Evening star., 1917-05-16
FIRST. Of RIFLE DRILLS
AT THE OFFICERS CAMP
Candidates for Army Commission
Taught Manual Of Arms-Also
Instructed in Signaling.

The 1000 or more candidates for com.
missions in the Oficers' Reserve Corps
who are attending the training caml
at Fort Myer, Va, had their first drill
with rifles this morning. For several
hours they hiked back and forth across
the big drill field, first driiiing IN
squads and then In company forma-
tion.
The rifles were issued yesterday, but
were not taken from their racks untii
the embryo officers formed for retreat
yesterday evening. Bright and early
this morning they took up the study
Of the rifle and during the remainder OF
the week they are to divide their time
between the manual of arms and aim
ing and sighting drills.
1t is believed that by next money
they will be we'll versed in this branch
of their training, for their schooling fs
Of the intensive kind. and every minute
is being made to count.
Make Study of Signaling.
The candidates have begun the study
OF semaphore signaling, and whenever
they get few minutes to spare they
practice sending messages to each other
Many of them probably will have tired
arms when night comes. for they are
utilizing every opportunity to master
this form of communication. and arm
waving is the vogue all over the camp:
Capt. Charles S. Haight. adJutant OF
the camp. stated this morning that
the candidates target practice, and be-
fore the training period Of three
months Is over every man Will nave
had to complete a specified course. Tho
Edsal range probably will be used.
This afternoon between tho hours OF
and o'clock the students are to be
taken on a practice march without arms,
and similar march is on the program
during the remainder OF the week. Later
on the hikes are to be !engthened, and
offers will have become hardened to long
marches.
Drill in Calisthenics.,
For an hour this morning the students
were put through a brisk calesthenic drill
by Capt Herman ]. koehler, Tor many
years master of the sword at West Point
and one Of the foremost authorities on
military gymnastics In the country.
An exchange has been opened i'll one of
the gun sheds for the patronage the
reserve camp students and now supply
strings and other articles that are neces-
sary in the life Of soldier is close at
hand.
Saturday afternoon from until {
o'clock Mrs. Fenton, wife Of Lieut.. Col.
Charles W. Fenton, camp commander. is
to give tea for the officers and students
at the camp at her residence In the
reservation. No other social events have
been announced for the week end. but 1t is
understood, that later in the course 'vari-
Gus entertainment features will be
planned.
Saturday afternoon and Sunday are
to be the only times when the students
will have liberty, for the program for
the remainder of the week keeps them
bsuy from reveille, early in the morning,
until $3.50 o'clock at night, when the
instruction is concluded.
Officially Welcomed.
AS many Of the students as could
pack into the big riding hall last night
listened to an address by Col. Fenton.
coined them officia1ly and told them
something of the life they are to live
in the camp. He called their attention
to the fact that the camp is located on
property that formerly belonged to one
Of the country's greatest fighters. Rob-
ert e. Lee.
All Of the students have been notified
to instruct their friends and relatives
as to the proper way in which to ad-
dress their mail. The right way, as out
lined in an official order from the head
quarters, is as follows: Reserve OFF,
GERS Training Camp. Fort Myer. Va"
At the lower left-hand corner OF the
envelope the company OF which the per-
son who is to receive the letter Is q
member should be designated.
Three Washington policemen are In
training In the camp. They are Robert
Drummond of the first precinct, Boxier
Smith Of the tenth precinct.