The Washington times., 1895-02-10
DISTRICT SOLDIER BOYS
One Weeks Views and Gossip
Around Local ArmOrieS.

VI NOT. NO one Is especially sorry this
weather, for it would be most unpleasant to
move. The boys, however, have given up
any expectations of good long preparatory
notice on moving. They expect to be told one
day that they are to move the next, and with
this they will he content. AT first they hoped
for couple of weeks notice in which TO
gather up uniforms and other equipment
I This has all been done In most companies
aud twenty-four hours notice will be suffi-
cient.
The new armory is In pretty good shape.
The concrete has been laid In the court which
! is to be used by the battery. and it must dry
Inc heating apparatus is in and is beng
tested. 1t is said being tested, for you can't
prove it by any heat which is being thrown
out this kind of weather. The apparatus
though will work right in time There has
not been time during the past few days. it
was weather" " The light apparatus is also in
anu all the connections have oeen made. The
bridge into Convention Hall has not been
finished, but that is only the work of a few
days at the best. The wainseotting is not in,
bnt it is understood that 1t viii not be at
tended to until after the guard moves out OF
Its present quarters.
TWO WELL KNOWN OFFICERS.
The pictures which appear this week are of
two Fourth Battalion officers Morris Erwin
Sabin, acting Inspector rifle practice was
born in Kenasna county, Wisconsin. Novem-
Der Il, 1864. He came to the District of Co
lumbia several years ago, and in 1892 enlisted
as private in Company D, Fourth Battalion.
In April, 1892, be was made battalion quar-
termaster-sergeant, and in May, 1894, was
made acting inspector rifle practice Lieut..
Sabln is popular among the boys, and is also
a great hunter.
I
handsomest and one o. the most popular
officers in the National Guard. He entered
the National Guard rom private life as q first
lieutenant In August. 1889, has served con-
tlnuousy, and filed many responsible posi-
tions. He is recognized as able, ail-rOund
officer. and when any hard work is to be done
he IS sure to be detailed. and the work is per-
formed with credit to himself as well as the
welfare OF the guard. During the naval re-
view at Norfolk as acting adjutant OF the
Fourth Battalion, he accompanied Company
OF that battalion on their victorious trip TO
Norfolk, and the day OF the grand military
parade, having the eyes of officers from all
over the world upon him, he, as acting regi-
mental adiutant. ''pGt up regimenrai parade
that astonIshed the Yirginians.''
He is number nine on the list of first lieu
tenants IN tho brIgade. and the ranking first
lieutenant of the Second Regiment. He is a
charter member of the Officers Assoc: alton OF
able paper on Medals and decorations for
meritorious service" before them aud is cor
stantly looking forward 10 the advancement
and benefit OF the National Guardsmen, es-
pecially the enlisted men who are his friends
Last summer he was married 10 most es-
tmabe young lady. whom MAJOR Campbell
has appointed extraordinary
on his staff in recognition other having a
full dress military wedding, with Lieut. Silas
II. Kingsley as lest man. and Capts. Horton
and Buck, and Lieuts. Griffiihs and Swigart
as ushers.
Lieut.. jacobson is noted for his patriotism
and love of country. and says there is moth
ing so beautiful IN the world as the Stars and
Stripes, or, as he calls it, 'Old glory" For
a number OF years he has been a hard worker
and active member of the patriotic and semi
military organization of the Sons of Veterans
and was recently elected the captain of the
camp to which he belongs, Gen. John c. FIRE.
mont. No 80, of the Maryland division. He
is at present flllingthe responsible position
OF quartermaster OF the Fourth Battalion,
and is the recorder of the board of examina-
tion for non-commissioned officers of that
battalion.
NAVAL BATTALION.
The bill before Congress having in view
the formation of naval battalion in the Dis
trict is causing some talk among military
men, but not as much as one would expect.
The annual report OF Lieut.. Schuetze has just
been made on the naval militia OF the coGn-
try. It's most important recommendation
provides that Il series OF drills in the monitors
be arranged for with the Governors of the
States concerned, the engagements to be
made, if possible, early IN the spring, and the
exercises TO be carried out systematically
during the next summer, at which time. it is
believed, TWO or more monitors on the At
lantic coast and the Monterey on the Pacific
T1aaV ba ava Ia Ia ftF mi fus
naval officers who inspected the reserves of
the various States last summer uniting in the
conviction OF the militias usefulness as a
force for coast defense.
The report suggests that steps be taken to
call together the principal officers of the
naval militia for consultation as TO the prob
able duties of the militia on the outbreak of
war. Invitations are to be sent to the au-
thoritieS OF the various. States. asking them
TO participate in this initial movement toward
suggesting positive Legislation regarding the
duties of the militia and its relation to the
national government and its naval forces.
Under the act to promote the efficiency of the
militia the folloWing-named vessels have been
are about to be loaned to State organiza-
tions: The New Hampshire to New York, the
st. Louis to Pennsylvania, the Dale to Mary
land, the Nantucket to North Carolina and
the Swatara TO California.
Steps are being taken to loan ships cutters
to the Michigan militia at Detroit, the TWO
separate divisions at New Haven, Conn, and
to the various divisions of South Carolina at
Charleston and Port Royal. This will enable
these divisions TO get boat practice and to be-
come familiar through boat expeditions with
the coasts and har0ors OF their States
1t was during Jeffersons term as President
that the advisabiIity OF having such force
wac first put prominently before the people,
the President dra ting bill providing for
naval militia OF $4,000 men, which specified
that every able bodied citizen whose occupa-
ton was on the high seas or on the tide
waters of the United States should be enrolled
in the naval militia. The bill did not pass.
nor did the stirring naval events of the civil
war awaken the public to the necessity for
volunteer auxiliary TO the Navy.
HOW IT WAS WORKED Up
To Lieut.. J. G. Soley, U. S. N. is due the
credit of taking up the work where Jefferson
left off. While he was naval attache of the
United States Legation at Paris, he noticed
the magnificent reserves the navies of the diff
ferent European nations had England with
its Royal Naval Reserve of Is. 200 officers and
men, and its Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers,
numbering over 1000 officers and men.
France with a reserve of $4,000; Italy, 20 900;
Germany, 10000; while Russia, Austria,
Spain. Greece, Turkey. Portugal, Denmark,
Sweden and Holland had large naval re-
serves.
This knowledge thus gained caused Lieut.
Soley to determine to found a naval reserve
in the United States, and this he did on re-
firing from active service. by founding the
First Battalion Massachusetts, naval militia in