Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-21
Officer Declines to Resign at Request
of Commander.
Two CASES TO Be INVESTIGATED
Cruise of the Naval Battalion to
Occur in July.
BATTLE IN MINIATUR E

The designations of Colonel Henry May,
list Regiment. and Major Joseph w. Ander-
son, I'd Battalion. although called for. as
heretofore stated in The Star, have not
yet reached headquarters. One of the two
officers named, Colonel May. has announced
that he will not comply with the request
Of the commanding general, and that is
the understanding at headquarters.
To meet the situation board Of exami-
nation has been appointed to pass upon the
fitness to hold their commissions of such
officers" as may be ordered before 1t. The
board consists of Lieutenant Colonel Jas.
NJ Love, jr., adjutant general D. c. M. !:
Major Charles H. Ourand, inspector general
D. c. M; Major R. D. Simms, 5th Battal-
ion, D. c. N. G.; Major w. E. Harvey, 9th
Battalion, D. c. N. G., and Major Glendie
B. Young, Sd Battalion. D. c. N. G. The
first meeting of the board will be held at
10 o'clock next Monday morning in the
quarters of the general staff, at militia
headquarters. Colonel May will be ordered
to appear before the board at that time.
Should be not appear he will be honorably
discharged in accordance with law, by rea-
son of such failure. In the event that he
does appear the board will conduct thor
ough examination, which will be partly
oral. partly written, and perhaps include
the actual handling of troops. The exami-
nation may occupy several days When
the board Is through with Colonel May,
Maj or Anderson, the program provides,
will be ordered to appear before 1t.
1t is explained that there is absolutely
nothing personal about the proceedings
which are to be instituted in the cases of
Colonel May and Major Anderson. The
board of examination is appointed to deter
mine from a strictly military standpoint
whether or not the officers ordered before
1T competent to fulfill the duties that
necessarily devolve upon them. The per
sCnnel of the board is regarded above
criticism, the members having been select
ed solely with the view of insuring entire
fairness.
ture and assuming that Colonel May will
soon to be an officer of the d. c. n.
G., the question regarding the personality
of the next colonel of the LIST Regiment
naturally arises. 1t may be stated author
itauvely that no promotions nor appoint
ments will result for number of months
at least. If Colonel May retires the LIST
Regiment will be commanded by Lieuten-
ant Colonel Burton r. Ross, who will re-
main its senior officer for an indefinite
period.
The powers that be decline at this time
to discuss prospective changes among bat
TALON commanders.
Battle of Manila In Miniature.
Within the next few weeks-certainly be-
fore another month glides into history-the
citizens of the national capital will have an
opportunity of witnessing a reproduction Of
the battle of Manila, or something Of that
sort but, of course, on decidedly reduced
scale. Reference is made to the proposed
maneuvers along the river front, the plan
being for the Naval Battalion. assisted by
company of infantry detailed for duty as
marine guard, to afford landing, or
technically take possession Of the Long
bridge, and thereby shut off railroad and
telegraph communication with the south, or
do something else along those lines. The
entire brigade will be called into service.
i ,~lr.S ,;,,fr tl,n alan, Is h.
S. Fern will steam around from the navy
yard into the Washington channel about 0
o'clock, and the jack tars will take to the
small boats. The fun will then begin. In
brief. the problem Is for Commander Hams
to effect a landing, while the land forces
are to endeavor to thwart the success of
his purpose.
Blank cartridges will be used 1t is ap-
parent that an unsurpassed opportunity will
be offered the signal corps to demonstrate
its efficiency in the way of operating at
night The officer to command the land
forces has not yet been selected. The COM
handing general and his staff will probably
act as umpires There is to be no prear-
rangement as to which side shall win.
Ability and vigor will tell tho tale.
Sites for Coming Encampment.
officers of the general staff devoted sew
eral days during the week to inspecting pos
sble sites for the encampment next July
of the troops of the District Of Columbia
National Guard. A definite selection has
not yet been made and nothing new has de-
veloped. 1t may be well to explain now
that the location Of the site that may be de-
termined on will not be announced, for bus
mess reasons only, until the contract for
the use Of the ground is signed.
Cruise of Naval Battalion.
Although the land forces are in the dark
somewhat as to camp site, arrangements
are practically completed for the outing of
the naval contingent of the local citizen SOL
diery. The United States steamer Prairie
having been assigned to duty for the annual
drill and instruction of the naval militia or
CARNATIONS of the Atlantic and gulf states
the Navy Department has decided upon
what 1t considers the most feasible plan for
giving each state having such an organiza-
ton an equal amount Of practical expe-
rlence at sea.
This plan contemplates having the United
States steamer Prairie off Piney Point July
3, upon which date the District of Columbia
Naval Battalion will embark for a drill pc
ROD of seven days. at the end of which time
the organization will be dsembarked off
Piney Point. The organization will be con-
veyed to and from Piney Point on the
United States steamer Fern, and probably
the United States steamer Oneida
As the Navy Department has no appro-
priation for the purpose, the District of CO.
lurnbia will bear the expense Of subsistence
Of the organization while on board the Prad-
RE, and to see that its members are srpnIied
with proper bedding and individual mess
outfits.
The Program.
It Is understood the men Of the oreani-
cation are to be ready to go on board The
Prairie the morning Of July 3, upon which