Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-30
HAPPY At FORT HUNT
Arrival of Field Music Adds to
the Harmony.
DRUM CORPS is WELCOME
colored auardsmen on Patrol and
Scout Duty.
SUFFER WITH ARTILLERIT1S
Citizen soldiery Has Enthusiastic
Attack of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Of the Camp.
DRUM CORPS IS WELCOME
SUFFER WITH ARTILLERIT1s

Special From a STAFF Correspondent by The Stars
Dispatch Boat Fairbanks.
FORT HUNT. Va, July 3O.-Fort Hunt
is happy In the possession of a drum
corps of twenty-nine men and a sergeant
in command. The corps came over yester-
day afternoon. Col. O'Brien suggested II
to Maj. Davis. vino expressed himself a.
"tickled to DEATH adding that he had
not heard drum corps since he left Yves,
Point. AS Fort Washington is supplied
with plenty Of music, some of the har-
mony lovers on this side have felt little
hurt that they were not allowed to hear
| the martial strains Of band or drum
corps. and the little camp down by the
Ambulance Corps is 4 popular spot this
morning
The musicians are working hard today
They were up at first call, marched
| through the camp at reveille. will mount
three guards and attend dress parade.
Sending out the list Separate Battalion
and the LIST Battalion. LIST Regiment. on
patrol and scout duty was the order OF
procedure today. AS usual the reserves
Of the I'd Battalion. I'd Regiment, han
died the eight-inch guns Of Battery Mount
Vernon. Their drill. yesterday morning
| and last night has fitted the militia In
gunnery to such an extent that the order.
should handle the guns and that the regu-
lars should merely assist. When the CUR
attachments. consisting Of chief of de-
tachment. gun pointer and fourteen pri-
Yates, were formed at the 8 o'clock drill
this morning a regular was assigned to
each man to stand by and offer any help
that was necessary. Very little was
needed. as the guardsmen picked up lot
Of practical knowledge yesterday.
Suffering With "Artilleritus."
The coast artillery drills are. of course,
very different from those seen by the
majority of civilians. The big guns re-
quire large family of soldiers to operate.
and everything must be done so that the
maximum speed Is obtained without sac
rificing accuracy. The National Guard Of
fiers have dubbed the drill "artillerttus, "
and every one Is suffering from an en-
thusiastic attack.
The operations Of the guns consist In
elevating them for the proper range.
traversing them. or letting them swing
about on the semi-circular track SO that
they may be pointed in any direction trip
ping them or raising them above the para
pet. Details are assigned for the ramming
of the ammunition, opening the breech,
which is no small Job. for taking orders
through the telephone or by telautograph.
Each gun. therefore. becomes the CEN
ter of q small army, all working In uni
son. When the whole fort Is in opera
ton the fire commander takes his sta
ton in the range tower. which is some
distance away from the guns and directs
the battle from there. He Is subject to
orders from Fort Washington. or would
these maneuvers II FoFt Washington at
tacks Hunt the commander across the
river will be the enemy. In the COM
mander's STATEN the battle Is planned
- - A-S
er, who transmits them to each gun. The
commander has charge Of the entire bat
tle can determine what kind of amniu-
milton to use and how many rounds, etc.
unless he gives the command to hre at
will.
Work in the Tower.
Although the position finding stations
were not manned, the National Guard
captains and the regular army captains
assigned to artillery work went over the
work in the tower this morning. and full
instructions were given. The non-com-
missioned staff ofYicers had instructions
at the range tower.
While the reserves were working hard
at the battery the supports were contin-
uing their work in the field. After several
days instructions on patrol duty the mon
went into the field this morning with
fair knowledge or what was expected OF
them. Some Of the patrols added realism
to the work by crawling along the en-
emy's lines. taking advantage of trees
and bushes to get close enough to gain
accurate information Of his position. For
the first time during the camp written in
formation was sent back to camp by the
patrols as soon as they would make dis
covery Of any importance.
The field battery worked at the pieces
ali the merning. The command went
through a mounted drill and also had
ranee-nnding practice. The men have had
40 actualsfiring yet.
The work Of the Ambulance Corps. COM
mandsd by First Lieut.. w. D. Fales, IL
progressing satisfactorily. Following q
Conference and inspection Of equipment
this morning by Lieut.. Fales and DR..
James w. Hart Of the regulars. the am
bulance men began their efforts In earnest
by searching for the wounded. Their drill
consisted In lifting helpless soldiers from
the position in which they fell. carefully
placing them In the Ambulance wagons
and then driving them to comfortable
cot especially prepared for the purpose in
the hospital They made it a painfully
realistic bit Of work. but 1t was full Of in
terest.
First Aid to the Injursd.