Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-08
PAY FOR GUARDSMEN
Money Handed Around tor
Fort Hunt Service.
READY TO BREAK CAMP
Last Day Spent in Preparations for
Home-Going.
NIGHT OF FUN IS OBSERVED
Men Laud Maneuvers-Sorry to Go
Away-"Call to
Arms"
Special From a STAFF Correspondent by The STAR
Dispatch Boat Fairbanks

energy has been bent preparing for evacu-
alton of the post early tomorrow morning
When the men are aroused from sleep
at about O'Clock tomorrow morning all
will be ready to strike tents and embark
on the steamer homeward bound
The different battaEonS drew up Sepa-
rately this morning and were inspected
by their commanding officers. The troops
formed In heavy marching order, each
man carrying his blanket roll and haver-
sack. There was a great scurrying this
morning In company streets 10 get shoes
erly.
This has been day of great business
to the guard at this fort and also a day
of gloom. Like all last days many re-
gretS have been expressed that the camp,
with its friendly regular army officers, is
which have occupied it for two weeks.
Paymaster Is Popular.
The biggest man in camp today was
Paymaster's Clerk A. N. Smith. He has
been stationed at the headquarters here
since the encampment opened. Officers
and men have become well acquainted
with him. The paymaster. Capt. +. N.
Howard. is stranger to the men. and
made his first appearance today. although
he has been al Fort Washington since
that camp opened
1889 a lieutenant in the 4Jth Infantry.
and went to the Philippines the same
year. He saw service in the Cavite and
Batabgas campaigns in 1850 and was
present at the occupation of Camarlnas
province. In 1900 he led the rescue party
which released Capt. Steinhauser at Labo.
Camarines Norte. He later left the vol
unteers and entered the Coast Artillery
Corps. He was detailed as paymaster,
April last.
b,,cx
with the pay rolls every day recently
Army pay rolls are more or less c0mpli-
Gated and have to comply exactly with
regulations. Four copies are made out.
One remains with the company orsaniZa-
ton. two go to the regular army paymas-
ter, and one goes to the headquarters OF
the District OF Columbia National Guard.
Mr.. Smith said last night that the pay
rolls of the District National Guard at
Fort Hunt are among the best ne mas
ever seen from militia organizations.
The men were paid off in companies
The captain identified each man as he
stepped up to the paymaster, the paymas-
ters clerk called out the amount and The
paymaster handed out the money.
How Pay Is Apportioned.
For the two weeks in the service Of the
the pay is as follows:
Privates, $50; corpOrals. 5000; ser
geants. SIS: first sergeants. regimental
sergeants. reg1mentai COM
sergeants and sergeant majors
81. 30; second lieutenants. $iO.S: nrst
lieutenants. 1888: captains, 500; majors
Sl35: lieutenant colonels $146.33; colonies,
Lot. Is.
The regular army officers are not paid
in cash with the enlisted men. but are
paid by voucher.
All this money comes from appropIla-
lions by Congress. There Is a million dol
lar appropriation for the army and ma
tional militia maneuvers. OF this $16.-
go is used for the payment OF the DIS
trict of Columbia National Guard sala-
rieS.
II requires s21. 600 to pay the entire or
ganization in both camps. exclusive OF the
general and his staff. The extra 5000
comes from the annual congressional ap-
for land and naval militia.
AS the District OF Coiumnia Nationai
Guard is directly under the federal gov
eminent it is spoken Of in the army as
the only federal militia. The officers
are signed by the President.
and therefore the officers rank all others
of the same grade in state and territorial
forces.
This has been pleasant camp. Every
company Is sorry to leave 1t. 1t Will be
hard to establish another camp better
than this. In every respect 1t has been
ideal
There has been enough work and enough
play to put the men in splendid condition
The instructors detailed from the army
have gradually made active caInpaigners
ont of men who have had little none at
all Of soldering before. In this connec-
ton it is only fair to say that each reg
ular army officer has been boosting
his particular militia battalion, claiming
ut is the best he ever saw"
Funny Night Is Observed
Last night there was a spirit of playful
no 10
awaited the call TO arms knowing it
would surely come some time. Every night
for the last week the quiet tip has gone
abroad that the enemy would be sighted
at about :, am Luckily for the sleepy
ones. all the fighting was done wit hin
union hours.
Last night, however. II had to come. and
as the men were instructed to be ready
for il and not leave the company streets
they had TO let out their enthusia SIN by
all kinds of play, some OF 1t rather rough,
but all of II good natured.
The red rocket from Fort Washington
the cnemy's fleet sailed into
the sky a little after 10 o clock. Instantly
bugles began to blow all over.
Call to arms is a call that is taken I'D
by every musician. no matter where he
is and is answered by a scurry into tents
to get rifles. a rush to man the guns and
quick action by every one. While the
or getting the big disappearing guns Of
Battery Mount Vernon ready the officers
and men detailed in the range tower made
their instruments ready. The great
searchlightS swept the river. making it
impossible for ship to escape detection.
For over an hour the cannonade was
continued. and stopped only when the last
round of ammunition was spent.
The supports answered the call to arms
only as far as getting their rifles and
lining up in the company streets The
only work of battle was done by the ar
tillery reserves.
The LIST Light Battery started for Wash
ington today as soon as the men were
paid They will camp out tonight near
Four Mile run and will reach Washing
ton early Sunday. Dr. Charles r. Luce
accompanied them on their ride.
There is only one organization at Fort
Hunt which has been quietly working
the dress parades and guard mOuntings.
but which has progressed wonderfully
during the fortnight In camp. 1t is the
Ambulance Corps which has every one
of it's men present. this being a record
that few companies can boast at any
camp
Lieut. Fales has given his men a drill
every day. With the lectures and prac-
tice on the field. carrying the wounded
and working with stretcherS and ambu-
lances. the red cross flag has become as
much respected In this simulated war as
1t Is in real service conditions. The post
surgeon, DR. Hart, has been valuable in
helping the men in their work with first
aid dressings and field work.
The Ambulance Corps will send a squad
Of men on a practice march this afternoon
in heavy marching order and will report
ready for inspection tomorrow morning In
Washington. The squad is composed of
A Il py.fry II