The Washington times., 1908-07-28
DISTRICT SOLDIERS
TAKE INSTRUCTION
Spend Profitable Day With
Big Guns at Fort
Washington.
TECHNICAL POINTS
LEARNED QUICKLY
Highly Commended by the Regu-
lars-Boys Fight a Successful
Imaginary Battle.

FORT WASHINGTON, Nd, July Is
Under instruction Of Major Straub, in
command OF the fire command station
st Fort Washington. and Of Meuten-
ant Terrell, the post adjutant, the en-
tire stan Of the Second Regiment spent
the morning in the fire command
station, learning the nomenclature of
the instruments and how 10 work them.
This was a fascinating task. and the
militia officers hated to quit 1t. They
were permitted TO use the instruments
as freely as they wished, and In about
an hour they were running the fire
command station themselves They
took turns at the various instruments
changing off to try each.
They picked up targets from the pass
ing beats, sighted the instruments on
them, swung around the range finders.
and kept up a continual imaginary FIRE
upon the innocent barges, schooners,
and other passing river craft.
firing Of this after q while. they an
initiated the fire command stations at
Fort Hunt. and, so vivid was the mag
mary execution, they almost saw the
guns blow up as they put the batteries
out OF commission. Even the tomb Of
the Father of His Country did not
escape them, and they found the range
on it just to show that they could.
To Defend Fort.
So well did they adapt themselves TO
their new task. and so enthusiastic
over what TO them was a new play
thing, were they. that II has been de-
cided that In some OF the night at
tacks they will be entrusted with the
defense OF the fort against the enemy.
They greeted this with enthusiasm. and
woe to anything on the river that has
the faintest suspicion of being hostile.
At l o'clock after the militia had
blown ina ginary holes in everything
for miles around, and worked the in
struments almost out Of joint Major
Straub gave a lecture on the FIRE con-
troll system, making particular applica-
ton to the fire command station He
complimented the militia officers on
their work and their enthusiasm, and
the rapidly with which they absorbed
the information placed at their disposal
He also complimented them upon the
way they followed a target. and the ac-
curacy of the work In the future they
will not have the assistance Of the
non-commissioned stan at the fort. but
will be permitted to bring in their own
on-commissionsd staff.
In the meantime, the regimental stan
officers at Fort Hunt were equally en-
thusiastic blowing imaginary holes in
Washington. The company officers, with
their commands, under the instruction
OF the officers and men OF the regular
coast artillery companies, were at the
guns, as gleely annihilating the passing
craft as did the others.
Worked With Guns.
Theirs was the real work Of annihiia-
ton, for while the regimental staff
merely used the instruments and direct
ed the fire, they did the work with the
guns. They, too, received instructions
IN nomenclature OF range position, en-
placements, guns, and magazines In
explaining the parts Of the guns, the
regulars used them as freely as pos
sibIe, especially the guns and carriages.
so that the names OF the parts were
impressed upon the mind through their
working, and the effect they had upon
the whole scheme.
The companies Of supports were in the
field, while the others were at the bat
teries, also receiving instruction in no.
menclatUre. They did reconnaissance
duty, made skirmish attacks, deploylng
through the woods, routing the enemy
precipitately- They also did outpost and
picket duty, receiving instructions from
the regular cavalry and infantry Off
GERS temporarily stationed at the post
as instructors Lieutenant Duke gave
a lecture this morning 10 the supports
in the exchange building
The band also was at work, and run
ming a strong competition TO the saw
mill The amp is on the parade ground
night in front OF the mill, and for two
hours this morning there was a merry
tussle for supremacy. The bandsmen
were practicing ior their regular con-
cert. The saw mill was merely on it's
daily grind, and while II was at times
smothered entirely. ii always emerged
humming cheerfully.
All morning the two forts exchanged
Wigwdg signals. The regular and
militia signal men on both sides Of the
river were stationed in front Of the fire
command stations and they EXCHANGED
messages for several hours.
The light artillery battery encamped
at Fort Hunt was equally busy.