The Washington times., 1917-03-27
PRESS TRAINING OF
CIVILIANS FOR WAR
Two Hundred Men Being Drill
ed by Army 0fficer-Expect-
ed 1900 will Enroll.

While officials of the army and
navy are speeding up preparations for
war, and while all members Of the
District Guard are expecting a daily
call to the colors, work OF getting the
civilians of Washington started on
the road to military preparedness is
being pushed vigorously by officers of
the District of Columbia Division of
the Military Training Camps Associa'
tion.
Already more than 200 men have re-
sponded and are holding weekly drills
at the Washington Riding and Hunt
Club, under the direction of Capt.
Archibald Miller. OF Fort Myer.
The organization, which IS made up
Of the Washington Plattsburg contin'
gent, was formed a little more than a
month ago and has enrolled 200 for
the reserve corps as a result of three
meetings. The first meeting was held
March 0, when ninety enrolled, the
second q week later, when the mum
Der was increased to $50, and the last
meeting was held March %, when
slightly more than 200 men turned
out Captain Miller expects that at
next few weeks.
To Seek Larger Hall.
Already inquiries are being made
for a larger hall for the weekly drills
1t being apparent from the rapid In
crease in the number of recruits that
the present drillroom will not be able
to accommodate the crowd.
Officers OF the local Training Camps
Association, who have been the NOV
ing spirits behind the movement, are
Walter Howe. president: James H
Hopkins, secretary, and J. w. Calvert
treasurer. Robert Hayden and DR.
r. T. B. McKenney also have been ac
tive workers.
I'VE want to get as many men Of
Washington interested in military
training as possible" said an officer
i of the organization today. 1--WE are
recruiting them for Plattsburg ano
giving them training that will enable
many to pass the examinations for of
| flcers in the reserve corps"
Already more than 100 OF the re
cruits have filed applications for ex
animation for officers In the reserve
corps. A large number of these were
examined at Fort Myer yesterday.
Posters Being Distributed.
Large posters directing attention tc
the weekly drills at the Riding and
Hunt Club are being distributed ir
the banks and business houses
throughout the city. while thousands
OF small circulars are being passed
from hand to hand by individuals in
! terested in the movement These cir
culars read: "Plattsburg Camps, 1917
June, July, August, and September
Are you going? The District OF Colum
hia Division OF the Military Training
Camps Association OF the United
States has been organized. 1t IS hold
ing drills every Friday night at S:3C
o'clock at the Riding and Hunt Clut
ring, Twenty-second and p streets
Army officers are in charge. The fel
low who attends these drills will make
more rapid progress at camp. He will
know more than the next man. Come
in old clothes and have them loose"
At these drills the men are giveI
lectures by army officers, following
which they are given training in va
| rious arm and foot movements, anC
put through setting up exercises.
Treasurer Calvert, who is a promi
nent member OF Washington Chapter
of the American Institute OF Banking
said today he expects to get at leas
/ 100 additional recruits from the mem
i bership of the chapter.