Evening star., 1914-08-01
given the local National Guard by the
railroad and others in getting the equip

given the local National Guard by the
railroad and others in getting the equip
ment to the camp grounds.
US make successful start said Capt
Nevils, land I think that they deserve
as much credit as anybody else. Inc
equipment was gotten into the camp
ground in better shape and In better time
than any encampment Of the District Ma
tional Guard which I have attended"
The arrangement Of the tents Of the
different organizations is somewhat dir
ferent than in former years. In the ex-
treme west end of the camp grounds Is
located the headquarters Of the brigade.
Close by are the regimental headquarters
and company headquarters. while farthest
away of all is the parade ground. where
the District soldier boys probably will
have a regimental dress parade every
parade Of the full brigade. In former
years the parade ground was located be-
tween the brigade and the regtmental
headquarters.
Camp Site Is Ideal.
The camp site is an ideal one and all
day yesterday f1fteen-mile breeze blew
across the camp grounds, making 1t
easier for the soldiers who had formed the
advance guard to do their work. The
camp ground proper is comparatively high
and well drained. During the forenoon
yesterday there was q very heavy rain
storm, but ten minutes after it stopped
there was absolutely no evidence OF 1t.
Stories Of the Virginia soldiers having
had to wade through puddles Of water
seem to be mythical II yesterdays per-
formance Of the elements is to be taken
as a basis.
officers who have attended a num-
Der of encampments of the National
Guard Of the District of Columbia after
five days already on the camp site de-
clare that the present site Is absolutely
for the local guardsmen-the best in
every way. They declare that 1t has
been very cool. Is well drained and the
facilities are excellent. The
ocean is less than half a mile from the
camp grounds. A number of the men
in the advance details have been in
bathing in the surf at the spot where
the guardsmen will be allowed to go,
and they declare that reports of the
very strong undertow also are without
declare that they have come here every
year declare also that they never have
experienced any Of the strong under
tow, or have even heard of any one
having been caught In 1t.
However, the officers in charge of
the encampment are not going to take
any chances. even though some of them
have tried the surf and have found the
lacking. A fisherman with a
large motor boat who lives near where
the guardsmen will bathe has been en-
ployed to establish a life guard. He
will be on duty all during the daylight
hours. and has been given full author
ity by the camp officers to drive back
any member OF the National Guard
who he thinks is venturing too far
out into the surf.
There were many soldiers and camp
employees yesterday who were required
to tramp over the sand hills and rail-
road ties to the camp grounds. The
line to the camp grounds is only used
during encampments. and the passen-
ger schedule does not go into effect
until today. The result was that many
of those lucky enough to escape the
troop boat were just as tired as the
soldiers when they arrived in camp.
Brig. Gen. Harries, who preceded the
troops by twenty four hours, remained
in Norfolk during the day yesterday
yesterday evening. He was accom-
panied by First Lieut.. Herbert L. Har-
ries. ordnance department. his aide do
camp. and Lieut.. Col. A L. Parmerter.
U. s. A.. adjutant general. District Of