The Washington times., 1915-08-24
d.. c. M1[|TIAMEN
FIGHT SHAM BATTLE
|AT COLONIAL BEACH
Guards Solve Tactical Problem
Invasion Of District BY vlr-
uinia Would Involve.

CAMP oRDwAY. Colonial Beach.
Va. Aug. N.-war was> theoretically
declared between Maryland and vfr-
ginia today for the sole purpose OF per-
mitting the District OF Columbia ma
tional Guard to solve the tactical prob
lem such an event would involve.
The attacking army. made UP OF the
Third Infantry. designated as the
Blues" under command Of Lieutenant
Colonel Stephan, was supposed to have
Colonial Beach shortly before
o'clock. W.
Under a heavy fire from the machine
gun company. entrenched on the river
bluffs, he pushed his forces out along
tho wilkerson road and engaged the
defenders, designated as the Reds" in
that neighborhood.
Defenders Fall Back.
AZ soon a. the advancing column was
sighted, Major James e. Walker. COM
manding the defenders. retired after
desultory firing, falling back upon
from here, and deploying his men along
beth sides OF the road and back into .
clump Of woodland. set about hindering
the advance.
The rattle Of the four new machine
800 shots per minute. gave an air OF
realism to the sham battle.
General Harvey, Major Francis B.
Wheaton and Major Harry Coope acted
as referees. while Major Joseph c.
Castner and Capt. Horace P. Hobbs.
both Of the regular army. accompanied
the column as observers.
In heavy marching order and with
weightv blanket rolls, combined with
q particularly torrld sun. the District
boys received a real taste Of road work
in today's maneuvers, and, although
the last sick man was released from
hospital today, the regimental infirmary
was thronged following the return to
camp. by men suffering from biistered
medical attention was required to put
some Of them In shape for tomorrow's
work.
Parade and Field Day.
The actual maneuvers lasted until
after o'clock. the boys returning to
camp just in time for mess. after which
field dav which followed
All Colonial Beach turned out along
I the boa rdwalk when the Third Regiment,
headed by the band. passed along the
water front and then swung again land
ward to the small drill field, where the
| athletic events were held. The wall
scaling contest attracted particular at
! tention. toxether with the equipment
and three-legged races. In addition to
these there were 100 yard. 220-yard. and
40-yard dashes as well as a company
relay.
An added event which caused much
| amusement was a mule race partic1-
company. who rode bareback the eight
gun animals.
Officials At Contest.
In the field day events Capt. e. H.
Brian was referee and Capt. J. d
Brooks. W. H. Beckstein. and e. w.
tullam. together with First Lieut..
Frank Schlosser. were judges. Lieut..
w. B. White was starter. First Lieut..
c. e. Smithson was clerk OF the course,
| Capt. Frank Lockhead was timer.
The inspectors were Second Lieut.. C.
B. Hamilton. Second Lieut. J. e. A.
lingame. and First Lieut.. L. w. Has
sard.
The meeting Of the non.commissioned
offers Of tbs third regiment yesterday
resulted In the election OF Sergt RAN
dolph Rabbit. of the band. as presl-
dent; Color Sergeant F. +. Reynolds,
vice president; First Sergeant Grey, Of
l Company. treasurer. and Sergeant
Harland Frey. Of the machine gun COM
pany. secretary.
Presiden Wilson today tentatively
| accepted invitation to review the
National ard Of the District on its
return iron the annual encampment
at Colonial Beach next Saturday.
The President made his acceptance
conditional upon being in Washington
OH that date. At the White House,
however. 1t was stated that no ar
ranSements had been made for the
Presidents return to Cornish before
that time. and the impression there Is