The times., 1898-04-26
Our National Guard.

Inc RIDICULOUS movement yesterday,
by which the District National Guard
was ordered into and started for active
service, and then was ordered back
again and to disarm, may seem to be
a small matter to the army authorities;
but it will have a very bad influence
BILE to make the War Offices of Paris
or Berlin understand that a brigade of
troops held ostensibly for the protec-
tion of the National Capital of America
was not a military body entitled to re-
spect and organized and equipped for
war service, with expert officers and
everything else necessary to constitute
a corps d. elite
The fiasco of yesterday, while it
should not amount TO the slightest re-
flection upon the District Guard, in the
eyes of people who know the circum-
stances, is certain to do so throughout
the country and Europe. Unfortunate
and unjustiiiable as 1t will be to hold
such an opinion, the general verdict
viii be that the United States has found
its crack corps Of citizen soldiers inef-
fense duty.
Why the Administration should have
put this humiliation upon our District
soldiers is hard TO conceive. Certainly
the rank and file and the subordinate
officers do not deserve it. When their
late commander, Gen. Ordway, was
alive, they were considered the peers of
4, in
does il happen that they have fallen
from their high estate and been made
the laughing stock of the War Depart
ment so soon? There is yet little
mystery about the intended cam
paign that we would like to see clear
ed up.
1t is hardly possible that the Secre-
tary of War would order the District
National Guard into service without
knowing what he was about. 1t is quite
improbable that he would permit the
brigade to go into camp without some
previous and adequate provision for its
encampment and sustenance! These
considerations justify talk at the de-
partment to the effect that the COM
mander of the guard issued his order
for active service without understood
and definite authority; that he took the
boys Of the command from their homes
and daily avocations without due au-
thority of law, or orders from superior
authority.
That fact, if ii be one, will develop
today The episode was an unfortu-
nate one. 1t is reported that the camp
ing place on the Soldiers Home grounds
selected for the concentration of the To-
cal troops was in the hoIIows where the
ground is so wet that water spurts UP
a every step. 1t is also alleged that
neither quartermaster nor commits
sary stores were in readiness. and that.
last night, the battalions would have
had to sleep out in the rain.
All these things are said, and if they
are true, it is disgraceful to somebody
1t may be that the lack of military
experience on the part Of Mr. Harries
who recently has been appointed to
command. is the cause. In that case, he
is excusable, always supposing that he
is willing to and does at once surren-
der an office for which neither train
ing nor experience has fitted him. II
is possible that the Secretary Of War
and the Adjutant General ought to
step down and let Harries take both
Of their places. In that event we call
upon them earnestly, in such an emer-
gency as the present, to get out, and
let somebody who knows how TO protect
the Soldiers Home. the Conduit road,
and the canal, assume supreme com
mand Perish the thought that we
should have a Miles or a Corbin in the
path Of glory when there is a Harries
to defend our liberties, and to make US
feel that never while the Star Spangled
Banner waves in triumph viii there
ever be a time when a Welshman can
not march the District militia half way
10 Cabin John Bridge and get them |
back again on the same day.
There are some things which gem |
eral officer cannot stand with dignity |
or justice To himself. one Of them is to |
allow himself To be treated with con !
tumelious condescension, and tolerated |
in his military position only as the
monkey Of an Administration organ |
"a hen a brave commander who has |
stood before the shot and shell of
local rife range, and scored every shot
that fell within the circumferentiaI
range Of an easy target. discovers that
he is, as a National Guardsman. en-
dowed with the appropriate degree Of
n. g." at the War Department, it is
time to exercise the virtue of resigna-
ton.
We feel for the boys; because their
modification is ours, as a Washington
and patriotic institution. We also feel
for Harries, or Secretary Alger, be-
cause We have got 10 find out which one
Of them is the individual 10 hold re-
sponsible for this really painful and
ludicrous occurrence.
Let Us have light!