The Washington herald., 1911-08-16
BY RUSSELL NJ. McLENNAN,
First Lieutenant, n. G. d. C.

First Lieutenant. n. G. D. c.
There is something in store to-day
for the officers of the District National
Guard encamped at Fort Myer which
Is not on the original programme If
the officers have felt weary from their
Efforts of Monday and yesterday, they
will beyond all doubt know more of
what real WEAKNESS is before they turn
n for well-earned sleep tonight.
"EATS" WILL BE LIGHT.
Every officer in the camp at 7:3o o'clock
This morning will answer the call for
The beneficial, although dreaded, "tacti-
cal walk, equipped with maps, binocu-
'ars, note books. and pencils An unusual
but essential part of their marching
equipment will be a light lunch. This is
because the affair promises to be under
way until 2 o'clock in the afternoon, or
possibly later. The chefs and camp at
!endants will have an easier time to-day,
as the noon meal will not be prepared in
camp.
There is one ray of hope held out,
however. 1t is the information. CRATE
FULLY received by the officers, that the
return will be made by train. The route
20 be followed will be to West Falls
Church. thence north across the Old Do
minion electric line toward Langley The
big party will probably entrain at the
latter point.
Yesterday mornings tactical walk, last
Ing from 7:3O a. m, TO II AS a. M, proved
severe tax on the endurance of the
militia as we'll as the regular army Off
GERS who are acting as instructors The
sun of the morning shed its rays pitt
tessly on the white and yellow dust Of the
Virginia roads, and was reflected in
shimmering heat waves into the stream
ing faces of the officers. They all stuck
t out and completed the working out of
he problem of advance guard. contact
IN march, and attack of enemy before
heir return to camp. After a shower
bath and general sticking up, the officers
ELL TO at dinner with an appetite they
seldom possess while following their GUS
:omary vocations in Washington.
"HOstile'' Country Traversed.
The walk. or more expressively
speaking. the hike" was in the gen
eral direction of Cedar Grove, and con-
cerned the advance through hostile
country for four days on short rations
Of the District Brigade, namely, two
regiments of infantry, one separate
battalion, one battery of field artillery,
and Signal Corps company. The regi-
mental, staff, quartermaster, and adju- |
tant officers all had their work cut out
for them and worked at the solutions
of the problems presented for hours |
after their return to camp. The Sc
curing of supplies in a hostile country |
was an important one, necessitating |
their seizure. To the quartermaster Of |
ficers the country looked anything but |
a land of plenty.
To the adjutant officers fell the duty |
of laying out the line OF march and |
picking camp sites. The entire problem |
brought the field service regulations
Into use, and the little black book was
opened at certain pages at various
periods in order that the officers could |
once again read, with A new light, para
graph after paragraph that they knew
by heart.
Officers Discuss Tactics.
ried on a practical talk on Infantry VS..
Cavalry" This discussion waxed so in
teresting to' the officers that it overran
Its allotted time. Other talks were on
by the departmental and
regimental staff officers. military sketch
Ing by company and battalion staff Off
GERS. and on outposts by all officers
While all this was going on, the First
Field Artillery, and the major
part OF the signal corps company were
doing the most practical OF practical
work. And 1t was such that the regu-
lar army officers attached to these Or
expressed surprise in a COM
plimentary manner at the real ability
shown by the officers and men. The two
got away from their Mis-
rouri avenue armory without incident,
and in the afternoon completed the first
eg of their three-day overland march to
Frederick, Nd. They camped last night
hear Rockville.
That no untoward accident occurred and
he utter absence of confusion were the