The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-08-15
OFFICERS ARE
in CAMP At
MEADE
District Reserves Begin Field
Training to Handle
+ Forces in Action.
Continued from Page 49,

: Forces in Action.
CONTINUED from Page 49,
over two or more years. It's great
that is all you can say about it."
Chaplains Attend.
One Of the features of the schoo
f. the presence of a number Of re
serve army chaplains. They hav
been drawn in to give them an op
portunity of not only studying
camp conditions and the reaction
airy effect on the men, but the CTS
cumstances under which they mus
render their services when called t.
active duty. According to the chap
lains there is just as much fol
churchmen to learn about military
activities affecting their profession
as for the lawyer, the merchant and
the average business man called tc
the colors.
Many Of the problems the Off
GERS will be called upon to solve
reflect major operations both in
the field and along defense lines
With them it. is not question en-
tirely of learning how to handle
units in the field. Most of them
are already accomplished drill mas
tiers when 1t comes to carrying 9
company or a battalion through
field movements.
what few persons unfamiliar
with the training given the Off
GERS of the Reserve Corps in the
instruction camps realize is that
the men are grounded in the work
necessary to a proper understand
ing of military movements on a
large SCALE" said one Of the com
manding officers in talking to a
group of the fresh arrivals.
Much Detail Work.
providing for the care Of q
division once 1t has been modified
IL something more than distributing
II for action. There are innumer
able details, all important, which
must be understood and arranged
for. and to do this requires long
courses of study. It is to learn
the detail work you are here, for
until that has been mastered no
man is competent to hold gen.
eral- command"
Many Of the men attending the
school when they learned yester.
day that within q short time a
considerable section Of the build.
ings erected at the camp will be
ia
terest in the plans Of the War De.
partment in connection with the
camp. While practically all Of the
buildings used for company and
officers quarters are lightly con
structed, and must soon come down
the fear was expressed that with
their destruction no provision
would be made to replace them
with permanent structures.
Among the reserve officers the
feeling is strong that the vicinity
Of Washington is the logical loca.
ton for the establishment Of a per.
manent reserve officers training
school camp to which in time all of
the members of the corps will come
for their special courses. They be.
lieve, they say, that If the select
ton of a training camp site was
left to be decided by a vote Of the
corps, Washington would receive an
overwhelming majority of the votes
During the coming two weeks the
work of the officers will start each
day at sunrise and continue well
into the evening, when special night
classes are held. It Is pointed out
that while the experience might be
construed as a vacation. it is by no
means mere roughing experience.
Members of the corps with past ex.
periences insist they are the most
strenuous period Of the year for
them.
Army officers assigned to the
camp as instructors include some
Of the best qualified men in the
service. Practically all Of them
had overseas service.
Signal Corps Busy.
Reserve officers of the artillery
are looking impatiently for range
work to start. They are fairly
painting to get into action with the
field batteries. The same may be
said of those belonging to the in
fantry- when rifle practice is men
toned. Many OF. them are expert
shots and qualified to act as in
structors on the ranges.
One of the interesting groups is
composed Of the signal corp of
ficers. They represent one of the
smallest but at the same time most
important branches of the eryice
and during the two weeks they are
in school will be kept dusy day and
night in and around the camp send
ing and receiving messages. Some
Of their problems are among the
most interesting in connection with
the camp activities. AS vas pointed
out today it is easy enough t.
signal from hilltop to hilltop, but
how about it when it comes to get
ting information through from de
preston to depression, or across
stretches of woodland in a tumblinl
mass of hills and raVines!
Sunday will be The first day O
rest accorded the officers. Th'
day will be marked by the regula
ton army Sunday services. Man,
visitors are expected at the CAM