Evening star., 1898-12-03
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Failure to Obey Orders May Result
in Additional Arrests.
SPECIAL INSPECTIONS CONTINUED
Practice Marches Next Spring in
Place of Camp.
COURT-MARTIAL NOT Likely

During the past week the National Guard
has been kept on the qui vive Captain
J. A. DapTay, special Inspector Wednes-
Gay evening conferred with the officers of
the % Regiment. and although the meet
Ing was not as largely attended as was
expected and desired the special inspector
availed himself Of the opportunity to ex-
plain the various details and minutiae of
military administration. especially in mat
ters of correspondence. reports, records and
discipline. The chief object of these spe-
eial inspections seems to be TO awaken a
realization on the part of National Guards
aen of the actual requirements in the con-
duct Of official business. The authority of
every officer and nOn-CommissiOned officer,
whatever be his grade rank Is carefully
explained and Illustrated. At the last
meeting, for example, when the time came
for asking questions of the inspector. one
of the questions was such might confuse
not only militia officers, but some of those
in the regular establishment. 1t called for
an explanation of the difference between
violation of an order and disobedience Of
an order. The closest attention prevails
throughout these meetings of the inspector
and National Guardsmen. and il is expected
that most beneficial and salutary results
will follow.
The method adopted by Captain Dapray
- hTst 10 read 10 the officers the general
purpose of the inspection and his authority
for making it. He then takes up one
subject after another, which he explains.
and upon its conclusion invites any officer
present to ask any question in connection
Herewith. The fullest latitude is allowed.
Any officer or non-cOmmissioned officer
present is permitted to ask any question
concerning any matter of military regu-
latiOns about which he may be in doubt OF
in need of information.
Drills should Be Resumed.
Aside from this system of general instruc-
ton, however, a close inquiry is instituted
10 ascertain what efforts in the past six
months have been made by commanding
officers of organizations TO bring their COM
mands up to the required standard of eff
cheney. There being no longer any excuse
why drills should not be at once resumed
commanding officers must submit unusually
good reasons for repeated omissions to as
semble their commands in the drill hall
Certain nights IN each week have been as
signed To the various organizations, and the
commander VINO disregarfS the drill re-
quirementS will be called 10 q strict aC-
count. For example. at a recent inspec-
tion Captain Dapray was informed by
a captain that in one company OF Over
sixty-flvc members, while fOrty-SlX OF
them could be assembled any night in
the week, only thirteen, it was claimed,
CDuld bc assembled for drill. The reason
SS4-tltfl Toy Jl!lS flIullibI wis iilt idth
Of proper uniforms. Captain Dapray in
formed the officer in question that pending
the re-equipment Of The guard drills with
in the drill hdll sHOUld not he suspended.
He stated that The commanding general IN
sisted that the number Of men drilled with
arms should he determined only by the
number OF rifles IN .he possession of the
company. and that whether the men had
uniforms not they must hereafter be
drilled with OF without arms, as may be
practicable
The commanding general has directed
the Sprcial inSDettOr to make known at
all inspection meetings that men must drill
regularly. and that those men whose gen
cTal carriage indicates the lack of military
bearing and smartuess must be drilled in
the Setting-up exercises. the facings, steps
and various other features Of the squad
and company drill. The 18th Battalion Is to
have u general assembly next Tuesday
evening. when the battalion commander
has been directed to begin his various
drills. ON the Tuesday evening following
Captain Daprdy expects to make an official
visit 10 the 4th Battalion. and Major HOdg-
son feels sure that ne will be able to pre-
sent a creditabIe and satisfactory command
for inspection. The 18th and 9th Battalions
will probably also be inspected during that
week, and after that the LIST Separate Bat
TALON, the Light Battery and other organ
izatiUns will be Inspected.
There IS much hard work ahead for Cap
tain DaPray, and II he continues along the
lines laid out, as he undoubtedly WILL the
The special inspector has extended a cor
dial invitation TO officers and non-commis-
stoned officers 10 call at his office at any
time when they are in need Of advice or
assistance. Any member Of the National
Guard can reach him. II is his desire TO
be thoroughly practical in his work
When the inspections of the several or
sanizatiOns are completed Captain Dapray
will devote his attention to the general
staff The regular meetings of the general
taft will be resumed in the near future.
More Arrests Possible.
In connection with the ordered inspec-
tiCn If ID Regiment headquarters Wednes-
day evening last II is within the BOUNDS
of possibility that three officers may be
placed in nominal arrest. The laxity of
officers in OOeying ORDERS in connection with
the inspections. sh 1t is stated at headquar-
ters, can hardly be excused. The sugges-
tiOr has been made that several of the
careless officers may save themselves by
rcsigning.
The intention is to have a. rational Guard
IN the District OF Columbia in which the
principal officers at least may be sufficient
ly interested To obey orders The state
ment Is made that there plenty of good
men not now in the guard " no would mak.
excellent officers, and there are also a suf-
hcisncy Of men 10 serve under them In
fact, an astonishingly large number of
members of the LIST District Volunteer In
iautry have siSnified their intention of be-
coming GuarGsmCn. The day of the lin
soldier IS at end, 50 far as the local
brigade IS concerned. II is stated at
headquarters. and The guard is to be con-
Quoted hereafter On basis that is strictly
military.
tourt-NartiRI Not Likely
The incident involving the placing under
nominal arrest last week of several officers
of the lst Battalion IS not likely to result
in coUri-martial. The officers. so the indi-
cations are. Will very likely be reprimand-
CD Il Is likely. TOO, that the reprimand will
20 higher that the officers in arrest II
seems. from all that can be learned at head
quarters. that regimental commanders are
10 be held responsible for their respective
regiments.
Practice Marches Next Spring,
An inquiry has been made as TO what use
tie appropriation for an encampment of the
National Guard that was not made use of
last summer because OF the war will be put
This appropriation is available up to the
cnd OF next June. 1t may be stated author
itatively that the money will not be ex-
pended Tot a general camp. The idea is to
nave next spring a series of practice march
- ana one-night camps. the men carving
blanket roll and shelter tents. These maches
ana camps Will fiji a man 10 meet the REQUIRE