Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-31
HAVING STRENUOUS OUTING
Patrols at Fort Washington Meet
Enemy in the Woods.
NO WORK FOR MEDICAL MEN
Health Of the Camp All That Could
Be Desired-Signal Corps
Active.

FORT HUNT. Va. July 31.-It is re-
garded as a fortunate thing for shipping
On the Potomac river that dummy ammu-
milton was used in the guns of Battery
Mount Vernon this morning. for the bat
terry was fully manned by the reserves
Of the I'd Battalion. I'd Regi-
ment, National Guard of the District of
Columbia Tugs. sailboats. excursion
steamers and naphtha launches were
taken as targets from the fire Control
station. and continuous target practice
was in order for two hours. The previous
work of the men has fitted them to
take entire charge of the intricate system
Of range finding. gun firing. etc. and to-
day. the regular officers and enlisted men
were present merely as spectators. giving
their aid and instruction only when a
difficult point arose to be covered.
The method of getting the range of a
target is very interesting and has more
operations than the layman would think.
To begin with, there are two towers full
Of instruments. One of the towers is at
Fort Washington and is known as the
battle commanders station, and the other
Is at Fort Hunt, known as fire command
No. 1, or abbreviated, IF. c.. No. L.
The straight line between the two towers
is the space of triangle of which the
ship on the river Is the apex. AS the
ship is constantly moving up or down
the river. and drifts with the tide or may
be carried out of its course by the wind,
the sides of the triangle are constantly
changing.
Use Of Plotting Board.
On a large table. known as the plot
ting board long brass rods represent
the sides of the triangle and may be
moved from side to side so that when the
officer in command locates a target
an instrument very much like q
large surveying transit, the men at the
board move the rods SO that tht
exact triangle of the target and the two
towers is obtained. Another metal roc
repi esents the line between the guns ane
the target. SO that when everything is SCI
the distance, range, ETC.. OF the. ship /!
from the tower to the bat
terry and the men at the guns know Jus'
wha: elevation to take. A bell rings II
the tower every fifteen seconds, which
aids in determining the speed of the shiI
at which the firing is done. There are
also instruments which record the velocity
OF the wind, the tide and the drift of the
vessel
The first range section this nnorning was
Under direction of Maj. r. D. Simms of
the I'd Battalion, I'd Regiment. The
section worked in the tower until 9:1J
o'clock, when the second section, under
direction of Lieut.. Col. O'Brien, took up
the work
Meantime the reserves at the guns were
loading elevating, tripping and firing, re-
ceiving orders from the tower by tele-
phone.
Drills Are Fascinating.
There is a fascination attached to the
tower drills, especially at night In the
plotting room there is a blaze Of light.
with men stationed all around at the va
rious instruments. In the observation
room, which has an opening all the way
around. commanding a view of the sur
country. the lights are out. and
is limited to necessary re-
marks, and then only in whispers. The
man at the instrument keeps his eyes on
which is registered. Five four three
points one two Is communicated by tele-
phone to the plotting board. the range
Is located in a second, the result tele-
phoned to the battery. The ship is kept
in view, and its location de-
every fifteen seconds SO that
the elevation and position of the guns
may be changed accordingly. Even In
this mimic war the sight of brilliantly
lighted steamer several miles away, NOV
est intimation that enough guns are be-
ing aimed at 1t to blow it to destruction,
Is one that sends a queer thrill through
every one in the tower and batteries. 1t
Is almost weird to think Of the eXaCtness
with which these mechanical brains. rep
resented by the instruments in the tower,
can mark the exact spot on which shell
will fall.
After the drill in the tower the following
officers attended an artillery lecture at
Fort Washington:
Lieut.. Col. Richard A. O'Brien, Maj.
Brian. Capt. Clarence V. Sayer. Capt
Richard r. Duffie. Lieut.. Albert v. Weir
Lieut.. Harry E. Burton. Lieut.. William
3. Hodgson. Lieut.. James H. Reynolds
Lieut.. Lucien B. Earnest, Lieut.. Harry c.
Werlich and Lieut.. Edward NJ. Webster.
Batteries Destroy Shipping.
While the batteries were destroying the
shipping on the river the supports were
working as advance and rear guards in
he western portions of the reservation.
The 1st Separate Battalion marched from
is camp to the parade grounds and halt
ID. the 1st Battalian, 1st Regiment. oc-
,upying a position about 200 yards to the
ear. Scouts were then sent out to secure
accurate information Of the country on
he flank and rear of the post.
The western section of the reservation
ooked very much like a field of battle
The list Battery. the 1st Sep
lrate Battalion and the 1st Battalion. 1st
Regiment. although acting independently.
the fields and woods The bat
cry drilled with it's pieces. and made
'ealistic picture Of war as it hauled the
gums over the rough field through all
sorts of brush and second growth Mean
while. the main body Of the 1st Separate
rested in the southwestern part
If the reservation. waiting for reports
rom the strong patrols sent out to- dis
.over the position and strength OF the en-
my. The enemy actually exists now
orce of twenty men in khaki. under
lieut. Johnson. being the opposing army.
They have made no attempt to do any
hing but hide up TO the present time. it
being the duty of the main body to To-
cate and to capture them If possible.
Not many have been captured so far.
although the patrols have done a great
amount Of running. This feature is
ooked upon by some Of the regular army
,ficers as being one tha. will brin- the
mems interest to white heat. for. as one
If the officers expresses it. "A soldier likes
% bring in a scalp.
Reports by Courier.
In addition to making captures. or trying
%, the patrols sent in by courier from