Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-04
WAR IS NOW IN THE AIR
Troops Down the Potomac
Prepare for HostiIities.
GUARDSMEN ON THE ALERT
Arrange to Repress Land and Naval
Attack at Night.
USE EXPLOSIVES AND BOMBS
Expect Onslaught Both Thursday
and Friday Nights-Day's Do
ings at Fort Washington.
GUARDSMEN ON THE ALERT
USE EXPLOSIVES AND BOMBS

fORI WASHINGTON. Nd. August r.
Although the residents of the National
| capital proceeding with their peaceful
avocations, may not be aware OF the sit
uation. matters are rapidly approaching
a crisis in the artillery district of the Po-
tomac. Martial spirit pervades the atmos-
phere, and were the officers and men OF
the National Guard of the District of Co.
lumbia war horses their nostrils would
surely be dilating with excitement. The
sound of exploding shells is by no means
| rare, and the odor of powder is plainly
discernible. In fact. everything indicates
that mighty engagement, one that will
have place in history-at least in the
history of the organized militia Of the
District that was originally ten miles
square-is distant only a very few days;
perhaps hours.
The prearranged program provides for
the first land and naval attack all the
troops participating. next Thursday night,
WIN repetition of the engagement Fri
DAY night. The preliminaries and prep
arations. however, are almost as interest,"
ing, apparently, as the actual attack can
possibly be. In some of the batteries this
morning blank ammunition was used
twenty-five pounds of powder being one
charge. Twenty-Five pounds Of powder is
capable OF causing quite tolerable noise.
~ as tnose on duty here will testify. 1t is
me very real thing. with only the projec-
oIe Iacklns' Then the men of the support
companies. sent out this morning for duty
as outposts. were each provided with sew
erai rounds OF blank cartridges and the
rattle or musketry, combined with the
.t .oar or the big guns. made the blood in
tne arteries and veins of even the most
phlesmatic of the observers course a tribe
more rapidly than usual.
Proceedings Really Spectacular.
really spectacular were the proceed
.lss iast evening, calmly described as
"re command drill The reserve com.
Panies manned the batteries and used
primers In firing. Although in the in
ian' class as an explosive, the primers
mIaAe themselves known to every one on
ne Two searchlights-onea a sixtvinch
tens-and sthe one at Fort Hunf sSvenf
the river and afforded an iIlumination
inae: 20 sx1a;sy to say the least. was pleasing 1t
miles from the lamp the illumination ~
one or the searchlights operated here is
amply sumcfent to allow the reading of
newspaper on the darkest night.
n.i 3l Gols 1000 In measure .s last night the Sig
MICS; starting long before dark with a
smoke bomb and discharging rockets al
intervals. the display being as elaborate
In spots-tiny dots. to be sure-as the
exhibit In Washington the evening of
the Fourth Of July, in honor Of the open
ing Of the new District building. The
use or the rockets and bombs last even
ing was preliminary to their employ
ment in connection with the land and
naval attacks. when each signal will
have a definite meaning. The Signal
Corps also practiced flash signaling last
night, the discharge of the primers, the
use Of the searchlights, the explosion of
hnnhQ re fhn 40 CHI
OF the signaling apparatus constituting
an effect that held closely the attention
OF all engaged in the exercises, as well as
Of those in the grandstand. so to speak.
Tomorrow will be the last day devoted to
preliminarioS and preparation, and then
the fight will actually be on. 1t is ru-
mored that a fleet OF at least thirty
vessels will be secured to form the at
tacking force by water. The fights will
not be actual conflicts In the sense that
announcement of winner and loser is to
be made, but merely tactical maneuvers
to indicate to the guardsmen, and the
regulars as we'll. just what should be
done under conditions that approximate
those of war.
Searchlights Pick Up Cushing.
The supply boat Cushing was again sent
down the Potomac last evening as tar
get for the searchlights. Several officers
of the militia general staff were aboard
and they could easily follow the move
ments of the secondhand Of watch by
the glare of the searchlights when the
Gushing was a considerable distance be-
low Marshall Hall.
With the passage of time, interest In the
exercises Is increasing. Everybody in the
National Guard has been much enlight-
ened and all are entering into the spirit
of the exercises with hearty good will
While the bombs and rockets were ex-
ploding. the searchlights employed and
the primers discharged last evening. there
was no apprehension of danger. or even
anything distantly resembling it, in the
mess house of the 1st Regiment staff.
Lieut. Col Coffin. the artillery district
commander, and Mrs. Coffin were the
guests al dinner of Col Ourand and staff
and the affair proved most enjoyable.
Those at the table. In addition to Col.
Ourand, Lieut. Col. Reichelderfer. Maj.
McCathran OF the 1st Battalion. Maj.
Hodgson of the I'd Battalion. Maj Young
of the I'd Battalion, Capt. Coope. the reg
mental adjutant: Capt. Robert Cook, the
quartermaster. and Capt William II.
Mitchell. of the Signal Corps Of the army.
the popular instructor of the supports.
The menu was as follows:
Martini a la Coffin, Little Necks. aux
naturale; consomme, aux Troix- Racine;
Poisson fllet of bass. au vim Blanc:
sherry. amontilado. fillet of beef, larded a
la Bayard: Pomme de Terre. Pois. Pa
risienne: bourgignonne. la Mansfield.
capon. larded a la Montmorency: sweet
| potatoes. punch De Molay. salade. ices.
| Ist Regiment Bouchees. cigars generals,
| coffee, cigarettes.
| Guests at Dinner.
| Gen. Harries and Lieut.. Col. Smiley.
adjutant general Of the militia, visited
| Fort Hunt last evening and were the
| guests at dinner of Maj E. Fl. Neumeyer
| commissary general and acting quarter
master general.
| Guard mounting here yesterday after
| noon was the only ceremony of the day
| The concert last evening by the Brigade
Band was enjoyed as usual. The band is
| to proceed to Fort Hunt and give q con-
cert there this evening complimentary to
!. the troops and regulars stationed on the
Virginia shore of the river. The National
Guard officers are coming over to play
return game of base ball with the officer.
! here this afternoon.
Wants Noon Extinguished
Rumor has 1t that an officer Of rank
perhaps higher than that of major late
4