Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-27
ARM0RY ECHOES.
Interest Felt in the Scheme For
a Weeks Camp.
TROUBLES IN BATTERY B.
The Emmets and Infantry To Be
Inspected This Week.
Standing of the Contestants in the Whist
ournament--Dat Fixed for the
Annual Musters.

- 'iN jan PipfihlA lVl eAli e1lAit0A SSN Cll
days tour of duty, instead Of five now
performed by the Massachusetts volun-
teer militia, on which a hearing was
given before the joint committee of
ways and means Of the legislature, last
week, has been much discussed by local
militiamen in the past two days At
the hearing Brig. Gems. Matthews and
Bancroft both appeared in favor of the
bill and each declared that the great
increase in efficiency of the militia by
the extra two days, would well warrant
the additional expense of between
$25, 900 and $50, OOO The plan, according
to the bill, is to have the militia go into
camp on Saturday and remain on duty
seven days, breaking camp the follow
ing Saturday. This would give the men
a Sunday in camp, and it is possible
many may object to the bill on this
score. The men, however, would be un-
der strict discipline on the Sabbath and
would be required to attend religious
service.
Locally, the idea of a seven days camp
is well thought Of and if decision in
the matter were left to the enlisted
men, the bill would doubtlessly be
passed by a large majority One objec-
ton which will be made to the passage
of the bill is that members Of the militia
will be required to be away from bust
ness for practically the whole of two
Saturdays, Those who are employed
in retail houses will thus nave the OBJ
lection of their employers to overcome,
the more especially because camp is
held in a busy season of the year The
outcome Of the bill will be interestedly
watched by local militiamen.
In the local militia world the situation
in Battery B affairs has caused consi-
derable comment and no end of specu-
lation. The trouble grows out of the re-
cent election in the company, when Sec
ond Lieut.. w. A. Lewis was elected
captain jumping Senior First Lieut. H.
w, Haynes and Junior First Lieut. w.
T. Could These officers especially
Lieut.. Haynes, do not take kindly to the
slight, and rumors of designations have
been heard all the week. Lieut. Haynes
is outspoken in the matter, and during
the week stated that he would tender
his resignation as soon as he could turn
the company property over to Capt.
Lewis after he had qualified. Lieut..
Haynes speaks in the highest terms of
Capt. Lewis, both as a soldier and as
man. but the fact that the members of
the Battery see fit to ignore him when
he is in line for promotion, leads him to
the belief that he is not wanted. Lieut.
Gould mas made no definite statement
in regard to resigning, but when Lieut.
Lewis was mentioned as candidate for
captain, it was expected Lieut.. Gould
would resign in case he was jumped
Lieut.. Haynes as a soldier COM
mands the highest respect of the mem
bers of the Battery. and if the question
of promotion rested solely on knowledge
of artillery tactics, he would be the
unanimous choice Some of the men
declare that they did not feel as if they
should sacrifice the business interests of
the command to get a tacitician at the
head. Lieut.. Haynes has. not won
many new friends since he has had COM
mand of the Battery The command,
at a standstill for some time, and they
wished to see it progress and get into
the ranks a number of desirable young
men. Lieut.. Lewis has always been
very popular with the men, and is re-
garded as a thorough soldier, and the
men believe with him in the position of
captain, the command will enjoy int
creased prosperity.
In the case of Lieut.. Gould, it is an
open secret that the men would welcome
a resignation from him. His infreuuent
attendance at drills has rot tended to
increase his popularity. There is talk
that as a result OF the election Guidon
Corporal A. c. Scott may endeavor to
secure discharge. Scott iG clerk Of the
company.
Should the full batch of designations
blossom there will be the greatest kind
Of hustle for commissions. AS stated
a week ago, the officers bee is huzzing
in the honnets of many men, Among
the number are several privates who be-
lieye they are qualified to wear shoulder
straps Bx-Capt, L. G. Bigelow recently
filed application for re-enlistment in the
battery, and it is possible that in case of
vacancy ne would be rendered a com
mission. 1t is quite possible, however.
unat SO long as the war cloud hoyers
designations will not be accepted.
Capt. Lewis and Second Lieut.. A Fl
Boswell appeared before the exano9nine,
board at Boston last week, and II is ex.
pected passed a satisfactory examine
lion, ana that their assignment to duty
will soon be received.
The first of the state inspectfons of tho
local companies will be held Monday
night When the Emmett Guards Co q
Sth regiment, will be inspected bv In
spector General j. L. Carter. The mem
oers or the company are ordered to re-
port at the armory at O'Clock in fulI
fatigue uniform, and will be paraded for
inspection at o'clock. The Emmets
nave been putting in some hard work
for the inspection and expect to mass the
ordeal creditably.
The second inspection Of the week will
be tuesday night, when Col James \.
FRYE will examine the Light Infantry.
Col Frye will find the members of the
command proficient in their duties and
the friends of the company expect to
see Co. c high on the roll The men are
ordered to appear in fatigue uniform
with gloves, legglns and overcoats rolled
in yoke. No intimation has been given
of the date for inspection of either Of
the other three companies at the arnaory,
although the Battery men expect to be
officially visited either April II or 49,
The inspections Monday and Tuesday
nights will be watched with interest by
many members of the other companies.
The four infantry companies have now
been acquainted with the offer of P. H
Hurley of a trophy to be contested an
nually for in a shooting contest and all
have appointed committees to attend to
the details of the matter. The commit
tees are as follows: Emmet Guards:
Lieut., NJ e. Hines and Lieut.. j. F. Hur-
ley; Wellington Rifles, Lieut.. H T. Gray
and Sergt c. e. Smith; City Guards,
Lieut. F. H. Lucke and Sergt W. H.
Plummer; Light Infantry. Lieut.. F. l..
Allen and Sergt G. II. Hill. The joint
committee will meet next Monday even
Ing for preliminary planning.
The militia whist tournament, which
has been in progress for some weeks,
will close Wednesday night, and the
standing of the teams is likely to be
close at that time. At present the City
Guards have lead of 10 points, but
this may be overcome. and the trophy
which last week seemed sure to the
City Guards, will go to some other
room. The first defeat suffered by the