The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-04-19
DISTRICT NATIONAL GUARD.
UndergOes Rigid Inspection for Field


Duty.
The First and Second Regiments of the
District National Guard were inspected
at the Center Market Armory last night
by the colonies commanding and their
staff officers
Gen. Harries and several members of
his staff We're interested spectators The
inspection was held to determine the fit
ness of the men for field service and to
enable the quartermasters of the various
battalions to see exactly what was lack
ing in the equipment of each man.
The men We're in heavy marching order,
with blankets. blanket bags haversacks,
! canteens and tin cups; in fact, they were
thoroughly equipped for active service.
| The companies all made a good appear
ance. showed the progress in recruiting
| since they left the old armory Some of
them We're unable to uniform all the new
men, and were compelled to bring them
| out in civilian dress.
The inspection was carried out in the
new regimental formation, or, rather, the
| order that will be adopted when the
| Guard goes into the field. This ignores
! the battalion system, and instead of the
companies being A, B, c and D and then
commencing with a, they will be lettered
| from a to NJ, twelve companies to regi-
ment. The battalion officers will be re-
| tanned, and at drills and parades will be
| as much in evidence as heretofore, but
the battalions themselves will have no Of
| fetal existence, the unit being the regi-
! ment, exactly the same as in the Regular
! Army.
The Fifth Battalion was the first to
march into the large drill hall over the
Ninth Street wing. Company d. Capt
! England, the senior captain of the bat
talon, had the right of the line, Company
c. Capt. Sayes, the left and Company A,
Capt. Mallach, was the color company.
With Company d there were about
fifteen men in citizens garb, the stores
of the company having given out before
( these men were provided with the neces-
sary equipment. Company 3 was in the
! same condition. The number of ununi-
formed men in this command was nearly
as large as that properly equipped.
In the Fourth Battalion. Company A,
Capt. Harry Walsh, was by far the
largest and, judging from their appear
ance, the best command inspected. There
We're number of recruits in these com
panies. In this, too, Company A was in
the lead. About fifteen half uniformed
men were assembled in the rear of their
line. The Second Battalion was not quite
as large as the Fourth and Fifth. There
panies but there was not as many new
men as in the two preceding commands
During the inspection of the Fourth
Battalion Private Alfred L. Sueden, a
new recruit of Companl c. was overcome
by the heat and exhaustion. He fell
down in his place Immediately after the
inspecting party had passed him. DIR. b.
G. Pool, surgeon of the battalion, was
called and, restoratiyes administered, the
the hall
After the inspection Lieut. Col. Rich
ard O'Brien, Of the Second Regiment,
gave the officers a brief lecture on the
proper manner to roll a blanket, pack the
blanket bag. and to prepare for the field
in general.
There is every reason to believe that
the District Guard will be ordered to take
charge Of the military posts around the
city as soon as they are vacated by the
regular troops. The Sixth Cavalry move
today and only eight men and two Off
GERS will be left at the post. These will
have to be REINFORCED. as they are in
sufficient TO guard the Government
| stores that are kept there. For this duty
the guard is certainly fitted. The service
| will not be arduous and would give the
| officers an opportunity to get the new
men those who have never been in camp
accustomed TO military duty, and il
| would also be OF benefit TO veterans,
in giving them a chance to learn what
the garrison life of man in the regular
establishment,
At the Washington barracks there
are several compares Of recruits for the
new artillery regiments who are not
| equipped as yet. These men cannot be
used for guard duty or anything else till
they have been thoroughly drilled, and
the companies Differed. There are fouT
! companies of seventy-live men each, and
only two officers at the post. Besides
these there are two batteries of light ar
tilery and two foot compares. These are
absolutely necessary for guard duty ant
could not be Withdrawn without other
troops. experienced in guard duty, Were
Immediately ordered to fill their places
The natural thing will be the ordering o.
the District Of Columbia National Guards
10 occupy that post. The officers and mer
of the local organization are thoroughly
versed in the manual of guard duty ane
have had since early last summer al
!; officer of the regular army, Capt. Slocum
detailed as instructor of that most i'm
portant branch Of a soldiers education.