The Washington herald., 1908-08-04

This company was declared fortunate
in having struck a soft soil Company
Il, under Capt Oehman. ran into a bed
of soapstone. and only completed its work
after a hard struggle.
As soon as the / hour and % minutes.
had expired, Capt Mitchell, chief in
structor. called time on the men. but
they all had finished. He went along
the entire line inspecting, and pronounced
the trenches excellent
All the trenches faced the river, and,
assembling the officers on one side. Capt.
Mitchell placed Eve men at each trench
II was readily apparent they were com
pletelv protected. and through their com
nlandins positions could successfully
Withstand the onslaught of a much
larger force A similar experiment was
repeated at all the trenches. with like
effect and the militia officers were great
ly impressed
At Fort Hunt the same programme was
followed out The ground Is much more
level and probably a bit softer and
without the heavy underbrUsh. The
First Separate Battalion took to the
trench-digging Ike a duck TO water.
and evidently some Of the coIored con
I tngent had had previous practice They
made the dirt fly.
Inspectors Are Pleased.
Most Of them were. perhaps. as I'M
seasoned as their white fellows. but
those who were in practice set a pace
that was bound TO be a winner. The
inspectors were more or less astounded
that the trenches were completed so soon
and that each was 50 clean cut and
level
At II o'clock. Capt John /. Roberts
gave a lecture at headquarters in Fort
Washington on powders. proJectues.
primers. and fuses This lecture was
attended by the reserve officers from
both forts. those from Fort Hunt going
over OF the tug Lieut. Bernard There
was also lecture at each of the posts
for the supports. Capt Mitchell. chief
of instructors at Fort Washington.
gave a lecture On the duty of artillery
supports in the library at the post eN-
change building. The topic was the
same at Fort Hunt. The men returned
TO dinner with a ravenous appetite, and
in the afternoon they rested. dog tired
for the nrst time in the encampmcnt-
There was no duty TO perform. and. as
usual, the baseball games were numerous
Ever since the guardsmeu have been IN
camp challenges have been flying back
and forth between the two forts and be
tween the regulars and militiamen- IN
addition. there have been various inter
company games. and all Of them have at
tracted wide attention il the forts. This
afternoon on one Of the diamonds on the
Fort Washington parade ground Com
pany c, Second Regiment, trimmed Com
pauy A 10 the tune Of Il to O. The shut
out was one Of the worst on the local
field. and the pitcher for Company c made
a remarkable record. striking out thir-
teen men ia FIVE innings
Play Tennis Game
The blue ribbon athletic feature Of the
encampment was a tennis game this
afternoon on the fast Cranolithic court
across from the club house. Mrs. Cofln.
wife Of Col Cofin. and Maj Glendie B.
Young were partners at tennis. against
Miss Spurgin. sister Of Lieut.. Spurgin.
and Lieut.. Fritz Helderich. adjutaut Of
the Sixth Battalion This was a long
drawn and unmistakabIy hard, contest,
but the result was not announced.
Al Fort Hunt there were the usual
number Of baseball games and other
events. and Il was remarkable that so
many kept on their feet
Col. and Mrs. Coffin and Mrs. C0fiu's
mother. Mrs Mansfield were entertained
AT dinner tonight. this tine by Col.
Ourand and the First Regiment mess
Other than the hon1red guests. there
was no one present but the regular mess.
which is as follows. Col C. Il OUrand.
commanding, Lieut. Col. Luther H
Reichelderfer. Mai Wallace l.. McCath-
ran. Mai. Joseph r. HodEsen. NIaj. Glen
ole B Young. Capt. Harry Coope, and
Capt Robert Cook