The Washington herald., 1909-04-04
ENCAMPMENT PLANS
BEGUN In EARNEST
Active Preparation by All the
District Militia.
COMPANIES DRILL IN STREET
Enlistmenfs on the Increase-FOrt
Ayer Officers Giving Assistance
and Invitations Are Extended to
Witness Handling of New Field
Pieces-Capt. Hennessy Lectures.

Pieces-Capt. Hennessy Lectures.
Active preparations for the annual en-
campment have begun in earnest in every
organization Of the National Guard OF the
District
While Col. Smiley. adjutant general.
and the other STAFF officers at militia
headquarters continue to work out details
OF the plan for reorganization. which is
about to be put into effect. the line Off
GERS Of the brigade are bending every ef-
fort TO give their commands the maximum
amount Of instruction during the three
months remaining before the troops are
ordered into camp on July H.
The next encampment will be the first
20 be held by the Guard In its new status
as reserve 10 the regular army. and a
general effort is being made 10 have Il
the best in which the District militiamen
have ever participated. Many OF the COM
panies are now drilling In the streets
where they have room for more extended
maneuvers than in the hall Of the Center
Market Armory. Enlistments are increas-
ing. officers and "noncoms" schools are
flOurlshing. and there is a general in
crease or activity throughout the Guard.
Assisted by Regulars.
Regular officers at Fort Myer are Civ
ing every assistance 10 the District mill
tiamen. Capt. T. y. Horn. Third Field
Artillery. L. S. army. has invited the
men Of the District battery 10 come TO
Fort Myer at any time TO witness the
drill OF the regular artillery, with the
new field pieces. which will be supplied
20 the militia 5atterymen before the en-
campment- capt F. s. Hennessy, who
commands one Of the batteries at Fort
Myer, gave an interesting and instructive
lecture on Field orders" to the officers
OF the Second Regiment, " q. =. c..
on Friday evening at the Center Market
armory, and volunteered to go over an
entire course with them next winter.
Capt. Hennessy's lecture was given at
the invitation of Col. NJ. Emmet UreI. 10
me officers Association Of the Second
Regiment. He spoke on the subject OF
field orders, and impressed upon the Of
ficers the absolute necessity OF having
such orders explicit and free from all
ambiguity. He treated the subject his
toricaliy, citing examples from Euro
pean and other campaigns, where fall
ure TO comprehend orders was productive
OF disastrous results. not only where the
orders directed the movements Of troops
IN battle. but also where they applied
to the baggage. commissary, and ammu-
milton trains. He spoke Of how IN the
excitement Of a campaign some Of the
greatest soldiers have issued field orders
TO their subOrdinates that were either
quite incompr rehensible or conveyed a
meaning exactly the opposite OF that
which was intended. He also gave ex-
amples OF the best form Of field orders.
and explained their essential component
parts.
VIII Give Free Course.
His lecture was followed with close at
tention. At the end OF his talk he vol
unteered to give the officers next winter
& regular course OF lectures. such as IS
given at the service school at Fort Leav-
enworth. By resolution. the OficerS As
scciation thanked Capt. Hennessy. and
agreed to accept his offer.
AS Capt Hennessy is an oficer ap-
pointed from civil life, has served in the
volunteer forces and Philippine Scouts.
-
been through the service schools at Fort
Leavenworth and Riley. he is particularly
fitted TO instruct National Guard troops.
Last year he voluntarily gave instruction
70 the District batterymen. and even went
SO far as to lend them the new field
pieces OF his command for drill al Fort
Myer.
On Friday afternoon Lieut. Nevils.
First Sergt. Wilson. and a number OF
men from the First Battery who work
at night in the Government Printing
ONCE, went 10 Fort Myer to study the
S-inch guns Of the regular batteries.
Capt Horn who recently inspected the
District battery, suggested the men come
10 the Fort TO study the new guns and
from now until camp the militia battery
men will go TO Fort Myer whenever they
can get of from work in the afternoon.
In this manner they hope TO learn the
mechanism Of the new gun, so as to
understand II thoroughly by the time II
is Issued to them IN camp The hand
books OF the 5-inch gun and the new
artillery drill regulations are in great
demand and are being studied enthusi-
astically by the nOncOmmissioned off,
GERS who are looking for promotion. an
tcipated as soon as the reorganization
goes into effect.
Conducting n school.
Maj Harvey. Of the Third battalion
Second Regiment, is conducting a school
for his officers on map reading ana man
making. Every officer IN his battalion is
engaged during his snare time IN making
q military map and Typographical
sketchas Of some section Of the coun+rv
near Washington They are interested IN
their work, and are making rapid nroe-
ress. In his battalion. as in the other or
gsniZations Of the Guard. the officers ara
turning their attention more and mora m
practical field work. which IS now given
preference over the more formal drill at |
close order. Il
Maj Young, OF the Third Battalion.
First Infantry. is giving special attention
TO guard duty, extended order drill. and
practice in loading and firing. One of |
the general criticisms Of the infantry |
troops at the last inspection was that the |
men did not seem 70 have sufficient drill 1
IN loading and firing the new rifles. Maj I
Young has made requisition for dummy /
cartridges to be used IN this drill. and Is I
determined this criticism will not be re- /
peated when his battalion is again scru- /
tiRized by the regular officers
The resignation Of Lieut. Henry H /
Leizear, Inspector Of rife practice OF the |
Third Battalion, First Infantry, has been I
accepted. Lieut.. Malvin z. Johns of
Company 1. First Regiment. was one OF
the machinists recently discharged from
the navy yard. He has taken thirty days /
furlough and gone 10 Richmond. Va. in 1
search OF employment
May Resign Position.
II he decides not to return to Wash
ington, he will resign. and his position /
will probably be the first TO be filed
under the new regulations providing for