The Washington herald., 1916-06-22
Tented City Goes Up
In Midst of Downpour;
Militiamen Kept Busy

Yesterday the activities OF Tuesday at
the National Guard camp near Radio
IVA, were increased and a real tent city
began to grow. From the Signal Corps
at the extreme north to the First Separ-
ate Battalion to the south tho details
were busy. unloading still more tents
and cots. and the many other very neces-
sary articles that are used in military
camp.
| Water. probably the most necessary de-
tail of a camp. was run through pipes at
an early hour to the infantry camp. and
before dark the post plumbers at ForS
Myer had run big pipes 10 the cavalry,
Iartillery and signal corps camps Several
lines Of old pipe were discovered in the
Infantry camp and these were utilized.
1.-TWO District government water wagons
were utilized to carry water to parts Of
the camp not yet reached by pipe lines.
| The officers tents were among the first
to be raised. Brigade headquarters were
established just west of the Third In
fartry camp. rcgimental headquarters
were raised in front OF the ends OF the
Fifteen company streets Of the Third In
lfantry camp. At the end of each COM
lpany street the stoves and racks to be-
come the kitchen OF each company. and
the cots. pegs and other equipment Of
leach company lay piled. The field hos
Ipital camped just north of the infantry.
and the regimental infrmary commenced
to raise their canvass.
| In the artillery and cavalry camp a de-
tail of men were at work erecting not
only the officers tents, but those of the
men as well, preCaution that was well
worth while when the rain came The
cavalry kitchen, in charge of a regular
cavalry cook the first to have smoke
pouring from It, The signal corps had
most of its tents up on Tuesday.
| All the while truck upon truck and
wagon upon wagon of supplies came pour
ing into the camp More cots, more tents.
lime to be used by the sanitary troops
big kerosene lamps, and barrels of oil.
cords of wood, brooms, medical supplies.
war materials of all kinds were added
to those already on the site.
Near brigade headquarters. a 5o-by-25
foot army Y. NJ. c. \. tent was laid
out on the ground, with A. L. Smith.
veteran army Y. NJ. c. A. secretary. clad
In kakhi, busy adjusting the ropes and
pegs. Later it was raised and made
ready for use.
Y. VI. c. A. Convenience.
This will be the place when the men
can come and rest and read after the
| work of the day" said Secretary Smith.
as he worked. I'VE have ordered 10000
sheets of printed stationery and envelopes
for use in writing home, all the Tnaga-
zines will be obtainable. the newspapers
will be on file and we will sell postage
stamps and help the men in any other
way possible. Free movie shows Will be
given the men. | shall probably have one
of the secretaries of the Washington
building to help me-
! Where the District soldiers go, the Y.
NJ. c. A. tent will follow, ready to make
. - Al
the Y. NJ. c. A. will hold religious serv-
ices.
telephone line connecting with the
post line at Fort Myer, and thence run
ming to Washington. was being installed
yesterday by linemen from Fort Myer.
The line now being installed will run to
! headquarters and eventually three lines,
| including a pay station, probably in the
! Y. NJ. C. A. tent, will be installed.
| 1t was big scramble to get tents up
when the beating rain hit camp shortly
after the troops arrived. From about
noon on the sky looked threatening and
the sun was under clouds. But Just as
the troops marched into camp a big black
cloud rolled in from the north. the thun-
der rolled, and the lightning streaked the
sky.
Downpour Drenches Camp.
The companies had marched down the
1 SOIHpdny SlTeelS, stacked GlIleS, ana naQ
just set to work erecting the tents. when
the rain broke. There was one big rush
for ponchos and the raising of canvas
was hurried. Not a tent was completely
pitched. and although the men worked
| with vigor during the twenty-minute
storm to save themselves and equipment
form being soaked, It was not until the
| rain had been over some time that the
| camp looked like a tent city.
The field was a sea of mud. the de-
pressions of the field were filled with
water, and many of the tents, few of
| which were trenched. were flooded.
! Down in the artillery and cavalry camps,
| pitched on the lower end of Fort Myer
drill field, the water ran In torrents down
! the company streets, and the soldiers
slushed through the soft mucky material.
| Many Visit Soldiers.
| Fathers. mothers, wives, sons and
| daughters of the troops crowded the
! camp today, arriving by auto and car
riage. electric car and foot Many
pretty young girls talked when they
| could to the soldier boys. None seemed
| to be depressed in any way. When the
rain fell hard. the visitors made a rush
| to the officers tents. and under cover
watched their loved ones work in the
! rain.
Gen. H L. Scott, Chief of STAFF of the
regular army. inspected the camp in
| formally with Mrs. Scott yesterday.
| The eight guns and eight caissons
| OF the field artillery arrived in camp
shortly after the arrival Of the troops