Evening star., 1915-03-28

night, when the brigade headquarters
staff was inspected, officers and men
of the guard are beginning to look
forward to the annual encampment'
neither the date or place of which has
been set
The infantry organizations Of the
local National Guard. made up OF two
regiments of infantry (white troops)
and one separate battalion (colored
troops) will camp alone this year
They will not have either the Field Hos
pital nor the Signal Corps Company.
which have heretofore accompanied the
infantry.
The 1st Battery Field Artillery, N.
G. D. c.. Field Hospital and Signal
Corps Company are to participate in
a joint encampment with regular
troops at Tobyhanna, Pa. The battery
for the past three years has partici-
pated with the regular troops in man
euvers around the Pennsylvania town.
The Tobyhanna camp for the Slgnal
Corps and the Field Hospital organi-
cations will be something new for
these organizations.
Therefore, in the consideration of
transportation problems In connection
with the movement of troops about 200
men will not have to be reckoned
with.
officers of the guard charged with
the duty of selecting camp site are
beginning to look around. and commit
tees interested in certain sites are be-
ginning to urge theiTa respective places
on the headquarters" officers. During
the week Col. Herman Drinkwater.
representing the mayor of Virginia
Beach, and H. S. Leard. general pas
senger agent, Norfolk Southern rail-
road, formed a committee representing
the Virginia Beach citizens, who
asked for a return engagement for the
local National Guard encampment.
While it is known that the greater
part of the officers and men of the
local National Guard favor returning
to the Virginia Beach camp site, which
has been pronounced one of the best
Gated in years. the big problem which
stands in the way is that of transpor-
tation between Washington and Nor
folk and return.
Brig. Gen. George H. Harries, COM
manding the District of Columbia mill
tia, who pronounced the last encamp
ment one - the most successful In
every way in which the local mill
tia ever pa. ticipated. expressed much
pleasure with the Virginia Beach site,
and made Known a desire that the
guard again return there and for a
longer period than eleven days, the
length of the stay last year.
The committee which last week call
ed on Lieut.. Col. Almon l.. Parmerter,
adjutant general District of Columbia
militia. and urged him to consider Eir
ginia Beach again. expressed the con-
fidence that satisfactory and reason
able transportation rates could be ar
ranged for the transportation of the
guard. which. coupled with the fact
that there is no charge for 4 camp site,
and the further fact that all the equip
ment of the Virginia National Guard
in the way of wagon transportation is
available for the free use of the
guard, make the Virginia Beach site
very attractive.
Other camp sites which might be con-
sidered would have to be rented at
price around $500. and water mains
would have to be transported to the
spot, laid before the troops arrived
and taken up after their departure. and
there would be also several carloads
of wagon equipment to be carried, all
very expensive operations
Col. Parmerter declared that the Gues-
ton of camp site would have to be
settled in short time in order to al
low the members of the guard to make
arrangements for their leave with their
civilian employees.
The Field Hospital of 1.-The local Ma
tional Guard will participate in q joint
encampment in August of this year
with similar organization Of the reg
ular service. The joint camp is to be
at Tobyhanna. Pa, it is announced, al
though the exact dates have not ye'
been fixed.
For those organiza ations which have
contemplated holding an encampment
at or in the vicinity of the Panama
Pacific exposition, at San Francisco
there is not much encouragement hell
out by the division of militia affairs o
the War Department. which views are
contained in Il circular just issued.
The War Department has beer
asked Says the circular, ito author
certain units of the organized militia
to hold camps for field service and in
struction at or in the vicinity of $.
Francisco during the period of tn
Panama Pacific international eXpost-
ton, the expenses to be paid from fed
eral appropriations for the support OF
the organized militia.
Information has been received that
other states are arranging to send Ger
tain units of the organized militia to
the exposition under the same condi
tions On inquiry the exposition au'
thorities furnished the following lnfor
nation:
THE Presidio military reservation l.