The Washington times., 1916-06-21
Camp at Fort Myer
All Ready to Receive
District MiLitiQn1en

I'VE are all set and waiting for the
national guard OF the District to arrive
and make itself at home"
This was the announcement by Capt.
E. NJ. Nevils Of the militia Quartermas-
ter's department at noon. after making
a tour OF the concentration camp at
Fort Myer. He said he expected the
soldiers to arrive shortly after 2 o'clock
and that everything was in readiness
for them.
Captain Nevils said plenty Of water
would be available for the hot and
dusty men upon their arrival at camp.
At 1880 o'clock he said he had eight
hydrants running with fresh, filtered
water from Fort Myer and that others
would be in operation by the time the
guardsmen reached the grounds. The
work Of getting the water system was
rushed by Captain Nevils and he con-
siders good time was made in complet-
ing the task.
Still Something to Do.
pleted at noon, there were still a num-
Der Of things to be done this afternoon
to put II into full-hedged operation.
Twenty-Five men were put to work
early this morning digging the big
trench which will drain the entire camp
site. Other squads OF men expect to
continue until late in the day burning
weeds and brush, clearing away shrub
bury and trees, and draining pools OF
water. The fifty men who slept under
little shelter tents on the camp site
complained today of having been CON-
peiIed to furnish a feast for mosquitoes.
They said they anointed themselves
literally with kerosene, but this was
duck soup to the skeeters. and seemed
to be Just what they wanted to gar
nish of their meal"
Captain Nevils expects to have all OF
the puddles OF water drained of and
burnt over with gasolene by the time
the soldiers are ready to turn i'm
after taps tonight. Lieut.. j. r. Fehr. OF
the Third Infantry. commanding the de.
tail of men charged with the duty OF
destroying the habitat and breeding
places OF mosquitoes. and he said he ex.
pected to do a thorough Job.
Cooks Are On the Job.
More than score OF white and color
ed cooks appeared at the camp site Al
noon to superintend erection of fielC
stoves and get cooking utensils in ordei
for preparation of tonight's meal. Larg,
piles OF long cord wood and cans Of
kerosene were left beside each of tn,
stoves for use In building fires.
The "canteen" on the camp site did Z
land office business in ice cream. cakes
soda water. cigars, and cigarettes, al
of the fifty men preparing the cam
patronizing 1t, and many visitors join
Ing them. Several score men and WON
en- from Washington and Virginia 10
calities appeared at the camp site be
fore noon to welcome the militiamer
upon their arrival.
Captain Hevils was ordered to ge
the camp site In readiness early
yesterday, and arrived at Fort Myei
about sunrise. armed with blue prints
specifications. diagrams, maps, and sur.
veying instruments. Last evening the
camp was inspected by General Harvey
The task before Captain Nevis and
his corps OF assistants was a large one
II was up to them to provide on short
notice a camp large enough to accom-
modate all the hundreds of militiamen
In the best and safest OF soldierly fash
ion. The camp makers surveyed and
staked off the various company streets,
headquarters site and quarters for