The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-25
Virginia Militia Com
mands to Have Series
Of Encampments,
PLACE is NOT
YET SELECTED
New State Site at Virginia Beach
Cannot Be Made Ready--Regi-
lnents and Separate Bat
talions to Take Turns at
Grounds to Be
Chosen.

Five camps OF instruction Instead OF
one is the program for the Virginia
Volunteers during tho coming summer,
unless there is q radical change made
in plans which have been prepared in
the Office of the Adjutant-Generai
There Will be three rcgim.n,al and two
battalion cncampmcnts. One week wiz
be allotted each to the three regiments
First. Second and Fourth Infuntry-
and the same for the First Battalion
OF Field Artillery and the Richrnond
Light Infantry Blues Battalion.
This Is an announcement OF thu,
greatest interest TO the Virginia mill
tia. since the impression has prevailed
that there would be no cncampmcn,
this year
No place for the cncarnpment has
been nciected by Adiu,ant- General w
= ". Sale, according 10 statement
made by him yesterday. However, IT
VIII not be 1T the new rife range and
camp site at Virginia Reach. which
was given TO tho State for this pur-
posc. This Is due to the fact tina, tho
deed to the State has not yet been
delivered. and It Is now too late for
tho Norfolk Southern TO lay a track to
tho camp In order to accommodate to
the soldiers and for the transportation
of the great quantity of baggage. For
this reason no work mas yet been done
TO place the property In suitable shape
FOR the esta bIishmcnt OF modci and
sanitary camp.
M Getting Hest spot
II am now going over tho merits OF
several points which may prove adapt
able as camp sites" General sale said
Il am not now in a position 10 make
any statements concerning this, but I
will endcavor to secure place which
Will be accessible TO all parts OF the
state.
officers school of instruction TO take
place from May % 10 May 81, at Iuray
This Will be the first OF this year s
cncampmcnts.
'The first camp or tile various com
nnnds will start in August, though
thus far no program relative 10 the
order OF leaving and returning has
been prepared.
'Howevcr. / hope to select some site
at an early date. for it is my purpose
10 have whatever ground decided upon
placed In proper order TO accomm odate
the men,
Many officers OF tho volunteers are
IN favor of the separate cncanpment
plan. 1t is pointed out that in smaller
numbers the training OF the men Will
be more thorough and will tend great
iy TO increase the efficiency OF the
guard.
Get Field Practice,
The civilian soldiers will &c given
practice similar to that which they.
had last summer In The joint manoeu-
vres at Gettysburg. They will fight
Imaginary foes and receive ample in
structon in tactical practice.
Brigade Headquarters under the com
mand of General c. c. Vaughan, Jr..
VIII probably be established at the
opening of the first camp and main
tanned throughout the five weeks. tina.
the field officers may keep in close
touch with the work Of the militia
men.
The ground will early be equipped
with improved sanitary appliances AM,
water facilities and a permanent camp
established before the first consign-
'nent OF troops reaches there
If the idea now being formulated
is carried out 1t Will not he necessary
for the various commands to carry
much baggage. as tits planned to put
up the camp and maintain canvas
city throughout tho period which VIII
be occupied in the manocuvrcs
To Avoid Dlunders.
With knowledge gained from previ-
Gus cncampments, It is planned 10
make Inc temporary homo Of the civil
ian soldiers one OF the most compro-
hensivc In tho annals Of the Virginia
militia. Guided by blunders in tic
past, all Objectionable features VIII be
eliminated wherever possible
1t was first planned TO have the
battalion Of field artillery and tho
Iichnond Blues Battalion at camn al
nc Same time. but this was given IN.
and 1t was decided to send thcs, ar
Eanizations at different times.
No announcement has yet been moda
where thc.artillery officers Will be scnt
this year for instruction PURPOSES
To the infantry officers the selection
of Luray Is believed to be satisfactor,
they VIII he there for the last scvon
days IN May and their work will be
under the direction Of officers Hdet,i,
cd from the regular army
1T Petersburg Last Year.
Last year commissioned infantry1per
were IN camp al Petersburg While tbc
officers OF the artillery were sent to
Fort Riley, Kan It Is believed tho lat :
ter will again visit tho Kansas army
post this year Nearly all or the ar
'illery officers avaiIed themselves RI
the opportunity Of going TO Fort Riley
either for one period Of ten DAYS or for
the three periods. making thirty DAYS
Only about one-half of tho infantry
officers We're present at Petcrsburg.
There arc about iS5 officers In tho
= State, l60 Of whom arc infantrymen
IT. is expected that there will be q
larger showing al Lnray than az Pet
creburg.
The smallest cncampment during the
general manoeuvre period will BIZ that
Of the Richmond Blues. This battalion
conslsts Of three companies with n
strength, including officers or lcss
han 600
The Second Regiment has only two
battalions, while the First aid Fourth
/. each have three ,battalons. The bat
TALON Of field artillery Is composed Of
Continued OH Third Page)