Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-19
NEW DRILL FIELD
FOR GUARD OF D. c.
: Regular Army Officers Decide
the Parade Ground Is
Too Restricted.
MEN RAPIDLY BECOMING
HARDENED TO CAMP LIFE
Show Increased Enthusiasm for
Work and Are Rounding Into
Military Form.
Prom Z STAG Correspondent.

ASssAS . VAAAs
Prom STAG Correspondent
CAMP oRDwAY. National Guard Of
the District Of Columbia, Colonial
Beach. Va, August 1s.-Troops Of the
National Guard Of the District of Co
crampsd drill neld upon which they
have been having c1ose-order drills
during the last few days. After the
companies had been drilling for about
an hour this morning in a sort Of hol-
low square tho regular army officers
who ars directing this encampment de-
c1ded that the mon were practicing
soldlery under difficulties.
Around the edge Of the drill field
were tho majority Of tho companies,
while In the square were only two
commands going through the extended
order drill which was on tho program
for today. The two companies, spread
ing out In fanlike fashion and simu-
latins actual firing positions. took up
practically the entire drill field.
Town People Like Drills.
The drills are proving Immensely
popular to town people, who gather in
hundreds along the road covering three
sides of the drill field. The parading
Of the Sd Infantry Band today along
this road brought great increase over
the usual number of visitors.
Maj. J. c. Cashier and Capt. II. P.
Hobbs, both of the United States Army,
left the drill ground and went into the
surrounding country, looking for more
fields, so that the whole command
could drill at once. They found field
about mile from the camp grounds.
Wartime prices prevail within the
camp confines. but the officers in
charge of the camp have undertaken to-
censor the prices charged for vege-
tables and fruit by barring the buck
sters from the grounds until the latter
decide to treat the company quarter
masters fairly. These quarterma sters
who purchase the company supplies
discovered that the huckster-farmers
were selling their wares very cheaply
to the people of the town, but when
the same wagons came within the
camp their prices jumped from $50 to
200 per cent as soon as the wagons
got past the sentry.
Beach Front an Attraction.
So popular is the life at the beach
front proving to the troopers during
drill hours that noticeable falling
they go on the field. The officers who
were on the road today during the drill
period came across several men who
could not give good excuse for not
being at drill. They We're sent i'm
mediately to the camp.
The members OF the newly organized
machine gun company, commanded by
Capt. EarnshaW. were engaged today in
unpacking the machine gun equipment
and tomorrow the actual practice will
begin. Mules have been provided for
training these new men, and in pack
ing and otherwise handling tie equip
ment.
Answering the shrieking appeals of Il
big mother eagle, the boys of the ma
chine gun company have released their
newly acquired mascot, baby eagle,
which they captured and held Il pris-
oner for about tWenty-four hours. Baby
and mother lost no time in flying far
away.
Members Of Company l., Sd Infantry,
Capt. Alvin Hathaway commanding, to-
day were turned out TO assist in the
production of It scene in 2 movie play.
\ motion picture producing company is
staging the play at this place The ti
rector needed military camp and Il
company of soldiers for one of the
scenes. in which the hero was discov-
cred by his wife. who had long believed
aiI1 dead. Capt Hathaway provided
The company
Are Becoming Real Soldiers.
With the military precision which
marks such exercises i'll the regular
army, the officers and men composing
the National Guard of the District of
Columbia in annual encampment here
are moving forward with a vim which
Is rejecting great credit on all within
tnc camp confines. The manner in
which the officers AMI men are throw
ing their whole hearts and souls into
'hc effort to make an efficient fighting
unit out of the provisional brigade
which would answer the first call in
Time of var. as the District of Column
bias first Offering, is worthy of no lit
Tie communication.
y With an organization that is new
with new officers and hundreds of new
men. the work of smoothing off the
rough points came hard at first The
Whole brigade. however now is broad
enlng out in military knowledge TO
such an extent that the soldiers Will be
taken away out of sight of the conic;l
tents within = few days to get a real
taste of heavy order marching ~, ali
KINDS of roads. Though there was :,
noticeable period of relaxation an,opp
the troops after the first couple of
days In camp. the regular officers got
behind the officers and had them boost
up their men.
There could be no COMPLAINT from
the heat. There was no suffering among
the soldiers, unless it could be from
the lack of enough blankets at night
70 keep down the chill ard induce
sleep. which would put them in shape
for the following days drill. The cool
weather put little hustle in the men.
and kept them moving swiftly over the
camp ground. but. for time they were
not getting the drills quickly and
smoothly enough to satisfy those hav-
ing charge of these important matters
Camp Ground Is Rough.
True, the camp grounds and the pa
rade grounds are not the best for the
tender feet of the soldiers, used to
walking the paved streets of the Capi-
tai city, not even when their toes have