Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-16
D. c, ART|L[ER|STS
DOING GOOD WORK
Army Heads Interested in
Coast Defense Showing
at Fort Howard.
EVERY MEMBER OF BODY
HAS COLLEGE TRAINING
Military Organization Of G. W. U.
Students and Alumni Composed
Entirely of Technical Experts.

Ent1reIy OF Iechnlca1 Experts
Military authorities of the govern
ment are watching closely the work
being done in camp at Fort Howard.
on Chesapeake bay. near Baltimore,
by the 1st Company, Coast Artillery. OF
the District National Guard. This is
the first company of college men to
enter that branch of the service. and.
as the officers and most of the men
have had scientific training. 1t Is be-
lieved they will prove especially val
liable as we'll as filling up the shortage
that has existed in this branch of the
national defense.
This company, now in camp FOR
three week stay, is composed entirely
of alumni and students of George
Washington University. which has the
distinction of being the pioneer in the
organization of a military unit as part
Of the National Guard. Other Ameri-
can colleges have fallen into line in
this preparedness movement
In its room at the LIST street armory
this company has been holding smokers
and other social affairs to promote
better understanding among them
selves and the other George Washing
ton University men and also to obtain
recruits. Prominent army officials have
given occasional lectures on the artil-
lery branch of the service.
Practice Handling Big Guns.
The company has formed a club. in
which nearly every man is a member
The dues finance the social affairs
vic he
under command of Capt. w. w. Burns.
IL drilled in infantry movements. Every
second Sunday the artillerymen take
the naval militia boat to Fort Wash
ington. where they remain the entire
day. handling the ten-inch guns.
Prominent District men were instru-
mental in organizing this company. Pres
ident Charles Herbert Stockton and the
board of trustees of George Washington
University sanctioned the project June
male student and signed by military
committee composed of Admiral Charles
n. Stockton. L. S. N. retired Gen. Max
well V. 2. Woodruff. Ernest L. Thurston.
superintendent of the public schools: John
B. Larner. president of the board of trus-
tees. and Col Archibald Hopkins.
Capt. Albert G Thompson. jr.. Coast
toned at Fort Howard. Md. has been
designated by the War Department as
Instructor of the company.
capt. waiter W. Burns the command
ing officer. was graduated from Cornell
University in mechanical engineering in
1906: from September. 1906. until Feb
ruary, 1907. he was employed in railroad
shops. Havelock- Neb. from March. 1907.
until June. 1908. he was employed in the
engineering department Of the New York
Telephone Company; from July until
the present time he has been assistant
examiner in the United States patent Of
fee. He entered naval militia of the Dis
trict in June. 1909. and was commissioned
,c,.o
tenant Junior grade). March. 1915: en-
tered George Washington Law School.
1905 and was graduated il 1912.
Chester c. Baxter. G. w. L. law '1s,
gfneering 10 and law '1s. are first and
second Ieutenants, respectively. First
sergeant is Newell B. Grain. The other
sergeants in ranking order are: James
B. Campneld. A. VI, Brown. Q. NJ.
sergt. Void and Electrician Sergt
Griggs. Corporais are: c. 8. Shields, B.
c. Cruickshanks and p. J. Hunt
number of special officers in the
artillery service are selected through
scientific examinations and all of these
Offices are flied.
Leslie w. Teller a junior at the uni
versity college Of engineering. has been
made radio sergeant Mr. Teller had
made a complete wireless outfit while
attending high school. thus becoming
proficient In their construction and
handling. He has also been granted
Q government frst-class wireless op-
orators license.
:, Every Member Is G. W. q. Man.
Every man in the company is George
Washington University man. with the
exception of the buRIer and mess ser
geant. who were enlisted shortly be-
fore the company went to camp.
At Fort Howard the men are being
put through their routine work in the
morning. thus giving them the after
noon to themselves. The fort Is an ideal
place for a camp The tennis courts
base ball diamonds and motor boats
are al the disposal OF the company
The men have organized teams and are
playing a regular series.
The work, account Of the many
mechanical. electrical and special fea-
lures involved said Secretary Of War
Baker. should be particularly interest
ing TO college students and II can be
carried on without serious disturbance
to their college course. An immediate
relation being established between the
militia coast artillery company and the
fort 10 which IL is assigned, the excur-
sions TO that fort. together with partici-
patton in the joint coast defense exer-
cises, which include service target
practice with the seacoast guns, might
well be regarded as one Of the most at
tfactive Of college activities. to share in
which is more a privilege than duty"
4aj. Gen. Hugh L. Scott. in a recen.
communication. expressed his belief
that men should have SOME preliminary
training. whether college men or not
The mechanical engineer" he said
might De less valuable around a high
POKER gun than corporal OF limited
edU ration VINO had frequently aimed
and managed that gun in target prac-
tice
When Efficiency Is Established.
ITO A: ones sci. for this work Is a com
mendabie undertaking IN itself" he
said. but. more than that. when these
students have once established thei-
owi, proficiency they should in many
eases develop 70 the point where they
ca:a til leading parts in similar work
H. the communities where they finally
take Up residence"
Tn. college mems artillery company
has established a proficiency record at
Fort Washington in its drills with
tho big guns. which is just two sec
onds behind the regulars time. The
regulars claim that their record time
for tripping" the ten-inch monsters
- twenty seconds. while the men in
This company have gone through it in
twenty-five.
Tripping" the gun in this time re-
fui-eg proficiency in the use Of the
range-hnhins apparatus in the signal