Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-15
The Several Commands Getting Ready
for Winter Duties.
DISBURSEMENT OF APPROPRIATION
Annual Practice Cruise of the Naval
Battalion.
INSPECTOR. GENERALS DATA


National Guard are about to resume work
of an active character, after the vacation,
so to speak, that has been in progress since
the close of the annual encampment last
July. Officers and men of the brigade who
have been away from the city are return
ing, and with the arrival of October regu
lar drills and meetings of all the organi-
cations will be the rule. Commanding Of
ficers have arranged programs covering the
duties of the winter, and it is reasonable to
predict that there will be forward strides
made of greater length than heretofore.
Adjutant General Mosher has been con-
stantly engaged since he reported for duty
several weeks ago in putting things at
headquarters in ship shape. Col. Mosher,
when on duty before with the local brigade,
perfected a system for the conduct of his
office. Those who followed him in the Of
flee naturally had ideas of their own. The
result was that ultimately matters reached
a state that may properly be described as
mixed up, as between plans of individuals.
Col Mosher is gradually Strengthening out
affairs. Hereafter the machinery that
moves the official directing center of the
local National Guard, 1t is certain, VIII run
without hitch or jar.
Just as soon as the final step has been
taken in the way of restoring things N the
headquarters offices TO the ideal state Ad
jutant General Mosher by direction of the
commanding general, will take up the mat
ter of framing regulation to cover the
disbursement of the appropriation for pay
OF troops other than government employees.
Gen HarrieS has thought out plan which
he considers feasible. He will communicate
his ideas to the adjutant general and the
latter Will arrange the schedule of ray
ments and other details that will be of de-
| cided interest, particularly to a certain
portion of the enlisted strength of the bT-
gade.
Case of Col. May.
The case of Col. Henry May 1st -Regi-
ment, who declined to tender his resigna-
ton when requested to do so, and who
failed to appear before a board of exam
ination, it was held, although ordered to
so appear, has to a large extent drifted
from public notice. Col. May, it will be
recalled, was suspended from his command
Immediately after IL was held that he had
failed to obey the order directing him to
appear before the board of examination.
Some time after being relieved he filed a
request that he be reinstated. The matter
ultimately reached the War Department,
where it now rests.
A rumor, which cannot be traced to any
reliable source, has gained grourG during
the past few days that the case is to be
concluded In the near future by proceedings
in the nature of a compromise. The I'M
derstanding is, according to the rumor that
the War Department officials will direct the
commanding general to restore Col. May to
duty. OF course, orders orders. and
will have to be obeyed. Then, when quiet
has been restored, the program calls for
Col. May to tender his resignation. The
Secretary of War is at present away from
this city. Therefore some time, it is ex-
pected, will elapse before the interesting in
cident is brought to a close
While consideration Is being given to ru-
mors 1t is not amiss TO repeat whisper:ngs
that several congratulations are under
consideration. and that more than few
designations are anticipated. 1t IS said the
CO inv do
the other extremity of the brigade.
Annual Practice Cruise.
Arrangements have been completed for
the annual practice cruise of the Naval
Battalion of the District Of Columbia Ma
tonal Guard. The outing is to cover the
period from next Saturday, September %.
to the Saturday following, September %.
There is to be only one trip, and Conn.,
mander Robert T. Hams will be in charge.
The orders provide that the Naval Bat
talon shall embark on board the United
states ship Fern at dock on Water street
southwest, at o'clock pm, September 22,
and Will proceed down the Potomac river
! and out to sea. returning to Washington SO
as to dsembark September %.
During the cruise the crew will be exer-
cised and drilled in small boat drill, sig
nails, pistol drill infantry tactics sword
exercise setting up exercise navigation and
| drill with the guns carried by the Fern,
with particular attention given to aiming
by actual target practice.
For the purpose of target practice author
lty Is given to expend not more than fifty
rounds each for the 3-inch 6-pounder and
the 1-pounder guns.
In smal-arms practice the expenditure of
ammunition will not exceed ten rounds per
man with the revolver and an equal amount
with rifle.
Enlisted men will provide themselves with
at least one change of underclothng socks
and two towels, together with such other
I hi, 4.
The employment of cooks is authorized as
follows: For the cabin and ward room mess.
one cook; for the crew, one ships cook.
! Two assistant cooks are also authorized.
Attention is called to section 40 of the act
of Congress Ito provide for the organization
of the militia of the District of Columbia
campment, or duty that Is required ordered
or authorized to be performed under the
provisions of this act shah be deemed to be
a military duty. All officers and men who
for any cause cannot perform the tour OF
duty directed in the preceding paragraphs
of this order, must previously make appli-
cation and procure written excuse from
their immediate commanding officer. Those
who fail to procure such written excuse
will be reported as absent without leave
and treated accordingly.
Inspector Generals Report
Maj. Charles II. Ourand, inspector gem
eral. District of Columbia militia, has sub
mitted his report covering the inspection of
at the time of the encampment recently at
Gaithersburg. Among other things Mai
Ourand reports that in point Of numbers
the attendance was very good. Discipline
as a rule was also very good.
A noticeable Improvement was apparent
in most of the companies in the matter of
guard duty. This resulted from the pre-
limnary instruction that had been given
before going into camp. The weakest part
of guard duty was as regards the duties
of sentries Company ID, 4th Battalion
and Company d, 9th Battalion, showed
the result of earnest work. Great i'm
provement was SHOWN by the LIST Separate
Battalion, whose work In guard duty was
unexcelled. The efforts to improve both
on the part of officers and men was ap-
parent. Greater attention was paid to
military courtesy than ever before while
in camp.
The rifles of Company d, 4th Battalion
are in the best condition of any in the
brigade. The rifles of the 9th and 1st Sep
arate Battalons showed that efforts had
been expended on them.
The percentage of attendance was as
follows: General staff. 955; band, ST.
Corps of Field Music, SO; Battery A,
Light Artillery, 667; Ambulance Corps
62.5; Engineer Corps. 1885, Signal Corps,
l