Evening star., 1914-12-13

question of a site has not yet come up,
officers are wondering whether or not
the War Department will give its deci-
sion as to whether it shall be held ma
neuyers with the regular army or an
annual cncanpment in plenty OF time
for the organizations to make their
plans without the rush which was
forced on the local National Guard
.ast year.
owing to the Mexican situation then
prevailing the War Department held
of for a long time its determination
as to whether the guard should par
ticipate in the field lnaueuvers, involV-
ing an attack and defense of the Capt.
;aI city, or should go to joint en-
campment. When the decision was
finally made known 1t was a matter
of constant rushing on the part of
those having charge of the arrange
nents for the local National Guard.
With a militia organization 1t is
necessary for the members TO nave
plenty of time, SO that they may maze
arrangements for their leave, and wheh
the dates are announced only ieW
weeks before the encampment 1t holds
down materially the percentage OF at
tendance, simply because 1t is lmpos-
sible for the militiamen TO adjust their
leaves at their places of employment.
In many cases those in the War De-
partment directing the work OF the
militia forget the fact that they are
not dealing with a regular army or
Saniza tion, which can he lined up ana
marched to camp i'll short order 1ol-
lowing a few nourlshes On the bugIe.
Despite the short notice received by
the local National Guard last year, the
attendance at the encampment was the
largest in the history OF encamplnents
of the National Guard OF the District
of Columbia 1t was also one OF the
most successful and instructive camps
in the guards history, and officers OF
the local guard organization are look
ing forward to an encampment just as
instructive as the one last year. They
are also hoping that site similar 10
that of last year will be OBTAINED
Though no steps have yet been taken
toward again obtaining the Virginia
Beach camp site for the National
Guard, it is known that many of the
officers and men would like to go there
again.
Wholly outside of the cost of trans
portation, it was declared to have been
the least expensive of former camps.
There was nothing to pay for the site,
and. located in the midst of an agri-
cultural section. vegetables and other |
supplies were obtainable at reasonable |
cost, according to officers who looked |
after these matters.
The cost of the transportation of the |
troops furnished the principal problem |
However, it is pointed out that since the |
troops have been withdrawn from Vera |
Cruz the four big army transports, which !
in peace times lie at anchor at Norloik |
with only crew enough aboard to Keep
them in repair, might be easily OBJ
tanned from the War Department for
the mere cost of operation. Two OF
the transports would be sufficient to
transport the entire guard, with its
property, to Norfolk, from where they |
could proceed by electric trains to Nlr-
sinia Beach
II is further pointed out that if ar
rangements are made for the use of the
army transports the cost of the camp |
would begso much lower than previous
cncampments that the site could not be |
overlooked. Besides, it is an attrac- |
zion for the men, and, if the announce
nent of the dates are made in plenty |
of time. it is declared. an unprecedented
attendance of men could be looked for |
ward to, as the surf bathing and the |
attractions of the nearby resort ap-
peal to the citizen soldiers while at an
-ncdmpment-
organizations of the local National
Guard are taking to the social side in
an effort to stir up interest among the |
members, and lately there have been a |
number of dances and smokers engi-
neered by several of the companies and
one regiment These have been quite a |
success and have served to increase |
the interest and the attendance of the |
men.
During the week the I'd Regiment of |
infantry gave dance at d. A. r. Hall.
and it is understood that a full dress ball |
soon is to be given by that regiment
The social affairs do not interfere
with the more serious side of the guard |
that of preparing for war Officers
who have been in the guard when so
eial events were not encouraged de
clare that they help materially in stir |
ring up the interest of the young men
and getting them down to drills.
An instance of the magnetism of these |
little social affairs was given at COM |
pany smoker during the week. Six of |
the members of this company had been |
very irregular in their attendance, and |
summary court-martial papers We're
made out, but the soldier charged with |
Serving them could not locate the men |
A little later an invitation was sent |
out to all the members of the company |
TO be present at smoker: They all |
each one of them stepped over the |
Threshold of the company room he |
was served with the court-martial pa |
pers. carried before the officer and
then returned to the company rooms |
for good time.
squarely on the shoulders of the
placed the burden of saving the coun
try in time of war by President Will |
son in his annual address to Congress. |
-A1ter declaring that we never have |
had, and while we retain our present |
principles and ideals, we never shall |
have. a large standing army he said: |
Let US remind ourselves therefore |
of the only thing we can do or will |
do. We must depend in every time of !
national peril. in the future as in the |
past, not upon standing army, but |
upon citiZenry trained and accus- |
toned to arms 1t will be right |
enough, right American policy, based
upon our accustomed principles and
practices, to provide system by
which every citizen who will volunteer
for the training may be made familiar
with the use of modern arms, the
rudiments of drill and maneuver and
the maintenance and sanitation of
camps.
we should encourage such training
and make it means OF discipline
which our young men will learn to
value. 1t is right that We should not
only provide it, but thai VIC should
make it as attractive possible, and
so induce our young men to undergo
u at such times they can command
little freedom and can seek the
physical development they need, for
mere healths sake. if for nothing
more. Every means by which such
things can be stimulated is legiti
mate. and such d method smacks of
true American ideas.
1T is right, too, that the National
Guard of the states should be develop
ed and strengthened by every means
which is not inconsistent with our OBJ
legations to our own people or with
hA VtAh hn1