The Washington herald., 1909-03-28

ing their squad leaders by throwing re-
sponsihility on them and BY having COM
petitiye squad drills.
These leaders are to practice their
squads in advancing by rushes and by
creeping. IN loading IN all positions OF the
body and while marching. in transmitting
orders and signals. and in general sl0ir-
nlish work.
Formal Drill Abandoned.
Extended order. which Is the normal
formation in actual lighting will be made
the principal feature of all instruction.
and Will to q certain extent supersede the
more formal drill where keeping step and
a straight line are the main requisites.
part of every drill night from now
until camp, whether in the armory hall
or In the street. must. according TO or
ders from headquarters. be devoted to
extended order work. The squad leaders
are TO be trained in using field glasses
Tor identifying targets. in estimating dis
tances quickly and accurately. and in
giving commands 70 their men who are 70
be taught to work together in a team.
In order that the men may become ac-
custOmed 10 aiding each other they are
70 be assigned 20 permanent squads. each
leader keeping a list OF his men and
looking out for them at the company
formation
Frequent instruction In guard mounting
Is to be given from now until camp, and
each enlisted man in the brigade is 70
be furnished with a copy OF a small
pamphlet entitled Orders for sentinels
on Post"
For Field Work.
The instruction for this field work is 10
be given first in the officers schools. then
in the noncommissioned officers classes.
and finally taught to the individual en-
listed men. Special attention Is TO be
paid 10 the firing regulations.
Encouraged by a reorganization along
lines Identical with the regular army. and
with the consciousness Of the response
bilities which the new order OF things
imposes. the District muitiamen have
started IN to work with a will IN prepara-
tion for the annual encampment The
prospect OF promotions among the
commissioned officers. always an in
centive in a military organization.
is particularly active Just before
the reorganization goes into effect
and the realization that henceforth all
commissions will depend upon military
knowledge. as evidenced by competitive
examination. instead OF upon successful
campaigns for votes among the members
Of the companies. has set all the am
bilious "n0ncommissioned'' studying the
book. as the drill regulations are called.
The Infantry Drill Regulations. Manual
Of Guard Duty. Field Service Regulations,
and other military textbooks are now
in great demand, and many aspiring en-
listed men are preparing themselves for
the first competitive examinations for
commissions. which VIII be held shortly
after the reorganization IS completed
BusiIy Engaged.
The division Of militia Affairs OF the
War Department is busily engaged IN
working out the details OF an extensive
plan OF joint encampments between the
regular army and organized militia. The
arrangements will be announced within
the next few weeks. II Is said on good
authority that the encampments next
summer will be the largest ever held IN
this country except IN times OF war
Lieut.. Frank S. Durston. junior grade
has Just received his commission from the
Navy Department. and has been assigned
TO command the Third division OF the
Naval Battalion.