Evening star., 1916-10-12
Bullets Fly as D. C. Guard
on Border Engages in
SubCaIber Practice
Special Correspondence of The sta,

DullelS WHlStle0
of infantry and batteries of field artil-
lery and charging troops of cavalry.
for Battery 8. field artillery, District
of Columbia National Guard, started
its subcaliber practice. The enemy
troops were only pasteboard targets
and tin cans made to represent an op-
posing army. and when the battery
finally limbered up for the return to
camp the enemy was completely an
nihilNed.
This target practice is preliminary
to target practice with three-inch
shrapnel and high-explosive shells
next week. and if their Workmanship
can be taken an indication of their
efficiency. they should make high scores
next week.
Gives Orders to Brigadier General.
one of the battery's non-commis-
stoned officers had the honor of giving
commands to brigadier general of the
regular army today, and was implicitly
obeyed by him. Brig. Gen E. St John
Greble of the 9Th Field Artillery. of
fered his services a No: ] man on one
of the guns, at the time commanded by
Sergt. August Laufer, and when orders
were given by the executive officer.
Lieut. Gerald G. McGrath, the sergeant
did not hesitate to communicate them
to the distinguished No. l man, who
obeyed them promptly.
Every section claimed the best shoot
ing. and an inspection of the targets
showed that the second section, in
charge OF Sergt. Mortell Biam. with
Corp. Richard Henkelman as gunner.
was the best. getting the most hits.
when the order came prepare for
action" the battery unlimbered and had
horses fifteen
seconds. which is record time.
The men of the battery and Field
Hospital No. / do not like their camp
at Douglas for sand storms sweep the
camp continually day in and day
out. and sometimes for hours one can't
see across the company street. and
when the men come in from drills and
target practice they are white from
mead to foot, as are the horses AS a
result the mounted organizations here
have been nfckna ed the ''wfiites bat
teries. Every night when the men
are ready to turn in fully an inch
of sand and dust cover their blankets
and they are fairly. saturated with
sand. Then the nights are very cold
and all the men use their horse blank
cts in addition to the two issued to
them. and then sometimes sleep in
..boots and saddles" or in civilian
language with their clothes on.
,it dewexer. the men are given two
Saturdays. for the purpose of washing
clothes. and the battery wash man
has given UP washing any white
clothes, because as he expresses it,
So on these two days the insides Of
the tents look like a regular Monday
wash day in Washington.
An army Y NJ. c. A. is right next
to the battery camp. and here the men
of the militia units find their anuse-
ment in stray hours. Three times a
week movie shows are neld. religious
services on two nights, and usually on
Inc Two other nights something in the
way OF lecture or entertainment is
Pioslos- The men find plenty OF
writing material and there is a con-
stant reminder on the wall with the
big sign Write Home"
forme- Lieut.. John r. vanderhoof of
tne battery. now corporal in Bat
terry F. sth Field Artillery is a fire.
qu@nt visitor. and is the butt of inuch
Kidding from the battery men. for
they say the? can be on equal footing
with him now and don't have to stand
at attention and salute every time he
passes.
Mess serGt- John T. Kelley of the
T2. Vausry has had hIs song. 'T Don't
and Thursday night sang IL al tie
Y. NJ G. \. when ne concluded the
creraior threw the movies on the
screen. but the men of the Distrjc.
.Hf Jeraey outfits raised an uprogr
c siHg they wanted Kelley and not
y OVER John is very popular among
II .oi1i@rG aud is much iu demand
bs the various ORGANIZATIONS on ar
count o. his vocal achievements.
To-day was pay day with the Field
Hospital. and many went on pass to
Doug lu" to lock the town over The
a.1o tuu another ''cElebratioIs'' when
c,ottinE Was issued. ard conseauently
made neat appearance with their
nc'' u-s-io=1ss and leather leggins
Ns7 e. Battery can see an early
hoHae-toing when they have finished
'ast- target practice. and expect by
the end of next week to have their
marching orders for Fort Mycr. and. in
HHiic-Dnfic9 ~ this, held tin-can pa
rade through the camp. and they 20
honi their work with added zeal
thinking the more they do the sooner
the orders.
Sergt. Hart of the Medical Corps fell
in sort when the Field Hospital moved
into the camp vacated by the Jersey
Sippi" Company. for there was a nice
hulidiu2 on the site which he promptly
confscated for an Office. Sergt Hart
s. "e4y proud of his paper work anc
says his pay rolls have never con
tanned a mistake.
The following promotions have beer
s2Gs in Battery B during the last
week: Corp. Bernard Rome to be ser.
CORPORAL. Private William Pettis to bs
mechanic and Private Edward +
Downs TO be cook.