The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-31
NATIONAL GUARD ENCAMPMEN-
Colonel stone or the d. y. e. Indi-
Gates Deaired Prennratlnns

Guthrie, o. T, May 30.-(SpeciaL )-Colo-
mel John r. Stone, commanding he First
regiment Oklahoma national suard. has
addressed a letter 10 battalion and COM
pany commanders conce cniBg the annual
eEcampment, for which the Lass legs q
ture made an appropriation Of g 30. The
time and place of the encampment has not
yet been determined upon, but it will prob
ably be held some time in October IN his
letter Colonel Stone sets forth that IL is
the intention to make this camp OF in
struction and TO devote the time TO in
structing the men and officers in the du-
ties of a soldier and not 20 make 1t merely
an outing. While no definite program has
yet been adopted for the work OF the en-
campment, il is expected that no company
drills viii be had other than competitive
drills but that the time will be devoted
to the school of the battalion and the
evolutions Of the regiment, regimental
parades, reviews and guard duty. In ad-
dition there will be competitive drills be-
tween the various companies, in which
all companies will be required 10 partici-
pate. This competition vii not consist
merely of the school of the company, but
ton Of competent officers from the time
they disembark from the cars where the
encampment is held until the encampment
IS closed. and the companies will be grad
ed according to the manner in which they
disembark the condition of their baggage
and equipment and the manner in which It
is handled, their march TO the camp.
pitching tents. erecting kitchens and
sinks, preparation and serving of meals.
the performance Of guard duty. policing
OF camp. the care of bedding and equip
ment and. in fact, everything concerning
their efficiency and readiness for camp du-
ties in actual service, in addition 10 com
pany drills. In addition TO their efficiency
in company drills, the men will be ex-
amined strictly as 10 their familiarity
with the general orders OF a sentinel and
all the details of guard duty
1t is expected that valuable cash prizes
will be offered to the company ranking
highest IN the competition, and in addi-
tion the most efficient company command
er Will be promoted to fiji the vacancy now
existing in the third majority OF the regi-
ment
The regiment is now being orga mixed
into three battalions OF three companies
each. Ding TO the fact that tents must
be provided and cooking outfits supplied.
the allowance for clothing and accoutre-
ments will be very limited. and Il Is earn
estly requested that each captain viii
make his requisition for clothing as light
as can possibly be made. Every effort
will be made by the adjutant general 10
will be provided 70 the companies accord
ing to their necessities as nearly as pos
sible.
Numbers Of the former members Of the
First territorial regiment have enlisted in
the militia. and Colonel Stone is very de-
sirous of having all men who have seen
service in that regiment or the Rough
Riders TO enlist. Many OF these men have
their uniforms and they should be induced
to furnish their on uniforms. II possible
until such time as the appropriation VIII
permit Of new ones being Issued At this
time the co,onel commanding again i'm
presses upon the company commanders
that the appropriation Is very limited
and that no officer having the good Of the
militia at heart viii ask for anything that
he can possibly get along without
During the encampment the company
commanders wifi be subject 70 rigid ex-
animation upon the matters above enum-
Grated as tending 70 show the efficiency Of
their companies. The colonel commanding
urges that it Is r0w time that the work
should begin earnestly in every company
70 prepare for the encampment and that
every officer and man should cooperate
earnestly 70 make the first encampment
of the territorial militia a success.