The Washington times., 1916-09-04
Day Opens With Hike for Infan-.
try and Drills for Artillery
and Cavalry Troops.
TROOPER INJURED IN FALL
Guardsmen Dismissed for Day
at 1915 and Many Visit
" City or Entertain Guests.

Labor Day war ushered In for the
District militlamen amid the blowing
Of many bugles at the early hour of
b:l5 this morning. 1t Is the common
saying among the guardsmen that
there Is no holiday In the army" and
until 1918 o'clock this morning, the day
proved one OF labor in every respect for
the lScal soldiers.
The three battalions OF infantry were
taken out on a long hike. The battery
of artillery wan put through stiff
mounted maneuvers on the Fort Myer
drill field, while Troop A OF the cavalry
had mounted drill and practice In pitch
ing shelter tents.
One Incident served to mar and nearly
put a stop to the drill of Troop A this
morning. While going through maneu-
vers at a trot the horse on which Pri-
vate II. o. Thompson was mounted
stumbled and threw him to the ground.
lie was dragged a short distance under
the hoofs OF the plunging and frightened
horse. and when reached by his COM
rades was found to be unconscious. The
Fort Myer ambulance was summoned
and he was removed to the post hos
pital. He regained consciousness after
reaching the hospital, and his injuries
were pronounced as of minor character
by the physician In charge. 1t Is
thought he will recover and return to
duty in a few days.
Given Passes to City.
At 1915 o'clock the three organiza-
tions returned to camp and were dis
missed by their commanding officers for
dred militiamen were allowed passes
to the city. and Immediately after dis,
missal from drill throng Of happy
soldiers boarded street cars and ''jit1
neys" for Washington.
A large number Of visitors arrived at
camp this morning and gathered out
side the sentry lines. They were al
lowed to pass into camp at 1880 and will
be allowed to VISIT the soldiers until
late hour tonight. 4,
The fact that they will be paid to-
morrow. or certainly by Wednesday. is
filling the national guardsmen with Joy
supreme. Major w. p. French. depot
quartermaster at Fort Myer. II now
izations in the mobilization camp. and
probably will complete the work Of
checking them up by tonight or tomor-
row morning.
Major Coope to Border.
. Major Harry Coope. adjutaht general
Of therDistrice militia, e.has received .
preliminary notice from the War De-
partment that he may be ordered to-the
border In a short while. He stated today
he did not know that his office would
be there or where he would be stationed.
He will not be stationed among the Dis
trict troops, however. 1t is thought. but
probably will act as quartermaster gen.
eral OF some other division of militia
now on the border.
Major Coope has been pronounced by
his fellow officers as one OF the hardest
working officers in camp. II he Is COM
PEELED to leave before the remainder Of
the troops his absence will be keenly
felt at, brigade headquarters.
Many officers OF the militia today ex-
pressed the opinion that Major Coope's
preliminary notice of being ordered to
tho border Is another definite sign that
the District troops now encamped near
Fort Myer will receive their orders to
entrain In a short while. They base
their opinion on the fact that II is high
ly improbable that Major COope would
be ordered to leave while there Is still
work to be done for the District militia.