The Washington times., 1908-07-30
Maneuvering in Field Super
vised by Regulars at
River Forts.
GUARDSMEN QUICK
TOLEARN TACTICS
Have Full Charge of Maneuvers at
the Big Guns, Retiring Regu-
lars to the Rear.
BY WIRELESS FROM FIELD, FORT

BY WIRELESS FROM FIELD, FORT
HUNT. "a. VIA NAVY YARD, July
S0.-Uncer direction OF Captain Chiles,
of the Eleventh Infantry, the supports
at Fort Hunt were in the field all day
today. Company A, First Regiment, IN
der command Of Capt. Harry Walsh,
was stationed in the woods to the east
of the post, and Company B was at the
railroad station under command of
Captain Baird, with Lieutenant Grieves
as instructor
The companies were the enemy. Com
panies c and D were sent out on patrol
duty to find them and ascertain their
position without being seen. They crept
forward under cover, and were not dis
covered until they had sent full reports
of their enemy's position and strength
With Major Davis commanding at
Fort Hunt, all of the officers of the
militia reserves went over to Fort
Washington today, where the major
gave a lecture on coast defense guns
This lecture was one of the most inter
esting of the series and was listened TO
by all the reserves officers of both
posts.
Lieutenant Putnam, who Is in charge
of the Signal Corps. has his field wire
less telegraph working finely. Com
zrunication mas been established with
all nearby stations, and last night when
the first message was got through the
lieutenant had long talk with Super
intendent Elliott Woods. OF the Capitol
building. who has his own wireless
equipment.
In Control Of Forts
The safety OF Forts washington and
the militiamen OF the District National
Guard. All day and last night they have
been annihilating imaginary enemies,
whetting their appetites in anticipation
of the real bat les that are TO come, and
at O'Clock this word was sent out
from the battle command station that
all the defenses be placed IN the hands
OF the guardsmen.
The regulars stood back from the
guns and the militiamen took charge.
Colonel Coffin turned the battle com
rnand station over to Col NJ Emmett
IJreIl, assistant to the battle command
er; Major Straub and Lieutenant Ter
reu turned the fire control station over
10 Majors Harvey and stephan, OF the
first and third battalions OF the Second
Regiment. and Major Davis and Cap
tain Bauentine turned the fire contro
station at Fort Hunt over TO Lieut.
Col. Richard A. O'Brien, and Mai
Richard D. Sims, also of the Second
Regiment.
Each captain Of the regulars, whc
was a battery commander. turned oyel
his battery 70 the militia captain, whose
COMPANY was in reserve, and all the
fortffcatfons were manned by the mil
itiamen.
Colonel Coffin decided upon this move
because Of the rapid progress Of the
rnilitiarlen ard the high state Of eff
cheney they had attained in a few days
All morning. each command acting IN
dependently Of the other, they fought
with the valor Of desperation. Even al
the microbes we're swept of OF thu
river Thay must have been, as Their,
have been no cases Of sickness in an
OK the camps.
Foraging Parties Out.
Many foraging parties have been out
and they generally come in successful
The Second Regiment stah has got pos
session OF a coop full of chickens, an,
the reserves and regulars at Batter
Humphrey had cantaloupe this morn
1ng.
While the defenses this morning wer
manned by the militia, the regulars
each man to his station. stood in tn
rear Of the militiaman performing hi
work, giving assistance or instructio
whenever Il was needed. This was tru,
from the battle commander down to tn
men at the telephones, between the III
control stations and the batteries.
Colonel Coffin stood back OF Colonc
Urel, and so on down the line. 1t wa
a novel experience to Colonel Coffin I
stand by and see another take charg
he r1a ar1rr hut
quite with the precision and name
that he exercises.
Each Of the defensive positions wa
operated as unit today, and was NJ
controlled from the central SUTTON. Tt
morrow the work will be real, and n
drill will be identically the same as thu
done by the regulars and under actu;
conditions that would prevail should
hostile feet approach. Today the TO-
pedo boats and cruisers were but imag
nary, or some launch or row boa
working its way up or down the char
mel. Steamboats, proved the best target
as they moved rapidly
Repel Land Attack
In the meantime all Of the suppor
on both sides of the river were bus
repeIiinE an imaginary hand attac
They deployed through the woods lool
ing for the enemy, but the best the
could find was artillery bugs. reptile
and microbes. On each side Of Il
river the supports were divided into ~
opposing forces. and, starting from o.
posite points, were instructed to su
prise each other and effect, IL possibl
a capture.
This was interesting work, and scou
and patrols crawled mile after mi
through the underbrush. There we
several encounters, and the fight wag,
furious until the umptres stepped
and declared the winner.
The men at Battery Meigs, the mort
battery, were given their Erst smell
eunpowder last night. So far there HI
been absolutely no firing Of blank
but in. the drill at Battery Meigs, Sc
eraI primers. or firing caps, were S
of This was the, first battery drill
night and three OF the four scare
lights were brought into play.
As was the case this morning, ca
battery was controlled from the pot
ton finding station, and fought ind
pendenty, any target that was pick