The times., 1899-10-14
NATIONAL GUARD NOTES
An Effort to Be Made Soon Looking
to General Improvement.
Undesirable Material VIII Be Weed
ed Out for the Benefit of the En-
tire BriGade-Inspection and Mus
ter of the Naval Battalion To-
morrow-Eniisted Men Discharged.

During the coming fall and winter a
determined effort will be made TO place
| the District National Guard in a better
/ condition. Those who have the interest Of
! the Guard at heart believe that a radical
| change is all that can save the entire
organization from going to pieces, and it
! is understood that a general wedding out
process of all the worthless and dead tim
/ Der in the brigade will shortly begin. No
J action has as yet been taken in regard TO
the mastering out of the National Fenci-
bles, but 1t is likely that the order to that
effect will be issued from headquarters
within a short time. 1t is understood that
this action is considered absolutely neees-
sary. A company to remain in the Guard
/ must have membership of at least forty.
| While no steps have been taken by head
quarters 1t is entirely probable that the
brigade will be rid Of all undesirable ma
terial. There are several companies in
various battaltons, it is said, which can
do the District Guard no good If they are
allowed to remain in it. The poor show
ing made by these commands, at the mus
ter and inspection, brought the matter up
for final settlement and vigorous action
may be expected. The Guard will receive.
probably the early part of next mnoth con-
siderable new material, by the muster in
OF the various companies now almost COM
pletely recruited, which will form the
Third Battalion. and which will largely
Offset the loss of those companies which
are TO be mustered out. That there is good
material in the Guard was shown in the
display made in the Dewey parade.
The Guard has lost many of its officers
and men, who have either enlisted or who
have received commissions in the volunteer
army now in the Philippines. The last
man the organization has lost is Capt.
Richard j. Donnelly, adjutant OF the First
Regiment, whose resignation has been ac-
eepted to take effect October 10. Captain
Donnelly was one of the clerks from the
Adjutant Generals Office to be sent to
Manila, at the request of General Otis. The
party of which he is member is expected
to sail from San Francisco about October
20 or %. The resignation of Capt. George
w. England and Second Lieutenant Low
ellis, the latter TO take effect October 90
have been accepted.
The Brigade Board of Examination has
reported favorably the application of
First Lieut.. F. c. Skinner for the cap
taincy of Company C. Sixth Battalion The
vacancy in the Fourth Battalion caused
by the resignation of Major Fred S. Hodg-
son has not yet been filed
Some mistake oversight at the War
Department seems to have occurred in re-
gard to the appointment of several officers
elected and passed by the examining board
The names of the candidates were referred
I to the department last month, but it is
understood through enquiry that they
have never been received.
Members of the Brigade Rifle Team have
been interested in the arrival from Geor-
gia of the Soldier of Marathon trophy
I'D
ceived by Captain Eastman, Acting Adju-
tant General, Tuesday. 1t was accompa-
MED by letter from Capt. William W.
Williams, of the Georgia State Team, in
whose possession it was, explaining the
delay in sending 1t to the latest winners.
The trophy was won by the local soldiers
in 1895. 1t has been placed on a stand in
the adjutant generals office and has been
viewed since its arrival by many admirers
Major James z. Bell, Inspector General of
Rifle Practice and Captain of the Brigade
Team, will make arrangements to have the
trophy placed on exhibition in the window
of some local jewelry firm.
The inspection and muster OF the Naval
Battalion will take place tomorrow. The
men of the battalion are ordered to as
semble on board the Fern at O'Clock to-
morrow morning. The boat will then pro-
ceed down the river to point near Indian
Head, where the sailors will be given
target practice. While en- route to Indian
Head. the battalion will be inspected and
mustered by Major Ourand, assisted by
Captains Robbins and Cook. The follow
ing orders have been issued by Lieut..
Commander Sherburne G. Hopkins:
Pursuant to special orders 1O7, headquarters,
District of Columbia militia, the Naval Battsl-
ion will, early on the morning of the 18th instant,
proceed on board the United States steamer Fern
to Indian Head Nd, for inspection and target
practice, returning the evening.
Officers and enlisted men will therefore report