The Washington herald., 1915-08-17
militia STARTS
ITS ENCAMPMEN
National Guardsmen at Co.
lonial Beach Urged to
Do Teamwork.
CAPT. HOBBS LECTURES
More Than Half of Khaki-clad Men
Getting First Taste of
Tent Life.
CAPT. HOBBS LECTURES
CBy A STAFF CORRESPONDENT

| By A STAFF CORRESPONDENT
! Colonial Beach, Va. Aug. 16.-The
business-like manner in which army
| officers entered upon the work of in
structing the District. National Guard
at Camp Ordway. Colonial Beach, to-
! day indicates clearly that the War De-
efficiency Of Uncle Sans citizen-sol-
diery.
AS soon as the 1919 men who went
to the camp on the steamer st. Johns
this morning had been comfortab bly,
quartered last night, the commission
ed and noncommissioned officers were
summoned to the Colonial beach school
house. where Capt. Horace p. Hobbs.
U. S. A. in a stirring lecture. outlined
the need for thorough military train
ing at the present time.
Modern combat demands the hign-
est order of training. discipline. lead
ership and morale on the part of the
infantry" said Capt. Hobbs. Success
in battle is the ultimate object of all
military training. but success may be
looked for only when the training is
intelligent and thorough"
Urges Team Work.
c pit. Hobbs endeavored to impress upon
tic He told them that the fighting ef-
ficiency of a company depends upon the
thorough and military-like manner in
which 1t has been trained.
Organization and team work are abso-
lutely essential to success In any enter
prise" he declared Without them there
can be only disorder and confusion. Of
ficers and men must be impressed with
the importance of prompt and unquestion-
lIs ~ - IL.
riors and must bear constantly in mind
that individual desires or opinions must
in all cases be subordinated to the well
fare of the organization.
Don't show indecision." he reminded
the officers. Always estimate>a situa-
ton carefully, no matter what 1t is;
come to a definite decision. then give your
orders clear and concise. Don't try to
shift your responsibility, and. above all.
don't give an order until you have fully
decided. Don't give an order then be-
fore 1t can be executed recall 1t and
issue another.
"A woman. they say. is privileged to
change her mind. but indecision in a
man Is a thing to be despised. and in a
military commander is ruinous to dis
cipline. 1t soon deprives the commander
of the respect and confidence OF his men"
Air of seriousness.
The lecture Of Capt Hobbs was merely
the introduction to one of the most COM
plete and rigid military camp programs
ever laid out for n District or State
militia. There was an air of seriousness
about the manner In which the instruc-
tors. experienced army men. launched the
encampment. The men themselves did
not seem to go into the work with the
usual care-free attitude.
There were few khaki-clad men on the
beach tonight. The resort took on the
appearance of a great holiday. but the
men were tired out after a strenuous
day of packing and marching. and as
soon as the tents had been pitched and
hay" at once. Others lounged about in
groups and. chatted leisurely. but few
felt gay enough for the boardwalk
AS the steamer landed and the first
company stepped on the dock a cheer
went up from the thousands on the
beach, and each succeeding company was |,
given a round of applause as it marched |
between the enthusiastic crowd. The
regiment was divided into nineteen COM
panies. which included machine gun
company, a signal corps, and a hospital
corps.
1t was nearly o'clock when the full
regiment reached the camp site. which
Is about three city blocks from the
beach front The tentage had been laid
out by an advance detachment, and the !
men set to work Immediately. In short |
time the bare field had been converted
into a lively. but orderly military post.
Many Are "Rookies.'
More than 30 per cent of the men are
having their first taste of camp life. For
this reason the first three or four days
will be devoted to teaching these
rockies the rudiments of military
During the second week.
however. the entire regiment will make
lp for lost time in the practice of mill
AIRY tactics For this Is to be- a reor-
yanization camp, which means the
amount of work usually done will be
doubled.
Formerly there was only one drill pc
.iod that being in the morning. But this
,ear there will also be an afternoon drill
period. At Sis tomorrow morning the
boom OF the big saluting gun will arouse
he freshened men, and the camp work
will be launched in earnest Immediately
lfter mess, which is at s O'Clock, the
-egiment will march to the drill field.
The drilling for the first few days will
,e confined to preliminary work.
This is the first time the District Guard
las added machine gun practice to its
.amp work, which Is regarded by many
Is one of the first steps of the War De-
,artment to increase the efficiency Of the
militia The machine gun company. un-
Ter the direction Of Lieut.. Homer Gron-
niger, has four rapid-fire guns In camp
Long before the regiment arrived at
he Seventh Street Wharf yesterday