Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-02
D. {. SOLDIERS ALERT
Plan Association for Promo
ton of AeronautiCs.
ALONG LINE OF RIFLE WORK
Quick to Recognize Future Of Dirl-
gibles and Planes.
BALLOONS AT THE MANEUvERS
Local Signal Corps Likely to Be
Provided Ultimately With
Airships.

Officers of the National Guard of the
District are discussing plans for the
formation of a ma tional association OF
guardsmen for the promotion of milf
tary aeronautics. something along the
| lines of the National Association for the
Promotion of Rifle Practice.
Aeronautics belongs at present TO the
Signal Corps. but II is pointed out that
the possibilities of dirigibles and aero
planes in war are so great as to make
the subject of military aeronautics of
general interest to all branches OF the
service. The officers Of the local Ma
| tional Guard were all much interested
in the tests at Fort .Myer, and many
of them hope to witness the instruction
of officers in handling aeroplanes that
is to begin under Wilbur Wright next
| week
In the maneuvers in Massachusetts bal
looms will be used for observing stations,
and theoretical instruction will be given
in the handling of dirigibles and aero
planes by the officers of the Signal Corps.
Capt. Carl F. Hartmann of the Signal
and will be attached to the forces of
| which the local troops will be part.
Signal Corps in Maneuvers.
The Signal Corps. y. G. D. c., under
Lieut.. Putnam, will receive this instruc-
ton. About thirty EIGHT members of the
local Signal Corps will take part in the
maneuvers. They will install wireless APP
paratus on the transports. keeping in con-
slant touch with the shore stations during
the trip to Massachusetts and return.
They will also erect wireless stations dur
ing the land operations.
Officers of the District National
Guard are confident that the local
Signal Corps will be one of the first TO
be provided with balloons. and eventually
with an aerOplane, In accordance with
the principle now in force to have the
District troops armed and equipped just
as are the regular forces.
Foreseeing the extension of the Signal
Corps work of the army, provisions were
made in the new regulations of the Ma
tional Guard for considerable increase
in the Signal Corps of the local brigade
On numerous occasions it has been said
at militia headquarters that this com
mand will be one of the finest organiZa-
tons in the guard.
Signal Corps to Be Enlarged.
The new regulations provide that the
Signal Corps shall consist of a major, a
captain. two first lieutenants and min
| imum enlisted strength of fifty-nine men
including one master signal electrician
five sergeants first class. five serseants
ten corporals. two cooks, eighteen pri-
Yates first class and eighteen privates
About one-half of the command Will be
mounted. The commanding general is
authorized to organize from the members
OF the Signal Corps signal company
which will conform in organization to
that of the regular army. The present
Signal Corps will be enlarged upon the
return of the brigade from the Massa-
chusetts maneuvers.
Special orders have been issued from
| the Department Of the East detailing non
commissioned officers and men to the
transports upon which the District troops
will embark to go to Massachusetts
Private James j. Savage, Troop NJ. 11tf
| Cavalry, will report to the transport quar-
| termaster on the Mcclellan and Private
William F. Soutier. Troop c. 18th Cav
| airy, to the Sumner. Post Commissary
| Sergeant Nils p. Benson Bengtson. from
| Fort Jay. n. Y. will be on the McClel-
Ian. Post Commissary Sergt. Rene Will
| son. from Fort Levett, Me. will be on the
| Sumner