Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-29
Rifle Practice at ordway.

the District at the coming Jersey meet Will
be. as usual, above criticism.
Major James E. Bell, inspector general Of
rifle practice, is in receipt of a communica-
ton from Captain Thos. S. King, inspec-
tor of rife practice, list Regiment, who is
now in England. The letter is descriptive
of the rifle matches recently shot at Bsley
The craftsmanship is characterized as Won
derful. the several teams averaging ninety
five out of possible 105 in the big matches
Cash prizes aggregating $4,000 were dis
trihuted.
May Command Naval Battalion.
Rumor has 1t that Mr.. Henry Greenway
Kemp of this city may be placed in COM
mand of the Naval Battalion, with rank
of commander to succeed Commander Rob
ert P. Hams. who rendered his resignation
several weeks ago. Mr.. Kemp is a graduate
of the United States Naval Academy at
Annapolis, and is said to be thoroughly
equipped in every way for the position He
is well known resident of this city and 1t
is believed his appointment would pe step
both popular and wise.
Lieutenant Commander S. G. Hopkins,
Naval Battalion. has been granted leave of
absence for fifteen days.
The enlisted men of Battery a, Light Ar
tilIcry, have been ordered 10 assemble at
their armory at o'clock the evening of
August ., for the purpose of electnS first
lieutenant. Second Lieutenant James +.
Waters will preside.
i I. IL.
Officially there has been no change In
the status of the incident involving the
suspension of Lieut. Col. Richard A.
O'Brien, ID Regiment, from his command,
while the National Guard was in camp,
near Leesburg, last month. Lieut.. Col.
O'Brien several days ago, however, ad
dressed a communication to the adjutant
general District of Columbia militia, ask
ing to be informed as to his status in the
National Guard. In reply it was stated
that the offensive language used by the
officer in question, in referring to the COM
handing general, not having been I'M
equivocally retracted, his status was clear
ly defined in the special order, issued while
in camp, suspending him from his COM
mand.
1t is stated at District militia headquar-
tiers that Lieut.. Col. OBrien was suspend
ed because he saw fit to criticse the COM
handing general, and refused to retract
his remarks when given the opportunity to
do so, and that absolutely nothing else
figured in the affair. The only way ont of
the difficulty, according to headquarters,
would be for Lieut. Col. O'Brien to with
draw his offensive language or suffer the
alternative of having his commission re-
Voked
Immediately upon receipt of the reply to
his recent letter of inquiry Lieut.. Col.
O Brien sought an audience with the com
handing general. At the conclusion of the
conference, although the parties declined TO
discuss the case, the impression about head
quarters was that Lieut.. Col. O'Brien had
decided to retract, or, in other words sub
nit a military apology. This is expected at
any moment. Should it not be forthcoming
the officials at headquarters say that the
orly course left open to the commanding
general will be- at the expiration of a rea-
sonable period to recommend to the Pres
ident that the commission of the offending
officer be revoked.
The official communications In connection
with the affair constitute part of the rec
ord OF militia headquarters, and 1t is de-
clared there exists no basis for the state
ment that such will be erased. 1t may be
we'll to state that personally the relations
of the several officers who have figured in
the incident have not been affected, the
matter in dispute being military one pure
and simple.
HonOrabIy Discharged.
The following have been honorably dis
charged on their own applications: Sergts.
William B. Jackson and Elmer Hayes
Kaufman, Corporal Ross w. Wise and
Private Edward A Arnold, all of the Sig
nal Corps, and Privates Harry d. Johnson
and Bernard R. Lee, both of Company D,
9Th Battalion.
BY reason of removal from the District,
%he following have been honorably dis
charged: Private Charles V. Stiles, AM
bulance Corps and Privates Starley S.
Beckham, Hamilton o. Ferguson, James
s. Ginnaty, Fred o. Hagen, John Sanborn
Hamilton, NJ Joseph Heaiy, Charles S.
Mlilener, William Howard Peters, William
Eugene Speake, Charles E. Adrians, W.
Auhagen William r. Bailey, Solomon H
Blank, Floyd r. Brown, George r. Bum
yea, Charles P Fox, Percy Harding, John
T E. McCarten and William MCGEE, all of
Company D, 9TH Battalion.
Upon the recommendation of the princi-
pal musician, Private Frank p. Holmes,
Corps of Field Music, has been appointed
corporal in the Corps of Field Music.
private of Company H, LIST District of
Columbia Volunteer Infantry, recently filed
claim for the pay of a private of engineers,
on the ground that his company was on
duty as a company of engineers. The as
slstant controller of the treasury has re-
FUSED to allow this claim for the reason
tnat the claimants company was regularly
mustered and paid as a company of in
fantry, and that it does not appear that 1t
was ever organized as a company of engi-
that OF an infantry company Payment of