Evening star., 1916-06-29
MASTERING WORK 4
IS BEING PUSHED
Tactical Units of the District
Guard Getting Ready for
Transportation to Bisbee. J
Time FOR QUITTING RADIO !
CAMP REMAINS UNCERTAIN
Three Carloads Of Equipment Reach
Rosslyn-Ball Ammunition Is
sued to 1st Separate Battalion. I

sued TO ISL separate battallon.
Tactical units of the National
Guard of the District of Columbia
are rapidly being whipped into
shape for transportation to Bis
bee. Ariz. The process of mus
tering the troops into the United
States service is being pushed
with all possible speed by Capt
Horace P. Hobbs, U. S. A., mus
tering officer.
Companies L and NJ which have been
on the rife range at Congress Heights.
n. c., were hurriedly recalled this
morning in order that they might be
mustered They arrived in camp at
noon. and were mustered Immediately
after the mess call. The supply and
headquarters companies also were mus
tered, completing the 3I Regiment of
Infantry. 1t is expected that the fegi-
mental staff officers will be mustered
late this afternoon. 1t was necessary
to muster them last, as they could not
be taken into the service until there
was a full regiment.
II any of the companies which went
into the service with their minimum
strength of sixty-fve men lose any on
account of physical examinations IL
will not in any way delay the move
ment of the troops from this camp.
according to Capt. Edwin W. Fullam.
adjutant of the Sd Infantry. The men
are then in the United States service,
and will not be held back because they
fall short of the minimum allowance.
Final mastering This Evening.
This afternoon Capt Hobbs is sched-
uled to muster the cavalry and two
batteries of field artillery. This Will
complete the tactical units, and the en-
tire District guard then will be in fed
eral service. This leaves only tho
brigade headquarters to be mustered.
When .his will he done is not now
known. zs/ -
mandinR the District of Columbia
militia together with his adjutant gen
eraI, Maj. Harry Coope, went 10 the
War Department today Tor conferences;
It is probable that the question OF
mastering Gen. Harry and Maj. Coope
was taken up at that time.
There seems to be some uncertainty
as to when any OF the organizations
will move out of this camp. The Sig
nal Corps has been mustered for several
days but has received no orders to
move 1t, like all Of the other organiza-
tions in the guard, has been awaiting
proper uniforms and equipment for the
men.
Three carloads of equipment arrived
at Rosslyn today. One of the cars was
opened before noon and was found TO
contain all shoes. 1t is now being un-
loaded. The other two cars also are
believed to contain foot equipment
This shipment will fill one of the very
important needs of the troops now in
camp. as the mastering officer reported
several days ago that so per cent of
the men did not have a serviceable pair
of shoes. Work of fitting the shoes to
these men will be started Immediately
and this detail will be gotten out of
the way.
Ball Ammunition Issued.
It is the general belief now of the
camp officers that the 1st Separate
Battalion will entrain before tomor-
row night With that idea in mind.
ball ammunition is being issued to this
battalion, so that soon as the men
are outftted with shoes. clothing and
other equipment they can start right
for the trains. Approximately 100000
rounds of rife ammunition and 10000
rounds of pistol ammunition was issued
this morning to this battalion. How
ever, it was served out in bulk and
will not be distributed to the troops
until their arrival at Bisbee.
The medical examinations OF this
troop were completed today, and IL is
understood that quite few of these
troops were rejected on account of bad
teeth.
physical examinations this morning. and
this afternoon the work of examining the
troops will be started. The eight officers
engaged in this work have been working
day and night in order to put the troops
through quickly, and it was suggested to-
day that If there was an urgent call for
the troops Of the Sd Infantry and other
organizations there are about forty Of
ficers of the Medical Reserve Corps now
in Washington who could be called upon
to assist in the work.
1t will take several days. perhaps until
Saturday night. to complete the physical
examinations of the infantry alone. 1t is
estimated that it will be late Saturday
night or Sunday before the Sd Infantry
will be ready to move to the destination
at Bisbee, Ariz.
Tenseness in Camp Relieved.
Although the mastering is being
pushed with all speed possible. there is
not the hustle and hustle about camp
which was shown following the tilt be-
tween Carranzistas and United States
cayalrymen at CarrizaL The determi-
nation of the Mexican authorities to re-
lease the prisoners has relieved the
tenseness which was felt in this camp.
but still the troops are anxious to get
to the front in order TO be there in
for eventualities.
Attention of all the camp officers
now is being focused on supplies and
equipment This is what they want
and it is the only matter which is hold
ing them back. They are using every
eftort to get the men fitted out as
quickly as possible and get them start.
ed for the front.
Brig Gen. Harvey announced today
that Assistant Secretary Vrooman
would come to camp at $50 o'clock
this afternoon for the purpose of de-
l;yering a lecture to the enlisted men
who were employees of the Department
of Agriculture. .
Mustered In Yesterday.
The entire 1st and I'd Battalions and
company of the Sd Battalion and the
machine gun company were mustered in
As some of the men had been
- .,,t nm details nearly all of thesf