Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-16

Lieut.. Johnson announced to the COM
pany that as soon As it was recruited
up to the required strength he would
appoint a full quota of non-commission-
ed officers. He urged the men To do all
they can to get recruits and to point out
to men who might join the company the
advantages offered to learn telegraphy.
telephony and wireless telegraphy. Poles
| for wireless apparatus Will be erected
at the new armOry.
| The War Department. through the
division of militia affairs. is already
making active preparations for giving
special instructions to National Guard
officers i'll practical field work before
the Joint maneuyerS next summer. In
| the early part of the summer d special
camp of instruction for National Guard
lofficerS of the Field Artillery, Signal Corps
and Engineer Corps will be established at
Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Several Off
GERS from the list Battery Field Artil
! lery. and the Signal Corps company OF
the local brigade will probably be sent
! to Fort LeavenwOrth for Il two-week
course OF instruction.
| In pursuance OF a similar plan for in
! fantry officers, the division of militia af-
fairs has sent the following letter to the
! adiutantS general Of the District and the
various states.
Suggestions have come from the adju-
it would he heneficial If officers of the
infantry of tile organized militia of their
states could be given certain elementary
instruction preliminary 10 the field serT-
ice maneuTerS of the ensuing summer.
including drill. care of the rifle. camp
police and sanitation, first aid. handling
of the government ration. company paper
work. map reading, patrols. advance and
| rear guards. ontposts. attack and defense
and preparation of field orders.
In order to out these Sfl2gcS-
tons the Secretary of War has author
lied that correspondence be lad with the
adjEtant generals Of states ana terri
tories that may wish TO arrange for such
instruction, with view To assembling
the officers of the infantry organizations
OF their respective states in one more
camps some time during next spring or
tho early summer. prior TO the time fixed
for the usual summer camps of instruc-
ton, and with view to arranging Il
brief course of instruction under compe-
tent regular officers
The sites of these camps would be
selected by the state military authorities.
In selcctin, them care should be taken
| to give full attention to the dcsira bility
| OF having Il terrain suitable for instriic-
| ton in map reading and tactical walks.
| After the sites have been selected and
other preliminary arrangements have
! been effected by correspondence with this
Office. competent officers should, on ac-
ton of the adjutant generals of the
states. be detailed to make contour maps
! of the vicinity of the sites, and an ef-
fort should be made to have these maps
printed and ready for distribution to the
officers of the militia upon their arrival
at The camp ground.
| with this end in view department
| comma nders have been Instructed to I'M
dertake to cooperate with the state mill
| tary authorities in carrying out such d
| scheme. whenever application is made
by the latter TO participate therein.
,.,1,
| conrenpiates that instruction in eIemen-
! tary duties shall be given, officers at
tending the camps should come provided
with the field equipment of "A private
soldier. as we'll as that of AN officer.
| While the camps are designed pri-
| marily for company officers and battalion
! staff officers it is thought that in some
| cases field officers and regimental staff
| officers might desire to attend, and if this
in any case should prove to be the fact
| 1t is desired that they be included, pro-
| vided it be understood that, for purposes
of imparting the elementary instruction
contemplated by the scheme, they would
| he willing temporarily To waive all uueS-
| tinns of rank and participate on an equal
, footing with all, in squad and company
drill
The pay of officers Of the organized
militia for the period of the encam, -
ment and their transportation from their
home stations and for the return to their
home stations can be leSitimately de-
frayed from funds allotted to the states
under section 1861. Revised Statutes as
amended.
1t is contemplate ted that the instruction
shall be conducted in such Il way as TO
prepare officers for the more elementary
and routine duties connected with field
manellverS and the joint encampments to
be held later I'm the summer. In this con-
nection attention is invited to the circu-
lar letter of this office of December 81.
Es9.
1t is desired to know at the earliest