Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-10

twentythree men for absence from the
brigade encampment at Fort Washington
GERS.
Privates J. Walker Babson, Francis o.
Grayson, George F.Pierce, Henry H. Sheets
and j. Frazier Sheets, company A; Privates
Gustav Fischer, Harry L. Kelley and Frank
x. Newcomb, company D, and Privates
Robert H. Noyes and Gilbert Ray, company
u, were pronounced not guilty. First Ser
geant Earnest c. Herrell, company A; Pri-
Yates William H. Alberger. Cover T. Hox-
ton, William H. Sipple and Louis A Fan
nelly, company B; Privates Zwengli Oertly,
company c, ard Sergt. David s. Walters
and Privates Harry R. Andrews, A. E.
Brown, Marshall C. Candee, Lowell l..
Chichester. Chas. F. Fenwick and Hugh
Langdon were found guilty.
The courts sentenced First Sergt. Her.
rell and Serst. Waters to be reduced to the
ranks and reprimanded in battalion orders;
Privates Andrews. Brown, Candee, Chi
chester and Fenwick to be reprimanded
In battalion orders, end Privates Alberger,
Zanneliy and Oertly to be dishonorably dis
charged. The proceedings, findings AMI
sentences have been approved.
observations of Mai. Wilson.
Maj. Wilson states that in the majority
Of the cases he is gratified to observe that
the evidence showed an ignorance of law
and regulations rather than willful in
tent to violate them. Some of the accused.
their only information regarding the camp
vas derived from the newspapers, and that
they We're not properly notified by their
commanding officers He takes occasion to
state that as this alleged ignorance of the
order for camp finds its only force in a
neglect to attend the weekly drills of the
companies, the offense charged is thereby
aggravated.
In other cases in which reasonable ex-
cuses for absence are apparent, continues
Maj. Wilson, the accused failed to bring
their excuses to the attention of their
commanding officers, and thereby demon
strated their failure to comprehend the
i1rst and most simple principle of military
law. "A good soldier never permits Kim
self to forget that he himself Is not the
Judge OF what constitutes sufficient ex-
cuse for absence from duty" according
to Maj. Wilson. 1.-The battalion commander
trusts that the leniency with which the
courts have treated these first offenses
may not be construed as a precedent for
future action. The future conduct of these
men will BE- carefully observed, and repe-
titiol of the offense which constituted this
charge will most certainly be summarily
dealt with.
be dishonorably discharged. have been re-
stored to duty, and the battalion courts
formally dissolved.
Twilight at the ArmOry.
With the disappearance of cold weather
the heating of the new armory building
vas discontinued with commendable
promptness, but the woeful lack Of light
supplied throughout the structure after
nightfall continues with unvarying persis-
tency. 1t was hoped by those guardsmen
who are forced to perform clerical duties
in their quarters during the evening that
the fuel saved from the heating furnaces
would be made use of to increase the pow
er of the lighting 1ynamos. But such ex-
pectations nave come to naught.
party of officers few evenings ago
while discussing the question of light, en-
deavored, by an expenditure of thought, to
solve the absence Of the fixtures for which
wires are in position in almost every room
in the building. and which. If placed in
evidence would undoubtedly shed at least
a medium illumina ton. No plausible ex-
cuse for the existing condition of affairs
could be adduced. One company Of the
second brigade, finally abandoning all hope
of a betterment of the situation, has Sc
cured big oil lamp to dispel the darkness
of it's room. The heat thrown out by the
latter illuminant is far from soothing these
torrid evenings but 1t is considered prefer
able to the possibility Of damaged eyeslght.
Early Use of the New Regulations.
AS soon as the War Department formally
adopts the new drill regulations, so far as
they relate to the manual of arms with the
new pattern Springfield rifle, 1t Is under
stood that an order will be issued direct
ing the District National Guard to observe
the same although the brigade is not yet
supplied with the new firearm. The object
OF following the new regulations with the
arms now in use is to familiarize the men
with the new system, and thus save time
when the rifle, generally known as the
is issued to the local COM
panies. Among others, the batteries OF
artillery stationed at Fortress Monroe. Va.
have anticipated the PRONUNCIATION of the
new regulations, and are daily demonstrate
ing the practicability of the same and their
over the set now in vogue.
Going to the Next Drill.
Company A, fourth battalion, at a recent
meeting, adopted it's revised constitution
and elected the following board Of d.
rectors Captain Harry Walsh. Lieuten-
ant Charles j. Harlow. First Sergeant E.
J. Liston, Sergeant T. A. McAnally, Cor
poral T. O'Connell and Privates ]. C. Fan
Ming c. M. OConnell, J. A. Gallagher,
Harry Whaley. Thomas ]. Leonard. Harry
and Thomas Boucher.
The report of the treasurer showed that
there Is $1,000 in his hands. with all in
debtedness paid. The company proposes
to purchase new company fatigue uni
form and reserve the remainder Of the
furd for the purpose of defraying the ex-
penses Of drill team to the next inter-
state competition.
A ST. Louis firm is preparing a hand
some souvenir history of Captain Walsh's
command.
Honorable and Otherwise
The following have been honorably dis
charged on their own applications: Geo.
L. Beeler, corporal second separate COM
pany; Harry A. Whallon, private COM
pany A, first battalion; Peter Snyder, SER
geant company B, first battalion; Clifford
R. James, first sergeant. company D, third
Timothy D. DAILY. private COM
pany A, fourth battalion; Thomas E. Cur
it's, private company b. fourth battalion;
Frank Trumbull, corporal company B,
fourth battalion; Thomas Jones, private
B, sixth battalion, and j. ].
Smith, corporal company D, sixth bat
TALON In the interest Of the service Jas.
Conlin and Michael j. Cook, both privates.
A. fourth battalion. have been
discharged.
Investigation of the Third.
Major Alexander has completed the spe-
cial investigation of the third battalion
and is quoted by officer Of that COM
mand as saying that he is unable to con-
ceive any cause for ordering the inquiry
Beyond the fact that he considers the
members of the command too young in
~ &c hot he