Evening star., 1916-07-20
BY ]. CROSBY MCCARTHY.

BY j. CROSBY MCCARTHY.
DISTRICT NATIONAL GUARD CAMP.
WARREN. Ariz.. July 15.-Members of
the Signal Corps Company, District of
Columbia militiamen. encamped here
stood their first regular inspection today.
While at the camp at Fort Myer. Va.
the militiamen went through their weekly
inspection Saturday morning. As all their
equipment had not been issued to them
at that time the ceremony did not have
its full significance.
At inspection today each member Of the
company had full equipment The most
severe part Of the inspection was ex-
animation of the big automatic .45-caltber
pistols which were issued to the men
while en- route to this place.
Pistols Needed Cleaning.
At the time they were used some
were badly in need of cleaning. all the
metal parts having been covered with
thick grease to prevent rusting. Capt
Terry instructed every member of his
company to have his pistol thoroughly
cleaned and adjusted in readiness for
the Saturday inspection. Those who
failed to do this had marks placed
against their records.
The inspection was made by Capt
u.
the ED Infantry. L. S. A., who has
been assigned as inspector and in
structor at the District militiamen's
camp. All personal equipment. such
as blankets, shelter tents. uniform
etc, also was inspected, as were the
reel carts and signaling equipment
Capt. Dodge spent all yesterday at
the camp, explaining methods of keep
ing various records in accordance with
regular service requirements. AS soon
as Capt. Dodge receives his formal in
structions from the division commander
at Douglas, he Will take up quarters
with the Signal Corps and occupy a
tent which has been set up for him on
Officers row."
First Target Practice.
Within few days the Signal Corps
men probably will have their first tar
get practice with automatic pistols.
There is a range near the Country Club.
a couple of miles south of here where
the regulars have been practicing Each
man probably will be given fifty rounds
OF ammunition with which to practice.
Only about so per cent of the men in
the company have ever fired their pis-
tolls These have never used them in
the open. The only target experience
they have had has been at short range
in an indoor gallery.
All the men are anxious to get a
chance to try their hand. Some are
confident of making good scores, while
others are not SO sure about their skill.
They realize that shooting revolver
is an entirely different thing from
shooting service rifle, with which the
making of fair showing is not such
a difficult task.
Sore From Vaccination.
Some men of both the Signal Corps
and field hospital units are beginning
to develop mighty sore arms as the
result of the smallpox vaccinations
which they received while on the train
en- route from the east Several arms
have become SO sore that the men
Within a day or so the men are to re-
phylactic injection. A supply of the
serum is expected to reach here to-
morrow, and then the shooting" will
begin.
Schools for the non commissioned
officers of both units are to be started
next week. Each day these men will
spend several hours studying so as to
be prepared to serve as instructors for
those in their charge. The work OF
getting camps into proper shape having
about been completed, from now on the
men will devote their energies in get
ting themselves prepared for actual
they are not fitted for any real field
work and that a lot of hard training
will be necessary before they round
into shape.
Capt Terry expects to obtain the use
of enough horses of the 22d Infantry to
outfit one section of his command for
field practice. These horses will be
used in turn by the sections until the
full quota of horses and mules ordered
from Fort Sam Houston for the COM
pany arrives here.
II will first be necessary to teach the
men to ride. A number of them never
have had any experience. Until they
learn to handle their mounts they will
not be permitted to start field work.
When once the field work is under way
capt. Terry will take the men on trips
to nearby points and lay telegraph
lines while en- route.
visual signaling from di~t 1T points
also will be undertaken. Th's country
is well suited for this kind Of work. as
there are plenty of noun peaks at
hand and no trees on the - cut or
the view from one station T. another.