Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-03
In Good Time for First Lesson.

From reveille until the noon mess this
morning the soldier boys from Washing
ton who participating in the encamp-
Inent of the National Guard of the Dis
trict of Columbia were up and doing.
After day of rest yesterday and a day
of big feasts the soldier boys were well
primed for their first instruction in the
art Of military operations.
Soon after the morning gun doomed
FORTH its salute to the colors, the khaki
clad citizen soldiers of the District turned
out of their chilly cots. hurried for the
mess tent and then prepared for the
morning full of drills.
Directly after the morning mess the
soldier boys went into the field without
their rifles and were taught the first part
of the soldiers drill life, the squad move
ments.
a number of the lieutenants were taken
In hand by the regular army instructors
and with pencils and planning boards
the went out over the sand hills making
sketches of the surrounding country
which might be used by troops operating
in any maneuvers which are to be held
in connection with the encampment.
Every hill. stream Of water and point of
vantage will be mapped out. so that the
curate knowledge of what conditions they
will have to meet when they face the
enemy
Buglers Test Their Lungs.
sBugle calls Of all descriptions went
ringing over the campgrounds all the
morning. when the buglers were required
to test their lungs In blowing the calls
which they would be required to give
should they be called into the service OF
Uncle Sam in time of an international
unpleasantness.
After the soldier boys had an hours
drill fhair rel 81
back to the company streets, where
their rifles were issued and then out on
the parade ground again. where they
were given instruction in close order
work under arms. Close order drill is
simply the marching in close formation
such in parade. Through with the
close order drilling. the troops put on
their heavy marching equipment and are
prepared for some hot work. This time
at was shelter-tent pitching.
Although the boys not only had their
i first taste of shelter-tent pitching while
en- route to the Virginia Beach camp
Groand last Thursday night. neverthe-
less they will have to be drilled and
drilled so that they get their tents
est possible time. Last Friday they not
only pitched them, but they slept in
them for one night.
If the soldier while marching with his
heavy field equipment Is to be as COM
Portable as possible. he must pack his
blanket roll just so. and the District
| boys were shown this morning just how
to pack their rolls
The program this morning also called
for instruction in rendering first aid.
There were bandages Of all kinds about
the campgrounds, while the District
boys were shown how TO dress the diff
ferent kinds OF wounds which a soldier
may receive IN time of war.
The camp presented busy scene all
the morning, and the guardsmen had all
they could do, but there was something
pleasant to look for In the afternoon.
when all hands were turned loose to go
in swimming in the surf Afternoons
Will be given over to the men during the
entire encampment. Certain periods
have been established for the men to GO
in bathing. and during that time life
guard will be on, duty. together with
against any possible emergency.
Although yesterday was intended to
be without drills. a number of the or
plantations took the men to the parade
ground in the morning TO prepare them
for the big brigade dress parade which
was held yesterday afternoon. num-
Der of the men who enlisted Just be-
fore the guard left for the annual
encampment were formed into an awk-
ward squad and given their final in
structions so that they could show the
visitors from Virginia Beach and
nearby points just how fine a show
ing the District of Columbia citizen
soldier boys could make when on dress
parade
The Signal Corps also held a drill In
the morning yesterday to get the men
and horses in training for the dress
parade. II was shortly before
O'Clock when the lone buglar stepped
in front of the brigade headquarter.
and sounded the assembly. which was