Evening star., 1916-09-05
Attacking Militia BiindN
Walks Into Hidden Trenches
Defending Camp Radio. !
THEORETICALLY DEFEATED,
WITH HEAVY CASUALTIES
Third Battalion Administers Crush.
ing Defeat to 1st and I'd Bat
talions in Technical Battle.

On an expedition on which, theoreti.
cally. their existence depends. the Sd
Battalion of Infantry. temporarily COM
manded by Maj. wallach A. Mccath-
ran. this morning left Camp Ordway
right after the morning meal. They
went to establish line Of defense
against a provisional brigade of in
fantry and protect from attack Radio.
Va, as we'll as supplies for the army
stored at the base station at Rosslyn,
Va.
The invading force. under Lieut. Col.
Stephan, consisted OF the LIST and I'd
Battalions OF Infantry. This force left
some time behind the frst body. and
will attack it IL it can find the in
trenchments.
Dig With Pick and Shovel.
When the defenders reached Addison,
Va, they spread out in the surrounding
country and began digging a great line
Of trenches. Small intrenching tools.
consisting Of pick and shovel. were
used.
1t took some time to get down into
the ground. Grass was cut from the
field and piled on the new clay. Then
details of men went into the brush and
cut small bushes and trees and planted
them at irregular intervals along the
trench line.
Even to the trained eye Of the SOL
dier the trenches could not be located,
so effectively had the militiamen used
nature as a disguise. The invaders
didn't find the trenches, which covered
the only road to their objective. Not
until they stepped into them did they
fhax hoA ri0 int q
trap just like one walking Unexpectedly
Into q hornets nest.
The popping of guns told the invaders
in few seconds they had better rush
ambulance companies to carry on the
whole invading army. theoretically
they are shot and torn at every turn.
After the big war was over the men,
of course, had to put the earth back
to the condition in which they found
lit It was we'll after lunch hour before
they returned to the camp. tired and
hungry enough to eat two meals At
once.
Money Short in Camp.
Aside from expecting orders to move.
the matter which looms biggest in the
minds of the militiamen now is pay
day. Even after two months training
in making out pay rolls the quarter
masters once at Fort Myer has found
number OF mistakes in the militia
rolls. When these are corrected by the
organization commanders tho troops
will be paid. This probably will be
late tomorrow afternoon or early
Thursday morning.
There's hardly cigarette money in
several companies. With many, funds
are so low that tobacco coupons are the
only barter tender available.
With the strike out of the way, two
or three organizations at minimum
strength and equipped. and the Eastern
Department apprised of the fact from
two sources. officers and men are won
dering why they have not received
moving orders. especially In view of
the fact that troops are being ordered
from the border to their home stations.
I There is feeling now that all troops
at Camp Ordway will see service on
the border before they return to be
mustered out. Many men now seem
content, however. to remain at Camp
Ordway until mustered out. They are
satisfied they can get the same train
ing here that could be given them on
the border only probably on the bor-
der the travel would be harder.
The militia officers at Camp Ordway
and the regular officers at Fort Myer
plan to give another farewell dance
in the administration building at Fort
Myer, tomorrow evening.