Evening star., 1914-08-18
Gives Exhibition and Engages
an Sports for Benefit of Com
{ manding General.
OFFICERS ENGAGE IN
+ SMOKE-B0MB PRACTICE
Driving Rain Makes Field Work
Hard for Militiamen-Promotions
3 Are Announced.
5ecial Dispatch to The star.

SJOINT ARTILLERY CAMP OF IN
HRCCTION, TOBYHANNA, Pa, Au-
gsst 1s-with the red guidon flying at
tie head of the column, the 1st Bat
terry, Field Artillery, National Guard.
District of Columbia, trotted on Sher-
nan field early this morning TOR
Inbunted drill and instruction in firing
tie battery. For two hours the battery
Went through maneuvers, making fig
,ire eights and short turns with the
hfx guns, limbering and unlimbering
tie guns, firing at imaginary targets
AID training their sights on various
objects barely visible behind the high
nountains.
.sCapt Louis C. Vogt commanded the
oattery. while the remaining officers
Rrticipated in smoke-homb prsctice
The special details accompanied the
battery, and set lines of communica-
rton with the observing stations in
QSick time.
SThe heavy rain of yesterday left the
fHld in bad shape. and the going was
Kfavy The men this afternoon take
n4rt in the field day sport. held for the
Hlnefit of Maj. Leonard Wood. The
tbn battery. and the men say that
cney will prove equal to the honors
accorded them.
aThe firing problem will be observed
by Gen. Wood. The local battery has
quite few entries in the field sports.
{ Drill in Driving Rain.
SYesterday afternoon the drills were
lHld In a heavy. cold. driving rain. and
DE men were drenched to the skin.
{Private Mark Rupp of Battery E,
gifted States Army. this morning met
J4th a serious accident while out on
the range making smoke-bomb prac-
TIE. A heavy rain came up and tele-
Bhone communication with headQuar-
tnrs three miles away was interrupted.
Private Patrick A. Porter, commanding
The range party, wishing to know
Whether he was to come into camp.
attract the attention of Lieut.. E. Burle-
$3n. commanding the observing station.
ERupp fired the bomb. but the heavy
Nin falling caused the flash to take
into can of powder at his feet. The
powder ignited and Rupp had no
cAance to escape. He was enveloped
ID flames. Porter and Cramer beat out
&e flames and carried Rupp three
nales over rocky mountain trails to the
H5spital. His face. hands and body
Vere burned severely. and 1t is said
tAat he may lose the sight of one eye,
X not ooth. First aid was given by
Sergt. Ehinger of the Medical Corps.
Z Theoretical Bomb Practice.
1Artiliery practice. in which the target
is pierced by mathematical processes In
stead Of steel-capped projectiles. was the
novel spectacle presented this afternoon
ID the Washington officers Smoke
tSmbs. placed on the targets by the ex-
S6yfa of vvJp ~
die place of the shrapnel, while the Of
feers. thousands of yards from the tar
aSts. fixed their data and transmitted
tfem over the telephone.
cWben the officers had finished their
data and were ready to fire they tele-
pnoned this fact to the targets, the exact
ELEVATION OF their mythical guns, the al
lSwance for wind currents and other
Considerations for accurate firing. The
rnnse party then placed the smoke bombs
"a the exact spot where the shell would
IN and Hired their bomb. This gave I'D
pnns Of smoke, so that the officers could
where their shells would have struck
had they been real
sfa6 6le sergeants report to the United
States Army veterinarian at the ,veteri-,
nary hospital located in a big red barn
nTar the Sherman House or headquarters.
ehses and care of the horses in-Atheir
Charge. Stable Sergt. Long of the
battery has been with the organization
ever since it was organized and has never
missed an encampment.
THE afternoon drill was held on Sher-
man Field, the only level spot for miles
around. There was a long period of
Standing gun practice for the cannoneers
and drill Of the battery mounted. The
hprses were full of pep and ginger. The
drivers displayed good horsemanship in
keeping them under control, and, after
rtalizing that the men on them meant
bAsiness, the animals behaved we'll and
Answered the calls Of the bugie with as
much precision as the men themselves.
These horses know their duty from long
training. and their action and intelligence.
when properly driven. are like that of cir
Gus performers. The men were highly
eiated over their showing the first day.
( Promotions Announced.
Corp. Herbert r. Young has been pro-
u{oted to be sergeant. Private ]. c. Peake
p be corporal, and Privates Maurice
Cbmer and H. G. Beers to be mechanics
Mechanic Gustave A. Anderson has been
made chief mechanic.
THE ammunition was drawn by a de-
tail from the battery yesterday morning
and today was placed In the caissons
Two hundred and thirty-six rounds OF
shrapnel and solid shell were drawn
Each round costs about $40 and during
their stay here the battery will shoot
Away about S2, $50 worth of Shells
he health OF the men has been ex-
csilent and so far not one has reported
70 the hospital. The weather has been