Evening star., 1914-06-05
new CAMP PLANS
FORD. c. MILITIA
Overnight Changes by Army
Officials Confusing to the
Local SoIdiery.
OBJECTIONS PRESENTED
TO DATES NOW OFFERED
Latter Part of July Would Find
Crops in Fields and Troop
Movements Restricted.

Overnight changes of the time and
place where the National Guard of the
District of Columbia will hold it's an
nua1 encampment this summer are
made by the War Department. and
still there is an air of uncertainty.
The delay in fixing the date, it has
been declared by commanding officers Of
the various organizations. is most Ger
tain to have its effect OH the camp at
tendance. Vacation schedules are being
made out by the firms of the city, and
unless the Guardsmen can know very
soon just when the government will
need them in camp they will lose their
pick of dates and will be unable to an
swer the assembly call.
Following the notice that the ma
neuvers would not be held came a let
ter Wednesday afternoon from the
headquarters of the eastern division at
Governors Island, New York, asking
for an expression of opinion on the
part of the local militia authorities on
the holding of joint encampment with
regular troops and the militia organi-
cations of Maryland. Virginia. West
Virginia and the District Of Columbia
somewhere in northwestern Virginia
This communication was rushed off to
Brig. Gen George H. Harries, COM
manding the District of Columbia mill
tia, for action.
Another Change in Plans.
However, the first thing this morning
there came message from the division
headquarters at New York saying that
the proposed Virginia camp was rescinded.
This message further said that it would
be necessary for the District Of Columbia
militia to hold joint camp in the vicln-
ity of Washington, and suggested that
arrangements possibly could be made to
use the same camp site as that of the
Maryland militia.
The letter contained instructions to
make arrangements and to notify the di-
vision headquarters as to the place and
date of the encampment, so that the reg
ular troops could be assigned. 1t is nee
essary to have the regular troops to make
it a joint encampmept so that the meneu-
Yer funds can be used.
1t was also declared in the message that
the troops will be assigned. beginning
July ], successfully to West Virginia,
Virginia, District of Columbia and Mary
land.
This would make the regular troops
available for the local militia from July.
20 to 50 Local militia officials do not
look with favor Oh this date. owing to
the fact that at this period many crops
are in the field, making it necessary for
the troops to keep almost exclusively to
the road for their practice work.
Camp at Wheaton Likely.
AT National Guard headquarters it was
also said this morning that it is probable
that the camp site will sc selected at
Wheaton. Nd. where it was originally
planned to bold the f1ve-day encampment
just previous to the maneuvers which
were recently called off.
The latest message from the division
headquarters has been dispatched to Brig.
Gen. Harries, and reply is momentarily
expected. AS soon as his reply to the
message is received. 1t is said, an order
will be issued fixing the camp date, and
plans for the encampment will then be
pushed rapidly.