Milford chronicle., 1908-08-07
STATE TROOPS ARE To
BECOME ARTILLERYMEN

Delaware City, Aug. s. Maio-
Simon P Doherty of Wilmington
is now the commander of an eight.
company regiment, in camp here
about half of the members being
regulars and the other half Della
ware militiamen. Incidentally, the
rugulars are artillerymen, while
the militiamen b-long to the infan-
Try branch Of the service, but be-
lore the close Of the week, during
which period the State troops will
remain, the latter will be pretty
good artillerymen, the object Of
the joint encampment being to
train the Delaware soldiers in the
work at the fort, so as to familiarize
them with the guns, nortars, etc.
and instruct them in the methods
Of handling the equipment, which
will enable them to serve as rein
torcements for the regulars if rein
torcements should be necessary in
time of an invasion.
1t is also the desire of the COVER
ment to have the State troops here
at frequent intervals, so as to afford
relief to the regulars, thus giving
them rest during the time the
militiamen are here. An officer at !
the post, in discussing the matter
with reporter said he hoped, to !
see the State troops come here
every summer. Il hope they are
here two weeks or a month, here
after, he said. I'VE like to have
them here, and we need them and
I believe the experience will be
mutually beneficial. The State
sent only one battalion here this
year. 1 hope it sends two next
year.
While ordinarily theregular troops
are quartered at the barracks here,
on this occasion they are living in !
tents, with the State troops, both
branches of the service going to /
make up one regiment. The space /
set apart for the camp is a section |
of the reservation comprising about !
four acres. 1t is a splendid level I
field, being high and dry, and laid q
out along sanitary lines that make {
The place decidedly healthy. The +
is equipped with ap- '
proved city facilities. 1t has a a
water plant, the supply being OBJ a
Lained from an artesian well, which a
IS located at the public road, at the b
1t the western side Of the re- v
The water is pumped i
@ a tank about 80 feet from the v
ground, from which it flows by r
gravity, through a system of pipes u
o all parts of the fort. For drink I
ng purposes the water is sterilized b
ced, each company having a tent II
ct apart for the water, one tank a
ontaining drinking water and "
mother for cooking purposes. The G.
water, tent is at the head of each Il
street, where the mess b
ents and kitchens are located. At eC
be lower end of each street is a &C
cries of iron sinks, two for the bl
Sc of the men in washing their IS
ices and hands, and one, which is tn
eeper, for washing clothes. D
Each sink is about four feet long to
nd from the pipe which runs over
, are several spigOts above each co
nix, which permits a dozen or 50 sh
the men to wash at one time. W:
nder the row of sinks is a French gi
ain, through which the waste we
ater is carried off. The entire re- an
rvation is severed, which is an we
1portant factor in the sanitary he
uipment. of
The fort also has a garbage in sci
nerating plant, in connection with WI
lich collection wagons, manned tar
: soldiers, are in constant service ev,
rrying off the refuse before it has rec
ne to accumulate. lie
A system of macadam road WAYS,
level and substantially built, wh
n all over the grounds, ample wo
ace, however, being set apart for art
e drill and parade grounds, as wit
IL as the camping fields. hal
Large permanent bath houses tro
: provided for the men, each inf
1ipped with a large number of dri
over baths. Part of these are teri
apart for the regulars and part STR
the militia. will