Evening star., 1899-03-29
COMMANDER RESIGNS
Head of 4the Naval Battalion, D. G.
N. G., Retires From Service.
IMPLIED CEnSURE ASSIGNED As CAUSE
Believed to Have Acted Hastily in
the Matter.
INVESTIGATION PROBABLE

Commander Robert p Hains, the senior
officer of the Naval Battalion of the Dis
trict of Columbia National Guard, has
rendered his resignation. The same will
be forwarded approved from headquarters
OF the District of Columbia militia to the
Navy Department Pending the acceptance
of his resignation, Commander Hans has
been directed to transfer all government
property for which ne is accountable as
commanding officer of the Naval Battalion
| to Lieut.. S. G. Hopkins, the next ranking
officer
The resignation of Commander Hams. it
is said, was in the nature of a surprise. 1t
was certainly unexpected, in view of his
efforts in organizing the Naval Battalion
and his deep interest in its welfare since.
In substance the basis of the resignation
is understood to be the receipt of an official
communication from headquarters calling
attention to a procedure alleged to be un-
military and contrary to the spirit of mill
tary discipline. Not receiving from head
quarters an official retraction, the demand
for which could not, under the circum-
stances. be considered. it is claimed Com
mander Hams insisted that his resignation.
rendered Immediately on receipt of the
communication from headquarters referred
to, should be accepted.
1t is thought by some who are interested
in the incident that Commander Hams
acted hastily in rendering his resignation
before taking steps to have the action of
the commanding general reconsidered. Once
the resignation became the mandatory
basis of adjustment, it is argued, Gen. Har-
rleS action was unavoida bic.
Surprise Expressed.
The officials at headquarters of the Dis
trict of Columbia militia when questioned
regarding the resignation of the COM
mander expressed no little surprise that a
matter so strictly official and in the line of
ordinary military discipline should have
been given so much publicity, and appar
emily, too, through the instrumentalities of
certain subordinate officials of the guard,
who. under the military regulations, are
positively enjoined from any discussions in
volving praise or ceEsure even of comrades
in the military service, to say nothing of a
public criticism and comment over the ac-
ton of superior officers and of the COM
manding general himself.
Col. Dapray, adjutant general Of the Dis
trict militia, when visited by a Star reporter
today, positively refused to discuss the mat
ter for public alton in any shape. He stated
that it was purely official matter under
the exclusive domain of the commanding
general, whose disciplinary action was un-
avoidabie. AS adjutant general, Col. Da-
pray said he felt it to be his duty to set an
example of official department in matters
of this kind. 1t is not only reprehensible,
but positively forbidden, so it was eX-
planned, for officers in the military service |
to engage in public discussions of either the
official personal action of Interiors or
superiors. and this matter had already
assumed a shape that would doubtless ne
cessitate an investigation by the command
ing general as to which. if any. officers OF
the guard were responsible for the state
ments already Published. he felt impelled to
decline to say anything whatever on the
subject for publication. He took occasion
to remark, however, that his personal rela-
tions with Commander Hams had been of
the most pleasant nature, and only Eester-
day afternoon, toward the close of business
hours, Commander Hams visited the Office
of the adjutant general and conEersed IN
the pleasantest manner. Col. DapTay eN-
pressed the belief that from his knowledge
of the character of Comma nder Hams the
publicity given the matter had been due 10
certain overzealouS comrades.
Brig. Gen. Harres regretted very much
the publicity given the matter, because, as |
he stated the full understanding of the |
circumstances might prove embarrass sing |
to Comma nder Hams, for whom he had
only kindly personal feelings. Gen. Harries
also expressed himself as disinclined TO dis
cuss the official features of the affair for
the reasons set forth by the adjutant gem
eral.