Evening star., 1896-06-16
Officers Selected for the Provisional Battal-
ion Of the High School Cadets
Probable Dimculty I'm Securing Arms
"A Cofrespondent's Reasons
for the Visit.

ever them, his action merely being to pro-
mote the trip on behalf Of the Confederate
Veterans Association. Maj. Ross left the
matter of the organization of the COM
panies entirely in the hands of the boys.
Difficulty About Arms.
It is likely. however. that the cadets will
not find it plain sailing in securing rifles
and accouterm ents fer use during the trip.
AS stated in The Star yesterday, it is not
at all likely that the necessary equipment
can be borrowed from any organization of
the District Of Columbia National Guard
for the ress son that the law and the COM
manding general are opposed to such a
course 1t is generally conceded to be un-
wise for any company of the guard to loan
its rifles, for the reason that 1t is liable to
be called upon to perform duty at any
moment and to be caught ny such call
without its government outfit would be
decidedly unpleasant, to say the least.
Those who claim to know unhesitatingiy
declare that though the provisional bat
talon of High School Cadets may go to
Richmond 1t Will not be armed with Ma
tional Guard rifles.
1t las been suggested that the cadets
from the National Rifles but it is pro5a-
hility that the National Fenc;bles will so to
RfcF cFmond, and IT that event there seems
to be no doubt that the property of the
bles In preference to the High School
Cadets. In any event, Capt. Oysters COM
mand doe- not possess sufficient number
Of rifles to equip battalion, so that the
llhfhoed NJ the cadets visiting the Virginia
capital armed seems al present rather dim,
in the opinion OF those acquainted with the
situation.
The OMcers Selected.
The provisional battalion will be COM
no3ndad oil hy Noi w II
Bayer and Maj Graf. At meetings held
yesterday afternoon at the Eastern school
and last evening at the Central school, to
choose officers. the provisional company a:
the Eastern elected Strother Miller as cap
tain and MeSsrs Bryan and Yount as lieu
tenants. The sergeaDts will not be decid-
ed upon until another meeting, to be held
at pm. Thursday.
The two Central school captains were
elected yesterday afternoon. At the meet
ing last evening Capt. Hoover named H.
Farrow and A. Howe for Eeutenants, while
Capt. Hodges Eeutenants will probably be
]. Ray and NJ. c. Maxwell. Capt. Hoover
decided on A. P. Tisdell first sergeant:
F. Albert, second sergeant; s. Began, third
sergeant; E. We:sal. fourth sergeant, and
LIE Roy Heron, fifth sergeant Capt. Hoge
announced w. S. TisdeH. c. D. Young and
]. o. Gheen as three OF his non-commis-
stoned officers. At a meeting to be held
tomorrow evening at 30 o'clock both COM
The company from the Business school
will be differed by w. 8. Blanchard as
captain and B. r. Kelly and c. X. Gift
as Heutenants, and if the Western school
CAN organize company r. A. Berry will
be placed In command thereof.
The following communication has been
received in reply to that of Veteran"
published yesterday:
To the Editor of The Evening Stas:
In relation to the communication publish
I'D hxx IN, rolof ion IN ha riv
Of the High School Cadets, permit me to
say: 1 am son Of a late confederate
cavalry officer, that I was raised In the
heart Of the famous Shenandoah valley.
the battlefield of the late war, and from
childhood have heard the war discussed
pro and con by both sides, but never have
heard such groundless arguments ad-
vanced as those used by the author of
Go to Richmond"
That there was confederacy I suppose
your correspondent will admit: that 1t is q
matter Of history he IS compelled to admit,
for we are taught that in the High School
Now what harm could there possibly be by
having the young men Of today reared In
government schools, taught by such noble
minded men as Dr.. F. r. Lane and Maj.
Burton R. Ross. that there Is but one coun-
try and one flag; witnessing the last dying
embers Of the confederaey. The invitation
that was extended to these gentlemen On
behalf of the cadets was sent in the spirit
OF true southern hospitality. and as such
should be received and accepted.
/ served three years in the High School
Cadet Corps, and can fully appreciate what
trip like this would mean to them. It
would mean that for trivial cost they
will witness an event that will go down in
history as one of the happenings Of this
century. 1t would mean that they will be
brought personally into contact with men
who have achieved greatness before the
war, in the war and since the war. Let the
High School Cadet so to Richmond,
whether he go an individual. a company
or a regiment, and see with his own eyes
that these unpleasant references are with
out foundation, and, instead of rebels, -
he will find good loyal citizens, who will
welcome him with good old Virginia hos
pitality, whether he wear a uniform of
blue or gray. HERBERT N. LOCKE.