Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-23
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Formal Protest Filed Against Engi-
neer Battalion Rifle Team.
WIFHDRAWALOF TIE FIRST BATTALION
New Physical Drill Inaugurated in
the Local Brigade.
DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY

AS an echo of the second annual meeting
OF the National Rifle Association, last
week at Ordway, formal protest emanat-
ing from Major E. R. Campbell, as the
commanding officer of the 4th Battalion, Is
progressing, through military channels,
toward headquarters. The dispute, If it
may be called such, is In regard to the
battalion team match, in which the team
of the Engineer Battalion finished in the
lead. The team of the 4th Battalion was
second. Immediately after the firing of
the match on the range the 4th Battalion
team gave notice of the filing of a protest.
The stand is taken by Major Campbell that
the Engineer Battalion team should not
have been permitted to compete, for the
reason that it did not comply with the
regulations.
In circular issued from National Guard
headquarters, by order of Col. Clay, in
command of the brigade, 1t was announced
That certain rifle matches would be held
at Ordway. The battalion team match, it
was stated, was to be open to teams of
five enlisted men from every battalion of
the District of Columbia National Guard.
continuing, the circular stated, each COM
pany of the battalion must be represented
on the team The Engineer Battalion
team was made up from companies A, b,
and c. Company d had no representative
that the Engineer Battalion should not
have been allowed to compete, for the rea-
son that Company D was not included in
the personnel, and therefore each COM
pany OF the battalion was not represented
on the team.
When called to the attention of the ex-
ecutive officer of the National Rifle Asso-
citation that official ruled that as Company
d, Engineer Battalion. is a single COM
pany, and is armed with the pistol, and is
not required to practice with the rifle, it
could not, therefore, be compelled to have
a representative on team shooting with
the rifle. Therefore, the executive officer
argued. Company d should not be consid-
cred company of the battalion IN the
sense that 1t was a company armed with
r1fle In looking at the situation in that
hght, so 1t was reasoned, the team of the
Engineer Battalion was qualified to COM
pete in the match.
So far as can be learned by those in
position to know. the chances are that the
protest will be sustained, and the prize will
go to the 4th Battalion team. A military
order, 1t is stated. must be obeyed without
question. 1t is not military to place spe-
eial constructions ON phrases that appear
In military orders. The orders provided
that each company of the battalion must
be represented on the team" The knowing
ones declare that that meant, in reference
to the Engineer Battalion, companies A. b,
and d, and, they add there is no other
way open than to award the prize to the
4th Battalion team.
Withdrawal of Light Infantry. .,.,.
Though nothil has been done in the way
of formal action the proposition out
lined exclusively in The Star. for the with
drawal from the National Guard of the
Washington Light Infantry Corps, the
matter remains one of interest among the
members of the organization. Beyond
what was published in The Star the major
1ty Of the Light Infantry men have no
krlny doe of taiIr 80
ticn The circulars distributed among
few by Active Member. Sets forth. some
views that cannot help but attract atten-
ton. 1t goes on to say that the idea has
been advanced that 1t would be an excel
lent move for the Infantry to sever it's con-
nection with the Guard. Pamy days of
long ago are recalled. Active Member"
asks to be informed of what benefits, if
any. have accrued to the Infantry by rea-'
son of It's membership in the Guard. He
argues that the command would be in
much better condition in every way as an
Independent organization. and in support
of that contention cites the record of the
National Rifles. adding that the Rifles
Joined the Guard and withdrew after a
membership of a few months. =,
The protector of the withdrawal propo-
sition takes occasion to state that officers.
diStasteful to the members of the Infantry
have been appointed arbitrarily to regf4,
mental positions, in authority over the.
Infantry, without the Infantry having an
opportunity to utter a word pro or con-.
1t is further declared that the members
of the general staff and of the LIST Regi-
ment field and staff, of the National
Guard consider themselves a sort of aris-
tocracy, and take pleasure in '1ording it
over" the Infantry, so to speak.
In the event that the withdrawal from
the Guard should be decided upon says
ACTIVE Member, the idea would be to
conduct the corps as a four-company Or
ganiZation, under command of a colonel
who should be mounted. There would be a
lieutenant colonel and a full staff, all
mounted. The members Of the staff would
each hold the rank of captain. There
would be an adjutant, quartermaster, sur
geon, chaplain commissary of subsistence,
ordnance officer. paymaster, and, in fact,
everything possible in the way of staff
officers. Then there would be major I'M
mounted. Provision Is also made for 1.-The
Washington Light Infantry Cadets" to be
maintained as recruiting adjunct to the
Infantry proper.
active Member" In his circular, requests