The Encampment

MnWAUKEE, Aug. 17.- It is estimated by oareful officials at encampment headquarters that there will be fully 40,000 frenuine old veterans in attendanca at the encampInent. Sereral observing calculators tbink the average to each of the 40,000 soldiers will be about flve outsiders, in whioh event there would be a crowd of B00,000 people to be fed and furnished quartera These estimates are based on ntrmerous averages taken by officors from requests for quarters daily received from old soldiers for themselves and familie or immediate friends, and froin people not connected with the order. A general order issued by Coinmander-inChief Warner, under date of August 13, States that the business session of the twenty-third National encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic will convene at the West-side Turner Hall, Milwaukee, Wis., Wednesday, Auarust 38, at 10 a. m. The National Council of Administration will meet at the Planjflnton House at 3 o'cloek p. m. Monday, August 16. The parade will take placa Tuesday, August 27, and be commanded by the Commander-in-Chief in person. The line of niarch will not exceed two and one-halï miles in length. The Commanderln-Chief and stafl will leave Kansas City, Mo., at 4 p. m., August 8J, and proceed to Milwaukee via the Chicago fc Alton railroad, with the Kansaa City división and such other escorts as shall join hls train. National headquarters will be estabüshed at the Plankinton House. The coenmittee on music estimates that there will be 100 bands and druni corps a'j the encampment. AU wlll accompany posts or departments of th Grand Ariny. Fifty bands have already Biffniñed their lntention to be present The citizens, regardless of politics, creed or previoua conditlon of indiilerence are preparing to decórate their houses and lawns, and before the 37th Milwaukee wlll be the most patriotic looking city in the country. AD these individual preparatfons, however, are insignificant in comparison with the prepiirations for the grand naval battle which will be fought in the bay on the evenlng cf August 29. There will be in the bay during the battle sixty-five vessels, including the United States gunboats, mortar flotilla, etc. Every thing Is being arranged to make the scène as realistic as posslble. The shells to be used are made of paper, and have been so constructed that on being projected they wlll be followed by the trail of tire that gives the red shell no Impressive an appearance by night. The plan of the battle involves the attempt to destroy the city under cover of night, which attempt is defeated by the bravery of the land forces in the f orta Fifteen hundred infantry, supported by the mortar batteries, wlll constituía the defense. The defending party will discover the pproach of the neet by means of the brilliant illumination of the bay, an attack havlng been anticipated. By the use of Bearch lights the land forces will be enabled to watch the maneuvering of the vessels of the attacking torce. The brilliancy of the search light will be such that the spectators on shore will be enabled to see the men on the vessels loading their guns. After an unsuccessful effort to silence the land batteries, the enemy will attempt to land the marines in small boats. These boats will be compelled to return, when the vessels will once more open a telling fire on the f orts. Oue by one the vessels of the attacking fleet will be disabled and compelled to retire from action, One vessel wil! be so badly disabled that rather than leave her to fall a prize to tha land f orces the enemy wil! set üre to her and blow up her magazine. To carry out the details of the above, the 120 pieees of artillery, including the mortars, and the 1,900 infantry wil! require 30,00ü rounds of ammunition, 2,830 ehells, 4,900 rockets, and 75,000 blank cartridges. The artillery will be Ik charge of the First Light Battery and the mortars will be managed by 100 picked men, who ara now in training. Captain J. B. Oliver, who Is managlng the details of the battle arrangement, Is an old soldier and understands whaí he is deinjr. He believes It will be the finest naval display ever made in this country. The battle will open at 7:30 o'clock in the evening and continue f or about two hours.