Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-27
DUTY PLEASES ,
THE DISTRICT SOLDIERS
Hen Guarding Washington Aque'
duct Believe Gen. Sherman's View
of War Was Erroneous.


of War Was Erroneous.
WITH THE DISTRICT NATIONAL
GUARD. Somewhere Along the WASH
ington Aqueduct. May EFF this IL
war. then Sherman was all wrong"
That is the verdict Of the men Of the
Sd Infantry. N. G. D. c.. who are doing
guard work these days along the Wash.
fngton aqueduct from the intake at
Great Falls to the reservoirs near
Georgetown. They have been on the
job now for several weeks and all Of
them believe they have about as hne an
assignment as could be given soldiers.
: While the guard work they are doing
is of the most exacting nature. the ma
ture of the life they are leading in the
picturesque camps they have establish
ships they have to endure. The guards
men realize they have an important as
signment in being selected to guard the
city's water system against harm. and
they are striving hard to make good
and in that way retain their present
duty as long as possible.
Beats Fort Myer Camp.
Life up here beats living in the
camp at Fort Myer all hollow. said one
of the guard officers yesterday. ITS
about the finest camp life I have ever
experienced.
"Just look at that view-where can
you. get anything to equal it?" he de-
clared, pointing through a vista in the
trees to a broad bend in the Potomac
river beyond.
. We have just enough company up
here to make things interesting, and
The men are on duty for twenty-four
hours and OF duty for a like period.
There are no drills because we can't
get enough men together at any one
and that fact makes a big hit with the
men. When . man IL OF duty a five
minute walk from almost any one Of
the camps viii bring him to q fine
equally as good for fishing. Once q
week each man Is permitted to 20 to
town If he SO desires
Come on with your war; we should
worry
Four Companies in Detail.
Four companies of the Sd Regiment
are doing the guard work along the
tsqueduct between Georgetown and
Great Falls.
Three Of them have specific duties
to perform and the fourth Is held in
reserve. There are four company
camps and a score or more Of outpost
stretch. for every vulnerable point is
guarded. The forces at the outpost
camps usually consist Of non-com-
naissioned officer and from three to six
men. 1t is the life In these little
camps that the guardsmen have found
to be most enjoyable.
At each Of them there 10 big pyra-
midal tent large enough to accommo-
date eight men. and about these the
men have built many interesting rustic
benches and fences during their leisure
moments. Light motor trucks are
used to carry the food from the COM
the outposts. One works from Cabin
John bridge eastward and the other
covers the territory between there and
Great Falls: Three times each day
, Of army up with big sSss d
isteaming hot when the cars leave the
sompany camps for the outposts. At
the nrst each man Is given his allow.
ance and the trucks then hurry on to
The next post.
campares Kept Burning.
At each Of the outposts a little camp
nre Is kept burning most Of the time
sand the men occasionally supplement
their own conooction. At several Of
She outposts fhe men have q co1ee Dot.
tying pan. stew pan and other uten-
s s,,s;. which they purchased. They have
these with such home conveniences as
:saIt ana pepper shakers. bottles Of
ketchup and vinegar. One Of the OUT
Many Of the beats partolied BY the
Euardsmen at points along the aQue-
Duct have been marked at each end
With poles which the soldiers have cut
from the woods about them. and from
these small American flags are kept
The men have a four-hour trio. Of
period off duty which they can spend
To suit themselves. providing they stay
close to the outpost. After the twenty
four hour trick is completed they are
relieved by new guard and return to
the main company camp for q like
period.
Might Duty Necessary.
The character OF the xuard work be-
Ing done by the soldiers necessitates
considerable night work on the part Of
the company officers. 1t Is not neces-
sary.to keep e particularly sharp look
out in daytime, but after nightfan q
close watch must be maintained The
ohicers have to be on the alert to see
that mono Of the guards go to sleep
they " are S to Be- found providing about
the optposts ascertaining whether the
men ara on the Job.
Each company has been supplied with
q motor cycle, with side car attached,
which the oficers use in going from
post to, post. The motor trucks are
used In carrying the guard reliefs to
their stations.
Many Of the officers and several of
the enlisted men have brought their
automobiles GU ito the aqueduct camps
with them. and all manner Of structures
have been made to shelter the cars
from the weather. Some of the ga
RACES fashioned out of tarpaulin are
large enough to accommodate three
cars.
All of the company camps and several
of the outposts have been connected by
telephone lines, and there 10 q central
station in one Of the buildings Of the
water works system. Maj. Wallach A.
McCathran. Commander of the I'd Bait
TALON Of the regiment. which consists
Of the four companies engaged in the
guard work along the aqueduct-
Companies e, F. G and Haas his
headquarters near Cabin John bridge
and lives in, fine style in a tent that
stands In a grove of trees. There also
Is a telephone in his tent.
Notes Of the Camp.
Joseph p. Tumulty, secretary to the
Ia