Evening star., 1898-04-23

III,
an adjunct to the militia. Under the bill
about 400 men would be available. and
these could be utilized for the defense of
the capital, as outlined in The Star of
about a month ago.
About 40 men are actually members of
the battalion, but. as Mr.. Hams states. 1t
is deemed proper that the organization
should have legal standing. No appro-
priation is asked for at the present. and
the chief thirg to be provided by the gov
ernment would be a monitor, such as has
been given naval reserves in other places.
or ship of some kind. Mr Hams who
has attended the Naval Academy at An
hapolls, is regarded as in every way cap
aele of filling the position Of commander.
He says he is flooded with applications
every day for enlistment in the battalion
but nothing can be done until the hill ia
passed.
Ladies' Offer Their Services.
The members of Ladies Union, Veteran
Legion Auxiliary, No 80 of this city. unde-
date OF April 8, sent to the President of the
United States letter indorsing his course
in reference to the Maine disaster and
Cuban affairs
Inc communication was signed by Mrs
Harriet l.. Scrbner and was as follows:
we, the mothers, wives widows, sisters
and daughters of Union veterans and army
nurses of the war of 81 to '65, who com.
pose this organization, desire to express our
appreciation of the deliberation and reluc
tance shown by you in plunging our coun-
try in grisvous warfare
The horrors of the late war are fresh in
our memories, our hearts are still aching
from the loss Of our dear ones sacrif;c .d
10 preserve the Union, and we witness daily
the pain and suffering incurred in veteran
service, all of which cause the cry of war
to bring terror to our souls
Because of this knowledge our nations
dignity and honor are more dear to u.s. and
IL TO maintain them it should be decided
necessary to lay anew the flower of Amer
ica's manhood on our country's altar. We
the Ladies' Union Vete. an Legion of Wash
1Egton, d. c., Auxiliary No. 81 hereby ten
Ger our services to you to be commanded
II, Whatever way can best serve the in
terests of our country to the extent of our
Abilities
Mr.. ]. Addison Porter, secretary to the
PRESIDENT sent Mrs. Scribner the following
reply:
Il beg leave to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of recent date, addressed tc
the President, the contents of which he has
dents sincere appreciation of your cordial
words of approval of the policy pursued by
the administration in regard to the matter
to which you refer
Tne members of the legion have arranged
to give an entertainment in aid of the
movement they have undertaken tomorrow
evening. silver contribution offering
will be expected at the door.
Exciting Scenes
There was great excitement about the
Center Market Armory Of the d. c. N c.
last night. The armory itself was brilliant
with lights and u large crowd had gathered
outside to watch the soldier boys coming
and going. 1t was momentariIy expected
that orders would be issued to call the mil
lila out, and this was the primary cause
Of the suspense. There was some drilling
on the avenue, and the spectacle Of men in
Uniform walking to and fro caused some
thing of sensation. The men were at the
armory until midnight. they had been
given verbal instructions to be ready to re-
port at moments notice.
Several conferences with army officials
were held by Gen. Harries yesterday, and
1t was expected that the militia would GER
tainly be called out In all probability the
order will be issued today or tomorrow at
the latest.
1t is stated that recruiting among the
different companies is continuing at
precedented rate, and the companies are
being filled up with their full quotas An
entirely new company has been formed
from raw material Its captain, q. b.
Young, formerly inspector of rifle practice
for the old Engineer Battalion, has been
busy getting his men in shape. At present
his company numbers about fifty men and
Will be known as Company D of the 9Th
Battalion.
Light Battery A Of the District Guard
has had its strength brought up to ninety
nine, having had an accession Of thirty
three new members. It is commanded by
Captain Charles B. Hine, a former West
Pointer. When it takes the field it will
carry with it six Of the 3.2-inch guns, like
those used in the regular army. The men
who have been selected for service in this
battery have nearly all had military expe-
rience of some kind More than sixty-tive
applications were refused on account OF in
experience.
Fifth Battalion Recruited.
OF the 9TH Battalion. Captain King. Com
pany has added about forty recruits to
its original quota Of forty men; Company
c, 4th, Captain B. X. Streeks command
Ing, has added twenty-five new men to it's
fifty-two formerly; Company b, 4th. Cap
tain ]. E. Hosford, has added twenty-five
new members to its original fifty-two;
Company A Of the 4th, the Emmett Guards,
has added twenty-eight men to it's quota OF
ffty-three; the Corcoran Cadets, Captain
E. c. Edwards, and the Morton Cadets,
Captain E. B. Chisholm. have each en-
listed about ten new man. Company d
Of the I'd, Captain Fred j. Stutz, has added
twenty recruits to it's forty old members.
Most of the companies in the guard have
received accessions to their number and
nearly all Of them have filed out to the
quota.
The Brigade AMBULANCE Corps. COM
manded by Lieutenant w. d. Fales, M. D..
has received an addition of four or five
members. and the corps now has it's full
complement. Lieutenant Fales has given
lectures almost nightly to the physicians,
medical students. pharmacists and nurses
who compose the corps. He has reviewed
the anatomy of the human body; the best
methods of StODpnfr houonrrboo ooc hast