The Washington times., 1916-07-21
D. c. GUARDSMEN
IN FIERCE BATTLE"
Censor WithhoIds Details, But
Casualties" Are Reported
Heavy in Engagement.

Nine hundred militiamen grappled in
sanguinary cohfiic. on the historic
fields OF Virginia near the mobilization
camp today.
The casualty list is said to have been
large. but the figures have not been
compiled. and will MT. be given out by
the censors. All that Is known Of the
battle Is that one battalion of the Dis
trict militia achieved victory while
another was vanquished by the fire
from unloaded guns
The battle waxed hot and furious for
three hours. and the combat was SO
keen and close that Col Glendie d
Capt. f. w, Fullam. regimentai ad)u-
tant. who served as umpires.. had to
deliberate some time over theiy do
cision.
March at Dawn.
Shortly after dawn this morning MAJ:
Alexander Summers marched the Thiia
Battalion. augmented by companies ~
and from the First battalion 70
wooded eminence six miles from Fort
Myer and In the direction OF Alexah-
dria.
the defense, dug themselves In and
threw up a number OF obstructions 10
hide and shelter them. -
Major Summers was instructed TO uc-
fend the eminence at all costs;
Fifteen minutesc after the defenders
left camp, Major Wallach McCathran
marched the four companies OF the sec
ond Battalion out to attack tne Ihpo
Battalion and capture the eminence,
The Second Battalion was depioyed IN
companies and marched toward the OBJ
jective point with view of encirciing
II and forcing n surrender.
Outposts and sharpshooters, put out
by Major Summers, sighted the enemy
scouts when the latter were some dis
tance from the eminenee. and the ex-
change of shots between these advance
forces was the signal for a general bat
tie. The battle ragged about two hours
before recall was sounded and the men
were marched back to camp.
Men Fought Well.
The umpires said they were much I'M
pressed with the earnestness and eau.
their soldierly work. They said the held
maneuvers, which are becoming more
pretentious and Intricate each day, are
proving Of great value to the officers
and men alike. and fitting them for
actual field service.
The District militiamen have been In
camp exactly one month today. having
pitched their tents near Fort Myer on
the afternoon Of June q.
General Harvey and other high offi-
GERS of the camp said the four weeks
training has proved OF wonderful value
to the men and that the District militia
Is vastly different ORGANIZATION now
mobiIization order was issued.
General Harvey said that while the
Third Regiment still is being held IN
Sanlp sp ior Wan' Si fesa man uaad marl "u hy
renorts which showed that more men eI,-
listed yesterdav than were discharced
hecausc ~ densndents and sxniration of
eniistment The net gain for yesterda y
was four men
"'
Blames Young Men.
"rbe Young men Of Washington N
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military age VINO are refusing 10 ehnS'
camp" said General Harvey today. Tine
rogIn,on. 10 ,ury souinned ana Ia com
nosnd nr vol sa,soned and trained man
nnSiors >" Leave The mohii,z a ton ca mn
ior tne , emaitan poIuer % ~, r,,-s po.,-
'eW expect &c send the Ihlrd Fegi.
ment TO the border cary next week, out
all our expectations are at the mercy
OF the young men VINO nave not yet
Joined the militia. l earnestly nope that
tpe,r emnIoves and sons 70 enlist nov
and fill up our ranks.
THE experience to be gained on the
border WIN be most benenclal 10 an me ne
nnUstaa ,,,a,, &c ha,,o ,, ,a,,n todo a,
raaIize this and are most eager To get
started.
Sno"ee i"i nea' framing.
THE District militia has been as
signed to a most desirable section on
the border. and there will he oppor-
t,,n,.,a. sar the man % got military
tunities ior Ihe ,,,to ihem 10 se. ,,,a H'a. c,
framing which otnerwise wouiu no. @
come 10 tnem, ana tney can also see
considerable or their country which they
otherwise might not De aple TO do'
Officers In camp today express sur
prise over the failure OF the plan to ar
range a mass meeting In some large
hall in the city to get the necessary
recruits for the Third Regiment. The
OFFICERS said that IL this meeting were
arranged and properly advertised
throurhout the District more than
enough recruits probably would be
signed IN before adjournment.
TIeut Col Anton stephan. who has
sarved in the militia since 1887, and
who is in the closest touch with af-
rairs in the Third Regiment, has
made two EFFORTS to arrange a mass
meet,np and get the necessary men
10 ali IN the ranks.
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