fire, fbattle sight
Strenuosity in Camp.

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Strenuosity in Camp.
Strenuousity prevails in the rifiemen's
camp. Most of the daylight hours are
used in preparation for the coming bat
ties. Reveille was sounded at o'clock.
the trumpeters in the various camps re-
echoing the call. At o'clock mess call
is sounded. and at 7:3O the call to arms
commence firing" The recall sounds at
II: 80 o'clock and the mess" at noon.
mence firing sounds again at 1 O'Clock.
At o'clock is recall; at $40, mess, and
at 6 o'clock, retreat. Tattoo is at
o'clock and at II O'Clock taps sounds.
The rifemen's camp is laid out on a
radically different plan from that fol-
lowed last year. In fact, there are sew
eral camps. In the western center of the
ground on the railroad spur from the
junction station at La Carne, from the
heavy forest which bounds the ground on
the south and west, Is the camp OF the
teams who bring their own mess, of which
the District of Columbia is one. In front
and just behind the midrange firing line
is the camp Of most of the teams which
did not bring their mess Here the front
street" is occupied by the Ohio hosts,
while behind the Buckeyes, arranged In
order of their arrival, are the United
States service teams. the cavalry and
infantry the navy and the Marine Corps.
The Massachusetts team, which came
within three points of thrashing the navy
and winning the national trophy last year,
is next behind the regulars. On the ex-
IRENE right near the handsome clubhouse
of the Ohio State Rife Association three
quarters of a mile from the District S
camp. are the Annapolis cadets, who do
not board at the camp restaurant, but
at the clubhouse. as does the navy team.
Immediately behind the short-range firing
line is the range officers camp of one
hundred and fifty tents. The first four
tents in the front row next to the execu-
tive Office are occupied by Lieut.. Col. X.
B. Evans. U.SA., the executive officer OF
the national matches; Maj. ]. T. Deck
man, 18th Cavalry. chief range officer; the
National Rifle Association and the hos
pital.
United States Troops Present.
The United States troops, here to act as
markers and scorers, are encamped on the
right of the center-the 74th Infantry.
which came July 10, from Madison bar
racks, N. Y; the I'd. about 500 strong.
which arrived from Fort Thomas, KY.
July /. and Troop G. 18th Cavalry.
from Fort Myer. Va. which came July 20.
The ten Ohio regimental. squadron. COM
week participating in the annual competi-
ton and in the matches of the Ohio State
Rifle Association. are camped in the CEN
ter. behind the visiting teams.
The Districts camp Is pitched where 1t
was last year, but the men have twice as
much room as they then had. They &C.
cupy space 100000 feet. with the open
parade ground adjoining in the east and
heavy timber 200 yards to the west. dis
trict street is the second from the long
range firing line, the Oklahoma team oc-
cupying the first row of tents. The Dis
tricts next-door neighbor on the south
will be Maryland. Directly behind the
tents of Maj. Robbins. Maj. Bell and Maj.
Henderson Is a massive oak-the only fine
shade tree left standing on the camp
grounds.
Improvements at Camp Perry.
For the 1905 tournament Ohio's great
range has been notably improved since
it was rushed open for last years shoot.
Built a year ago last spring, here on
the Lake Erie shore. twenty miles east
of Toledo and eighteen west OF Sandusky,
and In view of the battle-ground where
Commodore Perry shot up the British. 1t
was decidedly unfinished-crude. in fact
when the rifiemen assembled for the
1907 matches. The ground was rough
and poorly drained: there were no roads
or paths to keep the sharpshooters out
of the universal mud slouShs which a
| slight rain produces in this black alluvial
| soil: the camp restaurant was fourth
rate. and the range itself was inadequate
| ly tagged.
In urging the national board for the
promotion OF rifle practice to hold the
national matches here this year the Ohio
officials made promises which they have
kept, in the main. though tardy legisla-
| tive appropriations have held up some
needed reforms. The square-mile camp
ground, so level one can see a mans
boots across 1t, is still uneven, especially
the skirmish field and the long-range
ground which was a Doggy marsh a
year and a half ago. new system OF
| storm sewers provides. far better drain
age: and the new macadam roads and
cinder paths have decreased the mud
nuisance which will, however, not van
| ish until years have clad Camp Perry In
some such matted turf as the Sea Girt
range has--the prettiest and most finishe ed
rifle range in the country. The range
here this year is fully tagged. The new
mess hall. which was to be ready fol-
the teams August l. is still only halt
finished. Half of the lower floor has
however. been partitioned off and is ir
use This building which is of reinforced
concrete and of considerable architecture