Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-30
Guardsmen at Fort Washing.
ton Serve as Artillery.
REGULARS ARE TEACHERS
All Drills and Exercises Have
Progression in View.
SEEKING THE LAY OF THE LAND
Veterans Nonplussed by Changes
Since Last Visit Of Brigade.
General STAFF Paradise.

Special From a STAFF Correspondent by The Star
Dispatch Boat Fairbanks.
FORT WASHINGTON. Md. July 30
This. the fifth day OF the joint coast de-
Tense exercises of the National Guard of
the District Of Columbia and Coast Artil=
lery companies of the regular army, with
the sun shining brightly and weather con-
ditions ideal Is being devoted to manip-
ulating the big guns by the guardsmen.
the regulars assisting. In this drill and
similar ones to follow. until the guards
men are proficient, regular detachments
Of gun and ammunition details, as far as
practicable, are posted. each number in
rear of the corresponding number of the
National Guard detachments, and. when
ever necessary. show personally how each
and every order Is executed. All the work
Is under the personal supervision of lieu
tenants Of the battery. The captains. both
regulars and guardsmen are located In
the position-fin stations. where full in
structions are given. and, In similar
way. to the details there.
The drills and exercises, as heretofore
pointed out, are being conducted with pre-
arranged progression in view. the idea be-
ing the ultimate manning of guns and
stations by themselves. Special details
are to be made from the National Guard
for the position-finding stations. In other
respects manning tables will be made out
80 that the National Guard will have in
struction in the duties of all of the num-
bers of the gun detachment and ammuni-
ton detail For the fire and battle COM
mand stations. as far as practicable. the
manning details will consist of non-com-
missioned staff officers. and their method
of instruction will be the same.
Follow War Department Instructions
The work here is being done in COM
nf he
partment, and as the exercises are a nov
city for the National Guard OF the Dis
trict and may mean much in connection
with the future Of the organization. the
scheme is of peculiar and unusual interest
to the members of the command and to
those interested in the welfare Of the brig
AIDES.
In substance. the War Department re-
quires that service practice. night opera
tons and subca,iber practice be limited to
the last three days of the exercise period.
No subcaliber or service practice Is per-
mitted by the regular troops during the
exercises.
Col William n. Coffin, arranees the pro-
gram for exercises with the view to max
ing them progressively instructive to the
National Guard. Proceeding on a basis
of ten days Of work: the war department
restricting the discretion of the artillery
district commander in any respect. that the
first day he devoted to taking over the for
titicatiOns all who had had no experience
at the guns. giving them an opportunity
to see all the elements of coast defense
and to have the use thereof explained to
them. For that purpose u was suggested
that the National Guard be divided into
small detachments and be personally con-
Quoted through the works by regular off,
GERS or non-eommissioned officers
For the Other Days.
The second day, 1t was advised. should
be devoted. to the nomenclature of the
coast artillery material; the third day TO
elementary drills, with regular officers
and enlisted men assigned to coach, cor
rect and assist individual officers and en-
listed men of the guard; the fourth, Nth
and sixth days to progressive drill at the
battery; the seventh day to drill by reg
ular troops, with the National Guard
officers and enlisted men standing by to
note the manner and method of the drill,
and to subcaliber practice by the guard !;
the eighth. ninth and tenth days to COM
pletion of subcaliber practice il neces-
sary, to service practice. with regular
oficers and enlisted men standing BY to
coach. correct and assist in all matters
connected with the practice. to day alarm
drill and night ship-tracking drill and
to the defense Of the fort against simu-
of the works by day and night.
The foregoing suggestions have been
followed to large extent, the variations
being slight.
First Spectacular Feature.
The frst spectacular feature Of the ex-
ercises Is not expected to occur prior to
Thursday night of next week. Then, it
is believed. a simulated attack will be
made on Fort Washington by a fleet of
probably AZ many as thirty small boats,
including the u. 8. s. Oneida The works
will be manned, the battle commanders
viii ret busy, the searchlishts used and
rockets employed. Such should prove In
structive and inspiring. the only feature
Of genuine warfare lacking being that
the enemy IL really friendly. and not hos
tile.
The support companies at Fort Wash
ington had q little extra duty yesterday
afternoon. being ordered out for needed
infantry drill. Some Of the recruits it
was found needed instruction and prac-
tice in company work so as to be better
prepared to move through the woods and
trails hereabouts.
Changes Cause Confusion.
OMcers and enlisted men who were
members Of the brigade when the troeps