The Washington times., 1894-11-18

only permits twenty-eight companies OF in
fantry, but there is no reason why the Rifles
should not be mustered in, and I'll muster
them in as soon as details are satisfactorily
arranged. No one is going to object just at
present, and shortly there will be some
changes. The guard of the District has
reached such a position now that we can
choose our men, and we intend to do it.
There are several weak points, and 1 guess
we can easily get rid OF them
The question of Major Wilson's successor Is
another matter which is causing much talk.
Just who it will be is not known. It can be
stated authorltatively that the position has
been offered 10 Capt. Horton, of the generals
staff Capt. Horton is q High School gradu-
ate and was an officer in the cadet regiment.
He has since served In the National Guard,
and is said to be the ideal officer for the posi-
tion.' While Capt. Horton has not absolutely
refused to accept the position, he has informed
Gen. Ordway that he prefers to remain on the
staff. Capt. Horton was then told that it was
the duty of good officer TO accept promotion
any time it was offered. and so the matter
stands. Capt. Horton would be most gladly
received by the boys of the Third Battalion,
and if they go after him they may be able to
get him No state secret is given away by
saying that If the boys OF the Third can sue
ceed in gaining Capt. Horizons consent to
accept the promotion they will stand very
high in the good graces of the commanding
general.
The tender of the appointment of inspector
general to Capt. G. H. Ourand, of the First
Battalion, has pleased the members of the
guard very much. Gen. 0rdWay is certain
that is the best appointment he could have
made and every soldier is ready to agree with
him. Capt. Ourand is commander of Com
pany G, First Battalion Washington Light
Infantry. He entered the guard fifteen
4 dol -,
shows four bars.
AN OFFICER OBJECTS.
An officer of the guard, in a conversation
with the representative of The TINES con-
cerning the changes outlined in last Sundays
national guard column, said that the reported
organization of High School Battalion is a
favorite idea of the generals and one that
has been contemplated for year past .'Such
a course" he said, "is based merely on senti-
ment and the result cannot fail to be futile
In the first place distinctive organizations
that is, those in which the membership is
sought to be restricted to certain classes-are
of necessity bound to be unsuccessful. This
is instanced by one battalion which was in
tended to be composed entirely of department
employees. and was originally known as the
Departmental Battalion. Now all depart
ment employees who wished to enlist did not
present themselves to this battalion; in fact,
they form large proportion of the member
ship in every battalion IN the guard, and the
consequence is that this battalion is depart
mental only in name. So also with the pro-
posed High School Battalion.
In the first place, while the opinion is sup
pressed, yet it is fact, we'll understood, that
the High School contingent in the guard at
the present time is, in the ma ority of cases.
failure. Some men, who make regulations
in the High School organization, when called
to assume important positions in the guard.
proved unequal TO the requirements. 1t is