The Washington times., 1915-08-25
D. c. M|L|T|AMEN
LEARN HOW TO USE
PICK AND SHOVEL
Instructed In Tactical Problem
Of Constructing Standing
Trenches With Head Covers.
PLAN FOR SATURDAY REVIEW
General Harvey Wants Com.
pany Of Business Men to
Attend Next Encainpment.


CAMP oRDwAY, Colonial Beach
Va. Aug. 25.-when noon came today
the District militiamen found them
selves we'll acquainted with the busi
ness end Of shovels and pickaxes. Thel
were introduced to the back -breakinl
propensities Of these instruments II
working out the tactical problem which
fell to their lot today. when they wer>
required to construct standing trenches
with head covers.
Now a standing trench Is about fo,,l
feet six inches deep and some two fee
wide. which makes 1t necessary fol
each man Of the command. working ir
relays. to move considerably more thar
a cubic yard of dirt. When. as was tn.
case today. the earth happens to bt
hard Virginia clay. the boys find theil
entrenchment exercises PARTICULAR,
strenuous.
Plan For Review BY Wilson.
Following the announcement from
Washington that President Wilson
would review the District guardsmer
upon their return from camp next Sat.
urday If he is in Washington. Gen.
William E. Harvey. in consultation
with his staff today. made tentative
plans for the parade upon the assump-
tion that the President will be able to
take part.
According to present plans. the bri-
gade of local guardsnen upon disem-
barking from the st. Johns will start
up town along Eighth street southwest.
turning out from that thoroughfore In
order to cross the railroad track over
the Eleventh street bridge: From that
point it will follow Twelfth street to
pennsylvania avenue, thence westward
to the White House ellipse. where the
review will take place.
out Seventeenth street. through Penn
cylvania avenue eastward to Thirteenth
street and New York avenue, where the
brigade will be dismissed. the Third
and the Signal Corps movng to their
respective armories by the most direct
routes General Harvey hopes that the
brigade will arrive In Washington by
noon. and that the review can take
place about $50.
For Business Mems Company.
Commenting upon the visit to camp
yesterday of the public order committee
of the Board Of Trade. when plans for
an auxiliary camp of business men next
Year were tentatively discussed. General
Harvey said: II would like very much
to see a war-strength company of busi-
ness men attend the next encanlpment.
We could take care Of $50 such volun-
teers at q cost Of about $50 to each
man for the two weeks period. which
would include their uniforms. trans
portation. and subsistence. The Ma
tional Guard would be glad to furnish
them with tents. rifles. and instructors"
The tactical problem today dealt large
" with the establishment OF outposts.
] he Blue army theoretically invading
Virginia from Maryland. captured the
Colonial Beach wharf early today. and
set about making military base of
that point. to accomplish which 1t was
cover the landing Of larger supporting
force
In working out the problem each bat
talon took turns in trench digging. The
men worked In relays. each shift being
driven at top speed for twenty minutes,
ct the expiration Of which time the
shifts were changed.
Men To Give Entertainment.
Tonight the camp will be the scene
Of big entertainment which will be
staged from the talent in the different
of the Guard. There will be
singing. wrestling matches. a musical
play. and music by the National Guard
Band.
General Harvey announced today that
ne will break camp Friday morning as
early as possible. taking into considera-
lion the necessity of thoroughly dry
ing out the canvas. All day Friday
The brigade headquarters and the quar-
termaster's department, will have a
must be paid. Friday night the men
will sleep in the field under shelter
.ents.
The gyardsmen were taken upon the
'oad shortly after O'Clock. and
taking the part Of the very necessary
pawns in the chess game Of military
tactics which their officers are now
playing under the guidance Of Capt H.
?; Hobbs, Inspector Instructor, detail
The closing days of the camp will see
nothing of the drill involving the first
principles Of soldering which held sway
Turing the first week. and yesterdays
from Captain Hobbs. and Major J. c.
-astner. adjutant general.
When the boys returned to camp yes
.crday afternoon. Captain Hobbs de-
,lareQ the ManeuVer was complete
success. The problem set included a
luty on the part Of the First Separate
with the machine guns. Of
lindering the advance on Wilkersons.
.oward which an imaginary brigade
vas falling back by the entire Third
Infantry. taking the part Of an attack
ng force.
Blocked All Pursuit.
"1ntrenched as they were." said Cap
ain Hobbs. the First Separate Bat
.alion could have absolutely blocked
of the imaginary brigade until
1oon. which would have given the
imaginary main body of troops ample
ime to have gotten clear.
THE two companies that We're locat-
I'd In shallow rife trenches we'll screen
ID by boughs and leaves, commanded
he only approach possible, which lay
across a clearing 400 yards wide, and
heir fire could have held In check
almost any superior force
There is one thing which everybody
n Washington should know, and that
5 that the men of the National Guard
ire entering into the spirit of the work
n camp with an enthusiasm which
'pcaks exceedingly well for the future
II the National Guard of the District
" Columbia. The men have been i'm
Drs Sscd with the fact. too. that i'm these
they must adopt the mental
altitude that they are really in the midst