The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-08-06
ENGINEERS GET
FINE TRAINING
IN STATE CAMP
Mimic Warfare Intended to Pre-
pare Them for Service
Especial to The News.)

Camp Ferris, Grayling, Mich, Aug.
e-Greater preparedness for war IL
,beir services are ever to be needed
and less OF the usual drill, purely
Garrison drill than is usually given at
tbe state encampments of the Michi-
gon National Guard, is being given the
grard at Camp Ferris this year. The
state guard is being sent out into the
aeld under actual war service condi-
tons. into country they have never
hefore seen, to look for a hidden ana
an unknown theoretical enemy" The
enemv is represented by hidden tar
gets and the troops are marked for
noInts on the way they are handled,
the manner in which they approach
the position of the enemy. how they
act under the supposed fire of the
enemy and so on. The referees are
officers from the regular army, who
are also the instructors and inspect
ors and are very rigid in their meth
dds. Col Charles III. Grierson heads
the list Of regular army officers. With
him is Capt. r. o. Ragsdale, formerly
detailed inspector with the Michigan
National Guard, and others.
Approach Enemy Cautiously.
As the men approach the position
Of the enemy" extreme caution as re-
yards cover, noise and the like is exer-
cised. Watchers i'm the pits of the
targets which represent the enemy fire
a gun as quickly as they discern the
approach of the troops or as soon as
the troops come into position where
they might be fired upon with effect.
Then the troops are deplored and adj
vances are only made as they are won
over n d-fought-theoretica again
field. The number of hits made on
ing troops, for the men are supplied
with ammunition.
The idea is that of Major Mike Phil
lips instructor in small arms practice,
and has the approval Of General John !
p Kirk and staff and OF the war de-
partment, which ordered the inclusion
Of the maneuvers in the camp work |
program.
Howell With Engineers.
The Calumet Engineers are getting |
some real engineering work under |
Capt. Robert G. Howell of the regu-
lar Engineers in building distractions, |
demolition and reconnaissance work,
surveying and so forth.
Destruction of railroad tracks was
demonstrated yesterday with the real
ties and rails and plenty of dynamite.
Sergt r. Gesche heads the demoii-
ton squad. Sergt Ed. McLogan and
Corp Lorimer Eaton have the recon-
Nuisance work and are mounted. with
their men.
The Second infantry took the field
for wark tactics yesterday and part of
the organization spent the day in the
sand floored woods battling the
theoretical enemy.
The men are all happy. apparently.
and eat and sleep well. There is no
the food is plentiful. al
though hearty, and good, and the wa
ter is excellent. The break in the 35.-
900 gallon reservoir. which flooded the
brigade headquarters when one wall
went out early Monday morning, has
been temporarily mended and there
is no lack OF water. The target butts
are crumbling in places just as did the
walls Of the reservoir. strict investi-
cation of the work on these contracts
is to he ordered. it is understood. The
regular army officers with the troops
here have practically condemned the
work unofticially. and said the state
engineers could have done better.