The Washington herald., 1908-07-29
REAL WORK BEGINS
AT RIVER FORTS
Continned from Paee One.

Al RIVER FORTS
Continued from Page One.
several hours. They made study Of the
ground. located all bridges and rsvines.
and studied some old fires. 10 determine
whether they were token Of the pres
ence CT the enemy or had just been
built as a hoax
Field Battery Has Drill.
The field battery went through a short
drill at O'Clock and received instruc-
tons from Lieut. Morris E Locke. They
did not. however. DO much work. but
rested 10 recover from Sundays hard
grind. The ambulance corps also took It
easy. They have had but one case 10
attend 10 so far. Private Davis. Of the
battery. had a foot slightly injured by
one OF the horses In the afternoon the
men put in their time resting and in
amusemeuts.
At Fort Washington the programme
was pretty nearly the same. Col UreE,
who IS assistant 10 Col. Coffin. the ar
tiHery district commander. and his en-
tire stah. even including Chaplain Dudley
and Dr. WoOdman. were in the fire com
mand station. slaj. Straub. second IN
command at Fort Washington and Lieut.
Terrell. the post adJUtant. gave them in
struction IN nomenclature and the opera
tion and use Of the fire control apparatus
They explained the intricacies Of the fire
control system. while Col Ureu and the
stan paid the closest attention After
this preliminary instruction was over
they operated the station themselves and
be arrr- e eff
every passing craft out OF the river. They
were congratulated by the regular or
GERS upon the manner in which they ab-
sorbed a working knowledge Of the sta
ton. and they spent the entire morning
there. changing instruments and positions
Battles May Come Soon.
As a result Of the rapidity with which
they became acquainted with the station.
the sham battles and the real defense OF
Washington by the river forts are likely
10 be moved up al least two days The
STAFF officers viii have their own nom
CONS AZ the telephone, and other stations
I IN the FIRE control station. and viii work
i il entirely by themselves before >he act
uzI maneUvers begin
A. the same time the company stats.
! uoncommissioned. officers. and enlisted
men were at the guns. working them &C
/ cording 10 the Instructions received from
/ the control station Theirs was the work
( Of actual destruction, and they blew I'd
T the innocent river craft with fury In
I their Imagination they could almost see
] tho pieces flying In the air
Starting out al O'Clock. the supports
at Fort Washington went out under Capt.
. William Mitchell. the senior instructor,
. ] ~
Z ghee- They were Instructed In patrol
I duty. and made acquainted with the sur
/ rounding country Lieuts- Edwin Gunner,
Z Of the TWenty-fOurth Infantry and Tor
Z -ey Mashee. also Of the Twenty-fourth.
/ VIZ were the last OF the regulars 70 ar
I rive. were with COMPARES T. X L and
Z n e the First Regiment They took out
I the officers first. and. conducting them
/ over the country. gave them instruction
i IN map making. patrol duty, and, more
Z important. reading OF maps
Officers Well Established.
J All OF the regular officers are qaartere5
IN row between the tents OF the war
/ Ico-resp0ndents" and the Second Regimen;
. headquarters- They are now vel estab-
lished. and all q their furniture Is home
made Every piece IS IN itself q creation
I For three days these officers have beer
3 busy making themselves comfortable. and
to-day they had time FOR relaxation They
invented several new games. and br-ams
acquainted with a new drink. the soap.
sud hz" They testify that IT is a hum.
mer. They had 10 do all taeir own worl
IN making camp. not even having the as
slstance OF an orderly There IS one o
the most attractive rows on the reserva.
ton.
Lieut. Duke gave a lecture this morning
on the work OF the supports. and. ac
cordins 20 the testimony Of the militia
officers. for whose benefit Il was given
the lecture was one OF the most sue.
cinct they have ever heard Each Of then
came away with a thorough lcnowIedg,
OF the subject. and, as one of them put
i, 4 can 90 out anywhere now and fnt
myself with a map
. This evening there was a general relax
I alton IN all the camps. As usual tn,
band gave its concert on the lawn &
front Of Col Cofdn's house. and va!
( warmly received There were many IN
terestinE gatherings throughout the camI
. and az the houses along officers TOW.
] Under the direction OF Capt. George z
Tolson. one OF the ablest and younges
commanders IN the brigade. Company II
/ Second Regiment. IS doing good work a