The Washington times., 1908-07-27
MILITIA At FORTS
BEGINS REAL WORK
District Soldiers Take In
stfuctions for Forthcom-
ing ManeuverS.

! BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS, FORT
WASHINGTON, Nd, July 2 To-day is
the first day Of real work and instruc-
ton in the combinec maneuver camps
at Forts Washington and Hunt. Yes
terday tie entire District Militia estab-
lished camp At the two forts. and did II
well. as was evidenced by the plaudits
OF the regulars. Actual drill and intro
duction for the warfare that is 70 ccmH
was not begun until today.
Officers and men Of the militia were
started this morning on a preliminary
course Of instruction that viii be grad
ually enlarged during the week. until
they become familiar with the big guns.
the emplacements and the general lay
Of the land around the two forts. Those
/ companies of the Second Regiment that
| spent a week at the forts last year
are considered far advanced, but 20
many Of the other mfitIamen, yester-
day was the first time they ever had
seen a big gun.
Rise to Activity.
All was hustle and activity in the
| various camps with the sounding Of
! reveille this morning. but the outlook,
/ from weather standpoint was bad
/ Every tree. every blade Of grass. and
/ every miHtiaman and regular ont ~
! doors had a helpless. hopeless. and for
/ lorn drOop that was humOrously
| pathetic.
! With the breaking Of the terrific eiec-
/ trio storm last night the camps were
! delUged. Had it not been for the ex-
| celleEt work OF the militiamen in put
/ Il AZ a~ro fHfIT
! would have been apparent on every
/ hand this morning. AS II was. the men
1 were in the best OF spirits and got the
keenest enjoyment out OF the battle
| with the elements
When reveIIe was sounded this morn
/ ing II was pouring rain The ground at
Dotn forts, which is mostly clay. was
Sodden, and there was every promise
! OF gloomy day. II cleared later,
! however, and by the time Colonel Coffin
I took tn militia officers for a survey OF
the post, the sun was shining. None
| or the men suffered as a result Of the
/ delUge. and inside the army tents il was
! dry and comfortable.
Ali Take Lessons.
Following chs Instructions Of Colonel
/ Coffin, VINO is in supreme command. at
S O'Clock this morning. officers, non
/ commissioned officers, and priva;es, &C
companied by regulars or the same
I a.
/ iEg at the CmpIacements. every detail
/ OF the batteries was explained so as 70
give as lar as possible q practical
working knowledge Of the armament.
storage OF ammunition, the kind and
service Of this ammunition, and the
| fire control system.
IDA companies serving as supports
wer> given general idea Of the posi-
lion OF Llie emplacements, general
knowledge Of The surrounding country
ana the protection 10 be given by them.
The militia forces are divided into
supports and reserves. The supports
/ are the companies detailed ior infantry
work, 10 guard the post and the various
I batteries IN land attacks, from any side,
and the reserves, as the Term implies.
/ are reserves at the batteries. ana AZ
detailed 70 fight the big guns.
Told Of Big Guns.
| This is the Iaost fascinating work for
| the militiamen, and they listened in
| tently 10 the explanations made TO them
this morning. The instructions were
brief, but 10 the point each captain Of
a coast artillery company. instructing
the miliiamen assigned 10 camp with
I his company OF regulars. Every one
Of the Individual camps is a mobile
one in that respect.
| is act in camp with a company of regt-
lars II was by this arrangement that
the men Of the Second Regiment made
such remarkable progress IL coast de-
Tense while Al the forts for one week
last year.
There Will be FIVE successive DAYS OF
instruction, before The mIiitiamen viii
be placed at the guns Tomorrow the
instruction work viii be directed to-
ward coast defense nomenclature This
means that the militia Till be made
I familiar with the names o, the various
coast defense articles and parapher-
malta. Wednesday the regulars Will
1 drill at the guns. with the militiamen
watching. Thursday the guns Will be
! flrst time. and they viii drill with dunn
my cartridges.
The brigade commanders and stan
and regiment and battalion command
ers and STAFF at Fort Washington were
under the direct supervision OF Colonel
Coffin this morning. The colonel took
hem for a tour Of the entire reserva-
+ INT, where Major Davis is command
ing.
Excursions Forbidden.
Every officer and man Of the guard
today became a regular and was en-
rolled on the pay roll OF the United
States They were all mustered into
the regular service for fifteen days. the
period of the maneuvers, and they will
receive fun service pay.
This put an end to many happy
dreams Of pleasant evenings surrepti-
tiously spert at River View and Mar
snail Han. as Colonel Coffin issued