The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-14
OFFICERS AND MEN
COMPLAIN Of CAMP
n2GLARE VIRGINIA BEACH SITE
Is UNFIT FOR USE BY THE
STATE MILITIA.
-------~- sssSs
ABANDON MANOUVERS
ONLY TWO AND A HALF DAYS OF
REAL WORK ATTEMPTED
DURING sTAY-NO SUR
FACE DRAINAGE.
ABANDON MANOUVERS

With $50, o0o appropriated by the
State and federal government for the
eight days encampment at Virginia
Beach by the Virginia brigade, Viz
ginia Volunteers. expended for only
two and one-half days work, the
real story of the encampment and
Of the indignation of officers and men
at the conditions they found ons the
site and the difficulties they labored
under while merely attempting mill
tary routine was told yesterday after
the return of the First battalion,
First Virginia regiment, under com
mand of Major Lawrence T. Price.
The camp site is only two feet
above sea level and there was ABB
solutely no surface drainage. The
men had to dig down to the drain
age aiing because the water would
not soak through and on Friday near
~ every tenth man In the entire
brigade worked in bathing suits, while
others and even the officers them
selves took Off their shoes and waded
about the grounds in their bare feet
In some instances the water was
nearly up to their knees. and some Of
the men had actually to lie down in
the water. The grounds. 1t was said
were covered with water when the
brigade arrived, and inccssant storms
made the conditions SO had that mill
tary duty was performed only thu ugh
Tuesday and Wednesday and Thurs
day morning Little effort. 1t was
stated, was made to maintain discf-
pline, and the men did practically as
they pleased. Strange enough. how
ever, there was no sickness. and this
is accounted for principally by the
fact that 900 gallons OF oil had been
poured into the breeding places OF
mosquitoes. and those of them which
were not killed by the oil were de-
stroyed or rendered harmless by the
rain. So the fact that there was no
outbreak of typhoid or other disease
was more a matter of luck than the
result OF foresight.
Five Under Arrest.
!. Five men pef~ethe First4 Virginia
regiment were brought back prison
ers by Major Price. and were sent
under escort to the city Jail to await
announcement of the findings OF the
court martial which tried them. The
report of the findings will be issued
by the adjutant general probably to-
morrow or the next dayshFc of
the men-Arthur Hicks, $50 South
First street:s Charles Sweeney. SIS
North Twenty -seventh street, and
George Pumphrey. GIT North Twenty
third street, left their camp Wednes-
day night. and are charged with de-
sertion. They may he dishonorably
discharged and fined and jailed for
their offanse. The other two men
are charged with disobedience to or
ders. remaining away from their
quarters and with stealing. II Is al
legged that they stole IS from fell
low soldier while they were Bathing
on the beach on Tuesday. Though
the evidence - to their guilt on the
cumstantial, II ID said that they con-
fessed to the theft when brought be-
fore the court martial. One Of the
two has served q years enlistment
while the other has served but .
week. Though dishonorable dis
charge from the military service OF the