Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-29
Distinguished Party Given
Impressive Receptions at
Big Camp and at the Sta
ton in Columbus
BY RALPH SMITH

BY RALPH SMITH
COLUMBUSL, Ga, Oct. 27.-Pres-
ident Warren G. Harding began here
this morning one of the most siren
uous and, hectic days Of his career.
Awaked from his slumber shortly
after 6 o'clock by the martial notes
of three lnuffles and as many flour
ishes by the drummerS and buglers
of the famous Camp Benning band,
the president, Mrs. Harding, Sec
retary> of War Weeks, Secretary Of
Interior Fall and General Sawyer,
aid and physician to the executive,
and Private Secretary Christian
found their Pullman parked at the
modest little railway station in the
heart of Camp Benning. Their over
night trip from Birmingham had
been uneventful, but their invasion
Of Georgia in the twilight of the
dawning day was none too early for
hundreds of patriotic Americans in
Nuscogee county who were gath
cred at the camp to unite in hearty
salutationS to the distinguished Wis
itors. \
The presidents first impressions
of Georgia were punctuated in fact
and in deed by the sound of cannon
and musketry, for during the first
two hours of his stay, the soldiers at
Camp Benning staged for his bene-
fit probably the greatest sham bat
tie in the history of military maneu-
vers. AT invisible invading foe was
repu1sed and the president nlarvelled
in appreciation and stood aghaSt as
the big guns of the Camp Benning
artillery laid down GRE barrage after
another, firing over the improViSed
grandstand in which the distin-
guished visitors viewed the maneu-
VerS.
Inspiring Occasion
It was thrilling and inspiring &C.
cssion, not alone for Mr.. aid Mrs.
Harding, Secretary Weeks, Secre-
tary Fall, General Sawyer and Sec
rotary George S. Christian, but also
for he Georgia Crackers assembled
at the camp who were privileged to
witness the spectacle
After his visit to Camp Bennlng,
the president visited Columbus,
where he was welcomed with deaf
CLANS, who stood at the Union sta
ton during a brief speech from the
rear platform of his private Car
The president left Columbus at tc::O
for Att. nta via the CEREAL al G9or-
gia laiI''Gad.
President Harding did not have
time to inspect all of the $4,000 acres
that comprise Camp Benning. He
had to cut the corners of the place,
measuring II miles in one direction
and 16 miles in another and taking
in a part of Muscogee and most OF
Chattahoochee county. He mani
tested the deepest interest in the
character of Camp Benning and
marveled at it's magnitude. He dis
cussed with Secretary of War Weeks
the completeness of the camp and
commented upon the wonderful work
that is being done mere in the train
ing of officers of the United States
army.
Met by Army Officers
Emerging from his private car
shortly after the muffle and bugle
call, President Harding and Mrs.
Harding, followed by the cabinet
officers, General Sawyer and Private
Secretary Christian, were cordially
welcomed by committee of army
officers, General Walter H. Gordon,
cohnmandant of the infantry school;
Colonel Paul D. Malone, assistant
commandant, and Colonel Edgar Fry,
executive officer of the camp. Auto
mobiles were ready for the visitors
Fand the formal inspection of the
mammoth place was begun ALMOST
Immediately. President Harding and
Secretary Weeks, especially, lent an
attentive ear to the army officers as
| they told Of the size of the camp, the
number of officers. in training and the
/ character of work being done. Just
now the personneI of the camp is
composed of over 800 representatives
of the United States army-all Off.
| GERS of whom seventy are in the field
| artillery class, siXty-tWO in the ba.
| sic class and the others engaged in
| receiving instruction in the company
commanders course. BY way OF
parenthesis it is pertinent to remark
| that the "basic class" is devoted to
| horse1nanship and among it's mem
| bers the president saw some of the
| finest riders in the world.
From the train the party was es
corted through what is known as
the headquarters area, subsequently
| to the tented city, where officers are
| lodged for want Of better quarters
| thence down Lumpkin road, thence
| through other interesting sections OF
| the camp.
Realistic Battle
And after the formal inspection
the big event of the day was staged
the sham battle, known in army
| circles as the Kelly problem. It was
far more exciting than one would
suppose. Cooks ridge was selected
for maneuver, and it lent itself adj
mirably to the purposes for which
it was selected. The problem involv.
ed a reproduction of some Of the
hardest-fghting problems engaged
in by the army in France. The dem.
onstration brought into play every
known application of modern war
fare. The same character of guns
and much of the ammunition used in
actual war played their part in the
game. The ammunition, indeed, was
left over from the recent hostilities,
and it's apparent waste today was
not in fact waste, since, in q short
while, it would be wholly useless.
The picture presented was as reals
tic as 1t was possible to make such
picture, and demonstrated the i'm
peratlve need Of training such as is
being given to army officers at Camp
Benning. The humble rifle men and
the redoubtable "doughboy' was as
much Of an entry in the battle as
were the general officers. The prob.