Evening star., 1916-07-29
MOUNTED MEN GET
TRAINING IN FIELD
Batteries of Artillery Sent Out
to Drill Under War
Conditions.
ONLY COMPLAINT BY MEN
is ON ACCOUNT OF DELAY
Anxious to Get to Border, and
Straining Every Effort to At
tract Recruits.

Action OF the real war klnd was dis
played this morning in the sections Of
Camp Ordway mobilization camp Of the
organized militia Of the District Of
Columbia at Radio, Va, given over to
mounted troops. The batteries OF field
artillery were turned out for action.
One section was mounted and sent into
the field under the direction Of Maj.
Fox Connor. inspector generals de-
partment Of the army.
Visual signal stations were establish
ed and the men were required to send
and receive messages, and the time and
accuracy was noted by the inspector
general Then a telephone station was
established and fire control messages
were sent. A wire was run across the
field, and the small portable sets were
connected, zinc stake thrust into the
ground completing the connection Maj.
Connor then gave men messages to
transmit to ascertain whether or not
the station was in proper working or
der.
Have One Complaint Only.
The kitchens and cook tents were in.
spected and the equipment in the tents
was turned out to be looked over by
the regular officer. Orders then were
issued that any men who had any COM
plant to make against administration.
discipline, food or any complaint what
ever should make it to the inspector
general But none seemed to have any
complaint.
However. few of the men in Bat
terry B said that they had one big COM
wn1lld
When asked what it was, they said
they were being kept from the border
too long.
The infantry drill was very short to-
day, as the men will be excused this
afternoon to go anywhere they please
provided they are back by retreat" at
$50 o'clock. Under command of the
battalion officers the troops were taken
on the parade ground for close order
drill. All of the battalions put up
very snappy drill, Indicating what a
month in the field will do in the way
of putting troops in shape.
When brought back into the infantry
camp they were allowed to clean up
their tents and make preparations for
leaving camp. The men will be ex-
pected to talk recruiting while they
are away. although they may do with
their time as they please.
Only Need Is for Men.
are striving hard to obtain the requi-
site number Of men to enable the mus
tering officer to report them ready for
the border. They are completely
equipped. and all that is needed is men.
There is possibility that Battery
and the detachment of recruits and
casuals from the LIST Separate Battalion
to the number of ninety-six will be
sent out next week after pay day Bat
terry has the number of men and prac-
tically all of the equipment. Automatic
pistols were issued to the members of
this command late yesterday, indicating
that they were being outfitted with
view to getting away in a hurry.
Capt. Hobbs, the mastering officer,
said he had not yet been informed that
this command was ready, and therefore
had not reported it to the Department
of the East.
The company, battery and troop clerks
were busy today completing the pay
rolls, so that the men could be mus
tered on time Monday. If the officers
and men of the camp can help it, there
will be no delay in this pay day. The
troops, two batteries Of field
artillery and troop of cavalry have not
had a pay day since they have been