Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-01
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Appointment Of Chief of Engineers
and Fourth Battalion Major.
OPINIONS REGARDING new ARMORY
Change in the Plans for Alteration
Of the Seventh Street Wing.
REVIEW OF FIRST REGIMENT

The decision Of Gen. Harr;es to change
| tie quarters of the troops of the District
National Guard from the building at 446 L
street to the Center Market building an
rounced exclusively in The Star last Sat-
crday, has naturally been the all-absorb-
| Ing topic of interest ever since. There have
been other incidents Of Importance, how
ever, the most noteworthy perhaps being
the selection Of a major for the 4th Bat
TALON and the appointment of a chief of
engineers, to fill vacancy on the general
| staff that has existed since last April.
Capt. Frederick s. Hodgson Of the super
numerary list is the officer selected for adj
vancement to the command of the 4th Bat
| TALON, with the rank Of major, while Mr..
Frank l.. Averill will be commissioned as
chief of engineers, also with the rank of
major. Maj. Averill was formerly captain
of Company c, Engineer Corps. After look
ing over the entire field, Gen. Harries con-
cluded that Mr.. Averill was the most de-
sirable man for the position, and accord
il gly rendered him the appointment, which
was accepted. The new chief of engineers
| is a member of the American Institute Of
Civil Engineers, is a thoroughly capable
architect and an experienced topographer.
To Succeed Himself.
First Lieut.. Sydney r. Jacobs will sue
coed himself adjutant Of the 4th Bat
TALON. Lieut.. Jacobs several weeks ago
rendered his resignation. His new COM
mission will bear date Of the original docu-
ment, SO that he will not lose his relative
rank among the first lieuteHants of the
guard because of his brief cessation from
n iitary duty.
First Lieutenant Wilmer P. Vale of the
ary,ltv let arlx of
rifle practice of the 9th Battalion, will be
commissioned as inspector of rifle prac-
tice of the 4th Battalion, while LIST Lieu
tenant Luther II. Reichelderfer, also Of
the supernumerary list and formerly in
shector of rifle practice of the Sd Battalion,
will be commissioned as inspector of rifle
practice of the 9TH Battalion.
Other nominations that have been for
warded to the War Department are those
of Captain II. II. Parmenter, quartermas-
ter. of the I'd Regiment, to be quartermas-
ter general. with the rank of major, of the
District militia, and Sergeant George Clin-
ton Thomas to be ID lieutenant of Com
pany b, 4th Battalion. Captain Parmenter
is at present acting quartermaster general.
af Plans for the New Armory.
A change has been made in the plans for
the improvement of the Center Market
building in view Of its occupancy by the
National Guard, SO far as the 1th street
wing of the BUILDING is concerned. Instead
OF having an entrance at the northwest
corner of the wing and an interior passage
way to the gymnasium and rifle gallery.
there will be built balcony eight feet
wide along the exterior of the west side of
the wing. This will allow more space in
side than was originally provided. There
are to be Independent entrances from the
balcony to the rifle gallery, gymnasium
and toilet rooms.
Store rooms are to erected along the OUT
side of the east side of the 9th street wing
This addition will be two stories in height,
and will be used exclusively for the stores
of the quartermaSter general and the chief
of ordnance. The upper story will be
reached by means of an elevator. The d.
mansions of the planned addition are so
feet by % feet. One day each week is to be
set apart for the exchange of property.
Camp equipage and the like is to be stored
on the upper floor Of the main section of
the market building. Brigade headquar-
tiers, the office Of the adjutant general and
or Captain Slocum, and the offices of the
headquarters clerks, together with the
quarters of the general staff, will in all
probability be in the Ames building, 141O
and 1412 G street.
The move down town will be made as
soon after the 1st of January as is found
possible. Each command will move it's per-
sonal effects. while the brigade will trans
fer all National Guard property.
How the Move is Regarded.
AS representing the majority of the or
CARNATIONS affected by the move, the fol-
lowing expressions of opinions by we'll
known officers are interesting:
Col. M. Emmett Urell, commanding the
ID Regiment-"The ID Regiment unani-
mous!y approved the proposed change. The
removal to the old quarters appears to be
a popular one. The attendance at drills
will be largely augmented believe twenty
per cent. Should a call be made any even
ing, a full battalion can be assembled
thoroughly equipped. within an hour
Home Again will be a very appropriate
air for our bands upon our re-entry into
our old quarters"
Major Otto G. Simonson, commanding
9Th Battalion-"I am happy to state that
the proposed move is an exceedingly good
one, not only on account of the central
location, which will increase the member
ship of the various companies, but also
on account of the availability of the drill
hall on every night of the week, which will
enable the adjutant general to assign one
night of each week to each battalion. The
fact that every officer and man of a bat
talon is to report for duty every Monday
Tuesday or other day will soon increase the
attendance at drills and parades, and the
companies may be drilled as q battalion
on any night. Undoubtedly it is hoped that
the company rooms will be better lighted
and heated than the present ones and our
experience with existing armory reeula-
lions may also suggest some modification
especially as to the closing of the company
rooms Sunday afternoons and evenings. I
beHeve that the most successful National
Guard companies are composed Of men
who meet frequently at their quarters
socially. The arrangements for rifle gal
lery, gymnasium &c, will undoubtedly he
good. and l am looking forward to the