Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-26

night signals, red, white and green and
changing lights being used, ended the sig
nalipg part.
Life Of Gunrdsmen in Camp.
Rev. Henry H. Kelsey, chaplain of the
first regiment, Connecticut National Guard
in recent interview, denounces in plain
language the life led by national guards
men while in camp. Rev. Mr.. Kelsey says:
1.-The state pays the members of the ma
tional guard to go into a military school
at camp OF ce year and not to go on
weeks bum" He declares that he has
seen the debauchery Ct camp life and the
orgies, and has noted their effect upon the
men, and that the state camps as they
have been conducted are an abomination
and disgrace to the state.
On the subject of reforming the guard
he says that he would begin at the top
with the governors staff and not have
them in camp at all. He is in favor of
lesimental encampments. The colonies
would then have more direct control over
their men. He would have officers set the
men an example by reducing their con-
sumption OF liquor, which, he says, is now
enormous. He thinks that most Of the in
efficiency in camp is due to the familiarity
between officers and men.
He would abolish all excursions of citi-
Zens to camp, which make it a scene OF
rcvelry and give it the appearance Of
fair instead Of a military camp. MIR. KEEL
sey favors a legislative investigation, and
says that all assertions regarding drinking,
revelry and dissipation at camps of the
National Guard can be fully proved by in
diSputabie testimony
The Guard Are Natural Soldiers.
Lieut.. E. S. Benton, U. S. A, in an inter-
esting article on the National Guard, pub
lished in the Army Magazine, says:
Let the sympathy Of the people be more
with the Nation al Guard, and let the pep
pie be more free in expressing that SYM
pathy and the legislature more free in
awarding them support, and no one will
have any fault to find with the militia. Let
US take. for example those mobs which
have already occurred and against which
the militia acted. In almost every cas-
their hands have been tied as it were, by
those above them; ordered not to fire; sub
jected to showers of missiles and even shots
and kept away from their legitimate posts.
This is mistake; the National Guard are
men who are natural soldiers, and the
bravest class OF our men can be found
among them. These men fully understand
the effect of the trifiing methods pursued
by them against mob. AS a general rule.
in these cases, a display of weakness OR
hesitation on the part of the troops will
proDortionally augment the courage and
violence of the mob. Bold and resolute ac-
ton. when action is necessary, will in the
end save much bloodshed and much de-
struction of property. Let it be remem-
hered in the history of mobs that there was
never one yet that was dispersed by the fir
ing of blank cartridges, and there never
methods are equally unjust to the mob as
We'll as the soldiers
In no case has the National Guard been
cowardly. 1t takes more courage for men
TO walk along the streets, Silently and stead
i1y subjected to jeers ard even scofing
and sometimes, even showers of missiles,
when they have their uniforms on and
their guns in their hands, than it does to
load and fire. The great question of the
future as respects the National Guard is
the question of mob fighting or street
fighting, and ii is by far too little studied
by many of the militia in some of the large
cities. Every large city should have its
plans for defense complete arranged be-
forehard fer any emergency which may
arise"
Notes.
At meeting held last evening the mem
bers Of company A, fifth battalion, elected
William Meilach second lieutenant of that
organization. The new officer is at pres
ent attached to the department of rifle
practice. and is detailed as inspector of
rifle practice for troop A, and for the sec
ond separate company, with the rank of
acting first lieutenant He is also an en-
listed man in troop a. Lieut.. Mellach is
a capable officer.
The members of troop A will be the
guests of Leut.-elect Pillsbury a an oyster
roast, to be held at the Hotel Bedford on
Monday evening. The affair is to be con-
lucted on an elaborate scale, and it is
expected that several trumpeters and per-
haps the entire band of the sixth cavalry
from Fort Myer will be in attendance
The members of company b. first bat
TALON, have been ordered to meet on the
evening of the 21st instant to elect a cap
tain and a second lieutenant. On the 21st
instant company A, first battalion, will
elect first lieutenant
The proposed benefit entertainment of
company y, second battalion, which was
to have been held on February % has
been abandoned.
The second regiment has been ordered to
assemble in the Center Market Armory
drill hall on Wednesday evening, January
80, for parade. The regiment will be form
ell i'll line Of masses facing east, at $40
o'clock, and battalions must in close col
unn at least five minutes before that time
Battalion commanders VIII forward a
morning report to headquarters immedi-
ately after the parade is dismissed. Organ
izations having the dress uniform will
wear it,
Col. Clay of the second regiment has
called a meeting of his battalion command
erS for next Tuesday evening to arrange
the details for turning out the regiment for
drill and instruction on February %. The
details will be announced in future orders.
The members of company B. fourth bat
TALON, have elected Private John NJ.
Walsh captain. Until recently the new
officer was a member Of company 4, fourth
battalion, and he has served in the Ma
tional Guard for a number Of years 1t is
the intention of the company to be repre-
scented by drill team in the next inter-
state competition, and as Capt.-elect Walsh
has had considerable experience in such
affairs both at Omaha and Little Rock, it
is thought by his friends that he Will lead
the company to victory.
BLIZZARD IN THE SOUTHWEST.