Evening star., 1914-08-06

of the main body of troops. The first
Of the fighting began just south Of the
base where the camp is located. and
when the first shots We're heard the
main body of troops was carried for
ward at double quick to support the
advance company
After the first few shots were fired
the enemy. appare believing it was
outnumbered. succeeded in losing itself
for more than half an hour in the sand
hills and heavy underhrush. After
some searching another contact was
established and the fighting continued
in earnest throughout TIE morning.
The Signal Corps Company. protect
ing division. dashed away from the
campSround shortly after the first
shots We're heard 1t located the ad
vance guard of the District troops and
established a field telephone line five
miles long. along the railroad tracks
leading from the campground. sup
plementing the telephone service was
the field wireless. The station along
the firinc line was constantly in touch
with the station at headquarters. and
eral uniformed as to the location of
his various commands or of the
progress of the fight.
Conditions Ideal for Wireless.
Several attempts to destroy the line of
communication of the District troops
proved unsuccessful. But to destroy the
field line would not have Inconvenience
the fighting troops. as conditions were
ideal for the use of the wireless.
The ground over which the fight took
place was sandy hills. and although fur
nishing ideal readymade breastworks for
the protection of the troops, the travelling
over them was hard When the District
boys were ordered to retreat to make an
attack on their beefsteak they were ..
tired lot and ready to make Il successful
fight
When the fight ragged the soldier BOYS
from the District of Columbia were right
/ in the midst of it. They had a hard job
IN the beginning locating the fire of the
enemy. The Smokeless powder left no
sign and the only help the boys had was
to locate the sound and then proceed.
After they had crept along for some time.
they saw the enemy darting here and
there behind the sandhills and through
| the pines and it was then that the real
/ fight started.
When retreat was sounded it was well
| come for the boys were anxious for the
| swim they take each afternoon to wash
the evidences of the battle from their
/ clothes. The entire brigade was turned
loose in the ocean. and there are rumors
about this camp that the bands are to
! play while the ''douehboys" go in swim
ming, and thereby furnish such new
dances as the Atlantic ocean step, the
sandy beach glide, etc.
Athletic Meet Is Planned.
The big fete of the camp is to be an
athletic meet of the Signal Corps com
pany. large crowd is expected to an
i swer the fiaring circulars, promising all
kinds Of stunts, which were prepared and
issued by Lieut.. Russell NJ. MacLennan.
| press agent of the corps.
| This afternoon at o'clock the life
! saving station maintained by the gov
| ernment at Virginia Beach gave DEM
| onstration of making rescues from ships
| wrecked along the beach, for the benefit
| of the officers and men of tie National
| Guard of the District of Columbia. Short
| ly after mess was over the camp was de
| serted, everybody except the guard go
ing to the resort to witness the demon
straton.
The officers returned to the grounds to.
night, took a swim, dolled up in their
white uniforms and went to the casino,
where they We're the guests of the man
agement of the resort and the residents
of Virginia Beach Tomorrow the en-
listed men are to be rendered a dance
also by the management of the resort
and the beach residents
Notes From Under the Tents.
| Maj. ". S. Hodges, n. G. d. c., judge