Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-21
Wet and Weary Soldiers In
spected by Officer of
Regular Army.
HOPE FOR SOFTER GROUND
FOR DIGGING OF TRENCHES
Sleep Is Broken When Mules Break
Loose and Charge Through
the Camp.
From STAFF Correspondent.

early today, the District troops. or
two battalions of them. kept up their
advance on Fredericksburg. More OF
the advance guard work, including at
tacks on patrols. was participated in
by the I'd and Sd battalions of the Sd
Infantry in the vicinity of the newly
acquired drill field about a mile from
the camp grounds.
Before Capt. Horace P. Hobbs, u. S.
A., the inspector. officers and men
went through the annual field inspec-
tion on the small drill field adjacent
to the camp grounds.
While the rain came down in tor
rents and soaked the uniforms and
equipment. of the men. everything was
inspected to determine just how well
prepared the District troops are to
take the field on short notice. Follow
ing the inspection of the soldiers, in
heavy marching order. the men re-
turned to their tents, where the equip
ment they carried was unrolled and in
spected by Capt Hobbs.
Mounted Officers Inspected.
What looked to be a fair-sized troop
Of cavalry galloped on the drill field
and passed through the details of an
inspection. 1t was composed of the
onicers of the field and staff, who are
in camp with the District troops
This afternoon the I'd and Sd batta-
lions will go through the details of the
held inspection.
Todays rain, which apparently has
set in for full day, will be welcomed
oy the troops Monday, when they will
be given taste of trench digging,
something new for the District soldiers.
Without the softening effects of the
hard rain, the District boys would have
nj iv,%~ 10. L. liz
OF the drill field The rain will help
them only little. The difficulties Of
getting under the surface of the soil
here already are too well known to the
soldiers. When they arrived in camp
and made efforts to drive the tent pegs
many OF them were broken, the ground
being 80 hard.
Efforts of many men who had re-
to run the guard last night caused
much excitement and necessitated the
formation Of a provost guard to round
up all Of the men who were out Of the
camp
Sentry Is Attacked.
At one sentry post. it was reported. a
Wide-awake sentry challenged two
soldiers and was promptly jumped
upon. The cries of the sentry. accord
Ing to the story which is going around
the camp. brought out the sergeant of
the guard in time to save the sentry
from a severe beating. The assailants
are In the guardhouse.
The mules OF the machine gun COM
pany caused great amount of worry
and much sleeplessness last night. In
some unexplained manner several of
the mules got loose and went running
through the camp grounds and on the
highways surrounding the camp. Sol
dters started after them, and all but
one have been recovered.
The officers of the I'd Infantry held
a meeting last night and formed the
Omcers Association of the Sd Infan-
try. Col Glendie B. Young was elected
president, Lieut.. Col Anton Stephen
treasurer and Lieut. Frank E. Sharp
less secretary.
ing. compose the board of governors:
Maj. Wallach A. McCathran, Maj Jo-
seph F. Hodgson. Capt. George l.. TAFT
Capt Theodore P. Heap and Capt. Alvin
regimentaf adjutant, was elected his
tortan. Lieuts. Frank E. Sharpless.
George A. Monagon and Charles E.
Smithson. battalion adjutants. were
named as publicity committee.
Richard E. Hill. cook of Company NJ.
last night was sentenced by sum-
mary court-martial to a dishonora BILE
discharge and forfeiture of all pay and
camp tonight. Hill was charged with
threatening his assistant, Wilcox, with
butchers knife.
Over Battlehelds Of eos.
Through the heavily wooded country
west of this camp. and in the very
vilds of Virginia, went the troops Of
the District National Guard today. On
ward they are marching to the OBJ
5ective point of Fredericksburg, going
over ground where soldiers marched
in the search Of a real enemy in the
sixties.
Advance guard work is now the fea
ture of the drills. Somewhere to the
westward is the imaginary enemy
keeping the District soldiers from the
Fredericksburg stronshold-a strong
hold for a time only. for in a few days
this enemy will have to give way to
that Irresistible force which makes up
the National Guard OF the District Of
Columbia.
1t 10 . tactical problem. to use the
language Of the service. that the on
GERS and men are working out. The
troops have been fortunate in having
unseasonably cool weather during the
drst few days of the encampment SO
we'll appreciated ie 1t, that Brig. Gen.
William z. Harvey, commanding this
encAmpment, il looking around for the
weather man who is responsible for
II Gen. Harvey says he wants to give
that ofhcial. II an official could be re-
sponsible for it. a parade and review.
and extend to him all .ie honors that
e military camp provides.
Loads Begin to Tell on Troops.
The troops IN the neld are beginning
70 feel that increase in tho weight OF
their rides and equipment, and their
fest are telling of the load they carry.
The long marches are on improved
roads for short periods. for the soldier
must keep out of sight. mile or 60
Of road marching ends the easy part OF
tho war game as 1t is being practiced
by the troops here. for then they must
70 into the wooded country. get into
the marshes. climb through the under
brush. get tangled in the briars and
matted grasses. fall into holes, and al
the same imte keep out Of sight of the
enemy
The new drill field acquired by the
District troops 10 about a mile away
from the camp grounds proper. and il
takes about a half hours marching
- troops march. to get there. But nc
matter how far away from the camp
the troops get. hundreds Of the towns
visitors follow them in automobiles
and other conveyances TO watch them
But it's only for few minutes that
they can be seen. Away from the rear
comes an orderly dashing madly. rushei
up to an ofhcer. hands him a paper
uand dtsappears, like magic. into the
cover provided by nature. After that
only here and there may q khaki-clae
M Aa