Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Some COmTRsnt !. About the Recent
Appoint1nentsss'by the President.
NOT CAUSED :. :. BY TEE War
Interest Beiha Taken in the Shoot
ing,ai Rifle Range.
SOME INTERESTING NOTES

| The appointments made Thursday by the
President to fill vacancies existing in the
| District of Columbia National Guard have
given rise to some Misrepresentation IN GER
t tain quarters, especially so since the publi-
cation in a local paper to the effect that
tie appointments were made in accordance
with plan of reorganization of the guard
which did lot take into consideration the
| officers or men who have been at the front
with. the LIST Regiment of District of Co
| lumbia Volunteers. -
Nothing could be further removed from
| the facts in the matter. The appointments
were made on the nominations sent to the
President by Gen. George H. Harries when
he assumed command of the brigade as the
successor of the late Gen. Ordway and
long before war with Spain and the neces-
sity of forming a regiment of volunteers
from the District was thought a possib;l-
ity.
The statement that the appointments were
made by the President to fill vacancies in
the otf1ces OF the District National Guard
caused by the fact that portion of the
guard has been mustered into the volunteer
service has caused vast deal of amuse-
ment among the members of the guard and
those familiar with the facts. Such state
ment, they say, Is unfounded and absolutely
the most absurd declaration vet made in
connection with the affairs of the local mil
itary organization.
That this is true may readily be seen by a
glance at the list of appointments which in
cludes7 the names of no less than four Off
GERS who are now absent with the District
regiment and have thus created the So
caileq vacancies which they are now call
ed upon to I'LL during their own absence.
ne appointments ere delayed several
months on account of the press of war bus.
mess at the White House. They are the
regular guard appointments. and would
have been made just the same had there
been no war. The officers appointed-at
least, those among the number now in the
c!ty-Yill re ceive their commissions shortly
The absent ones will assume the duties of
their new offices in the National Guard
upon their return from regular army serv-
ice.
The Appointments.
The appointments made by the President,
as already stated in The Star, were as fol-
lows: "a.
Henry May;aeeloneI OF the LIST Regiment
Daniel Virgil Chisholm, captain, Company
B. ID Battalion -
Charles Lewis .Lanham, first lieutenant,
Company A 9th Battalion
Alfred A. Saith, ofrst lieutenant, Com
pany B, 9th Battalion.
Samuel Louis Franklin Piper first lieu
tenant, Company B, list Separate Battalion
John H. Lewis, daartermaster of the I'd
Battalion. Nv 80 il
Harry Thomss De iGroot adjutant of the
Leigh Hill French, inspector of rifle prac-
tiee, 9Th Battalion. 10
Alexander Nj AllKon, second lieutenant,
Company c, 1sf Battalion.
VIII Emery lSorrslls. second lieutenant,
Company ID, 9th Battalion.
Col May waH nominated by Gen. Harries
to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna-
ton of Col. Cecil. Clay many months ago.
nt,iA IL t,ny,,,
Groot and DR.. Leigh Hill French, inspector
of rifle .pnactiesy aas: at, present with the
LIST District Of aGolu1nhia Regiment of Vol
unteers. --. =, .,7- ..~.--
Col Ma" is not the guards new com
mander, asShas appeared in print said
prominent officer this morning, to a re-
porter for The Star. 1T requires more
than colonial" he.continued ito command
the District Guard organization, which is
not single regiment as would appear by
the article in question, but a brigade, and
as such requires that a brigadier general
shall be In command. Gen. Harries is the
&C nmanding officer of the guard Col May
acting as such during the generals alb
sence, as he is the ranking officer in the
city. Col. May is an excellent officer and
will be fine commander Of the LIST Regi-
ment of the guard. Col. Urel, now ma
jor in the LIST Volunteer Regiment from the
District, is colonel of the I'd Regiment
Much Rejoicing.
The stag-at-nor1e members of the guard
are delighted that peace has come The
prospects for the early return of the Dis
trict, regiment and consequent reorganiza
ton of the District militia are exceedingly
bright. Thissis a cause for much rejoicing
among all who have the real interest Of
the guard at heart. They say that it will
end all contention as to any vacancies that
may or may not exist by the absence of the
1st District of Columbia Regiment, which
was made UP from the National Guard Of
fcers and men. General Harries will again
be at the head of the brigade ably direct
ing its affairs, while the other officers will
take their old commands. ready to diffuse
their wealth Of military knowledge gained
on tbs field Of battle.
1t is 4 mistaken idea that the returning
officers and men will not desire to have
longer service with the guard. They will
be all the more interested in military af-
fairs. The fact that the National Guard
is to receive more consideration at the
hands of Congress and the War Depart
ment in the future will make commissions
and other places in the organization highly
desirable, The war with Spain has brought
forcibly TO mind the need of well-organiZed
and tineiy-equipbed citizen soldery. BY the
first of next year 1t is expected that the
District Of Columbia National Guard will
be more thoroughly organized and equip
ped and Under better discipline than ever
before in its history, provided, of course.
the District volunteers in the meantime re-
turn to the city.
Rife Practice.
Interest in the guard continues to center
in rifle practice and bodies of District sol
diers may be heard nightly at the armory
rifle gallery popping away at the ringed
targets with their Springfelds. At Ordway
rifle range there is continuous firing every
Wednesday and. Saturday afternoon. In
addition to the local soldiers, a number of
New Jersey Volunteers are constantly at
The following Circular has been issued
t. the men 5f Company A, I'd Battalion,
the Corcoran Cadets:
Major Bell .has Kindly given us the use
of the rifle gallery son the following nights:
Friday, july 10; Monday. August 8. and
August II, IS, 19, %. 25 and 80 I
earnestly reqtfest all men who have not
completed their gallery scores, and those
who wish to 1fnipfbve theirs, to report at
armory Friday, July %, O'Clock pm, to
begin this imbortalIt work. request each
and every man to comply for reasons
cannot tell aespfesAnt, but of vital interest
to the company. sAlso remember we must
do some milisary work or lose our stand
ing. Good rarhsrnen make an efficient
company. =, z. C. EDWARDS,
Ii Captain.
Lieutenant q! C.sThomas. who is in COM