The Washington herald., 1909-07-18
GUARD IN QUANDARY
Do Not Know Field of Com
ing Militia Maneuvers.
THOUGHT TO BE NEW BEDFORD
Considerable Dissatisfaetion In Ex-
pressed at Policy OF Secrecy Main
tained-May Make Long Trip by
Water-First Battery Receives New
Gun-Lessen Baggage Train.

Although no official orders have been
received al the headquarters OF the Dis
trict militia concerning the exact move
ment OF the District militia in the joint
maneuvers with the regular army and the
militia from New York and Massachu-
setts. it is now a well established fact
that the guard viii operate IN the VI
cinity OF Boston.
The District militia VIII march from
the Center Market ArmOry In Seventh
street on the morning OF August II TO the
United States Arsenal. where they VIII
embark on transports.
Three transports win be pressed into
service for the use OF the militia. The only
governmental transports that are avail
able for this purpose are those Stationed
at the navy yards in Newport News and
Norfolk, Va These are small and have
not accommodations for more than go
men 10 a ship.
II Is not known how the Guard viii be
split up and detached 10 the different
transports, but IL is believed that the
First Separate Battalion. consisting OF the
colored members OF the Guard, will lead
I the advance on a transport 20 themselves
/ on this transport VII also be shipped a
| large part OF the baggage
| Every one has been kept guessing where
I the Guard viii land on the New England
coast. some are OF the opinion that they
viii 90 10 Boston: others predict Newport.
r. l. In fact, every port on the New
/ England coast from Newport. r. 7. 70
/ Newburyport. Mass, has been mentioned
! as the prospective landing point
The trip viii take three days and
nights. During this time the officers and
men win not be idle. for they VIII be oc-
( cUpied with exercises IN the manual OF
arms In studying the extended order OF
I the infantry tactics, and IN committing
1 20 memory general orders pertaining 10
I sentry duty The nOnCOmmissioned off,
GERS viii attend the school for noncoms.
/ and the company officers will receive IN
struction from the battalion majors.
Probably New Bedford.
] What is believed as authentic infornaa-
ton concerning the port where the Guard
VIII dlsembark was learned last night
from an officer, who refuses 70 have his
name disclosed. This Oficer declares that
the Guard viii land al New Bedford.
Mass, q distance OF sixty miles from
I Boston, which viii be the supply basis
for all advance detachments Of the Guard
! This report was confirmed when a num-
( Der Of officers were seen studying a spe-
/ cial map OF the topography IN the Vi
cinity Of New Bedford
Quite a number OF officers OF the Guard
seem much displeased az the reticeni
/ spirit OF those officers who know the de-
tails concerning the part the Districi
militia viii take IN the coming maneu-
f~
/ Guard has so little information beer
given out with regard 20 an encampment
There are also number OF officers who
think that the troops should be shipped
By rail IN preference 10 water. Il takes
only nine hours 10 travel from Washing
ton 70 Boston BY rail. while the trip OS
water takes the greater part OF thre,
days. thus consuming SIX days OF III.
fifteen allowed for the encampnent- Dur
ing this time the horses, for which N
District win pay on an average OF g
day. viii be OF no service. These pros
pective conditions are causing quite
little comment
Il was learned last night that the Firs
Battery VIII be shipped by rail 10 New
York where II viii embark on boar,
transports for New Bedford. Mass
The First Battery has ths honor q
| oelnE ISSUED new ElL-ilCl EQu1n11el
battery gun before the Coast Artnlerl
stationed at forts received similar ones
These guns are the most modern
known 20 the army. and are manufacture,
by the Krupp Company. IN Germany. Tt
battery also received q new outfit, con
sisting Of harness for eighty-fogr horses
a store wagon, and other articles pertain
ing 10 the equipment OF 6 battery.
Is said that this Is valued az $500.
Capt c. J. Fox. a weIl-known news
paper man IN this city, and az one tirn'
a major OF a high school battalion, is Il
command Of the battery.
VIII Cut Down Baggage.
The commissary department is making
arrangements for reducing the bsggag
Of the Guard 10 a minimum during thi
encampment. No tents, bedding. trunks
or stoves VIII be taken. Only one com
missa-y wagon viii be allotted 70 a bat
talon. Each company officer viii be al
lowed thirty pounds in his battalion
wagon Zach officer and enlisted maj
win sleep under his half shelter tent
The tents are carried on the back IN
roll. which also includes clothing, comb
crush. sc.
Under the REORGANIZATION act OF tn
militia. two enlisted men viii be detaIle
as cooks for each company. At the pre-
vioUs encampment the captain OF a com
p pany employed two men. whom he tool
! to camp as the company cooks