The Washington herald., 1910-07-21
Teeth Chatter in Cold as
They Leave Their Tents.
HIKE" OF EIGHT MILES MADE
First Day at Gettysburg One OF Real
Work-OnIy Two Ambulance Corps
the Other an Aggravated Corn.
Joint Maneuvers Begin To-day.
Az a So corrsrondent.l


are certainly duh In my line. Only two
cases since we reached camp. One a
bruised finger and the other an aggTa-
waited corn. Why, I remember eighteen
years ago when the District guardsmen
were at Fort Washington in August, we
had thirty-hve heat prostrations in one
regimental parade"
This was the comment made by Maj.
r. A Foster. in command Of the Dis
trict ambulance corps, as he stood watch
ing a game of snappy baseball between
two companies OF the engineers from
Washington Barracks this evening.
II explains weather conditions as the
District men found them. The sun shines
brightly every day and the men, white
faced from the confines Of offices and
shops. have taken on a rudy glow that
varies from a dark brown to that
OF an exceedingly fiery red. But at
night they find their cumbersome army
blankets none too heavy. They declare
they feel at night as though they were
trying TO Guido Peary.
Shfyer with Cold.
There were few men In their cots when
reveille was sounded about the time
old Sol was trying to overlap the horizon.
They all had 10 get out and, shivering
with the cold, try TO restore cfrcula-
ton. The high altitude OF the camp
Of instruction at Gettysburg has done
more to get the guardsmen in full uni
form for the first roll call than all the
disciplinary measures ever prescribed by
regulations could accomplish.
When the men came from their tents.
ehattering with the cold this morning,
they found everything wet from heavy
mist and locking bleak and gloomy,
Before many hours they were wishing
for shady spots The air Is inyigorating.
however. and keen appetites keep the
company cooks working overtime.
This was the first day Of real work for
the District guardsmen. Their hike
was eight miles. And It viii bring Joy
to the hearts OF a very large majority
Of them that that distance Is destined to
be the longest OF their stay.
Plenty of Hard Work.
To-day's work for the militiamen. which
included the troops from West Virginia
as well as those from the District, con-
sisted Of squadron and regimental exer-
cises in advance. rear. and flank guards
Almost a perfect circle was covered in
the movement along these lines made by
the Second Regiment OF the District.
The first battalion and the third were
pitted against the second battalion AS
the first battalion. under the command OF
Mai Anton stephan. with the third bat
talon. under Maj. Alexander Summers.
came down the road, they were given an
excellent lesson in flank guard The
second battalion was under the command
OF Maj Thacker " Walker. The prob
lem solved by the First Regiment or the
District was along similar lines
At the close OF the exercises the troops
were marched to camp under the com
mand OF noncommissioned officers. and
the officers had their daily discussion Of
the exercises On the ground.
Signal Corps Exercises.
This work consumed the morning. IN
the afternoon battalion. battery. and
/ troop drills were held, with special exer-
cises for the Signal Corps Company of
the District The officers in the after
noon also had their tactical ride and
walk and study of exercises for to-mor-
row.
/ Five rounds Of ammunition have been
I issued TO each man for the exercises to
/ morrow. and something resembling the
! Joint maneuvers Of the regulars and mil
| itiamen TO come next week win be had
when powder will be burned 10 lend real
IT.
tons will be IN the vicinity OF the Balti-
more pike. All told. fifty rounds of am
| munition have been issued for similar
tactics
| The special exercises OF the Signal
| Corps Company OF the Distr ct consisted
of visual signaling. in preparation for the
coming joint maneuvers Special reliance
in the maneuver will be placed upon this
company in the absence of Company A.
Of the United States army. which OF the
last moment was sent to Pine Plains
Camp. n. Y Much regret was felt
by the District signal men at headqua--
ters on this account, as Il was expected
that the experience TO be gathered fro n
association with this crack company
would do more for the District Sign, |
Corps Company than year of weekly
drills.
VIII Do Visual Signal work.
Capt G. 4. Nugent. of the Coast Artil,
lery. L. S. A, had squads of the District
signal men in the field both morning
and afternoon for short and long distance
visual signal work In the maneuvers
these squads viii be placed with the
troops in the field and with the umpires
They viii handle orders governing the
maneuvers. and much will depend upon
them The company will also be kept
busy in ''buzzer.'' or field telegraph
work, and with their wireless equipment.
which is OF the latest design.
Attention to-day was conferred in the
several hundred horses and mules at the
camp. Spinal meningitis has broken out
among the horses of the Fifteenth Cav
| airy OF the regular army. and already
three OF them have died. Stringent pre-
/ cautions have been taken to prevent the