Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-24
TROOPS ARE READY
TO MEET AN ATTACK
Gen. Woods Force of 800
Men Intrenched on River
Bank at BeIvoir, Va.
ENGINEERS AND CAVALRY
PLAYING. THE WAR GAME
Bridges Built, Trenches Dug, Wire
Entanglements Placed With
Rapidly and Skill.
From a stan Correspondent.

From STAFF Correspondent.
UNITED STATES ARMY MOB1LlZA-
TON CAMP. BELvOIR. Va, October
24.-At camp in the "enemy's" country.
with outposts in contact and battle
impending are the 500 troops-cavalry
from Fort Myer and engineers from
Washington barracks-who would be
called upon to defend Washington in
time of war. They are hivouacked on the
rivers edge with nothing but q blanket
separating them from the ground when
they lie down to sleep. Last night they
literally slept on their arms. ready to
respond to the bugler's call to arms
at moments notice.
| These troops Of the mobile army, who
would be called upon to defend Wash
ington in the event Of attack. are pre-
pared. They have shown it in this move
ment There was no warning that they
would be called out, they just received
telephone orders-at least the officers
did-to prepare for action with heavy
marching equipment and four days
rations. The soldiers believed they were
going on the parade grounds of their
posts for inspection, but at nightfall
they were twenty miles away, not with
beds in the dormitories to sleep in. but
with the hard ground as couch. And
they don't know when they are coming
back The officers do not know. That is
part Of the game-take the situation as
lit comes.
| When Mai. Gen. Leonard Wood, for
mer chief of the general staff and now
commander of the Department Of the
East, finishes his inspection and Is sat
isfied that the troops are efficient, then
the maneuvers will be over It Is true
that they have only four days rations,
but, then. part Of the strategy of war
Is to keep open lines of Communication
to the supply trains.
Display of Activity.
| Early yesterday the troops were up
and doing. The engineers were build
ing bridges. digging trenches and con-
structing wire entanglements to harass
the enemy in its onslaught. These
soldiers passed over what seemed to be
linsurmountable obstacles. Deep Rullies
where troops would lose time Il they
had to go down in them to cross, were
the material that nature provided to
construct these bridges. They cut
down trees, planted and braced the
framework. constructed the bridge
floor with the small boughs and GOV
|ered it with dirt and grass. and that
bridge will stand any kind of wear and
ltear-any kind of movement, even OF
heavy combat trains.
The combat trains were placed
Throughout the woods in the morning
forming bases for the engineer opera
tions. 1t was an engineer dav yester-
day. making preparations to resist an
attack of the enemy, which came to-
day, when the cavalry got in It's work
in outpost duty, and for miles before
the camp is reached. through woods
which provide nothing more than q
trail, khaki-claA cavalrymen could be
seen partially hidden under natural
cover Here and there a mounted SOL
der would be seen dashing through the
woods, hurdling over the underbrush
here. and riding under the horses
stomach there to keep from being
swept from his saddle by low-hangine
branches, for the cavalryman cannot
pick his path; he must keep out OF
sight. Now and then q troop could be
seen waiting in the woods for some
eagle-eyed outpost to rush back and
report the enemy's movements.
II Work Of the Engineers.
But the engineers all of yesterday
and late into the night worked hard t.
provide protection from rife fire ant
protection from the view of the enemy
Every known contrivance of this kline
was provided. Two miles from thu
headquarters a blockhouse was con
structed and trenches lead from this.
The trenches were dug waist deep
and then sandbags were piled up and
roof of natural foliage topped all. max
ing the breastworks practically in
visible until one was right on top O
them. The wire entanglements wer
such that If one stepped into them !
would be a hopeless task to get out
\ it would be like fly In the spider
/ web.
When Gen. Good arrived in camp h
Immediately proceeded to inspect tn
H operations of this force. With Co
H Wilder, commanding the camp, and tn
\ staff of officers, he went over the enttr
/ reservation at Belvoir, through n
H heavy woods, across the bridges bull
\ by the engineers. and examined mi
| nutely every detail. They examine
H the trenches and the blockhouse an
4 the entanglements, and seemed vel
nIeased with the efficiency OF tn
II troops.
No Date for Breaking Camp.
lust when the command will breal
camp on the chilly river side Is no
n known. Gen. Wood has not yet de
cided, but, as stated, It will be whel
\ the officers and men have proved thei
\ efficiency. The entire afternoon wa
\ taken by the general and his STAG ~