The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-10
NATIONAL GUARD AFFAIRS.
Settling Up Old War Claims
Against Volunteer Officers.
Captain WnIsh's Return From the
Philippines Facilitates Action in
His Cnse-Captain Lewis and other
Former Guardsmen on the List.

His Cnse-Captain Lewis and other
Former Guardsmen on the List.
Early settlement is expected of various
claims of the District of Columbia Ma
tional Guard against former officers of
the organization who have been with the
American army in the Philippines since
the close of the Spansh-American war.
These claims have been before the War
Department for some time One of these
claims, for. quartermsster's supplies.
against Capt. Harry A Walsh.
Forty-seventh United States Infantry,
formerly captain of Company a, Fourth
Battalion. District of Columbia National
Guard, will be paid today to the quarter
masters department
The commanding general of the District
militia also has claims against Capt
Jack Lewis, formerly of the local Ma
tional Guard, and lately lieutenant and
adjutant of the Thirty-fifth United States
Volunteer Infantry. Various claims
against other former officers in the Ma
tional Guard are said to exist. Captain
Walsh is the first of the local men TO re-
turn from the Philippines, and the ques-
ton, which is understood to have been
pending before the Quartermaster Cen
eral for several months, hgs come to
settlement.
The peculiar feature of the case. al
though the men affected have not OBJ
jected. apparently, is that the salaries
for services in the United States Army
of the men who are said tc be in the debt
of the National Guard, are alleged to have
been held up since last March at the in
stance of General Harries. This has been
in order that the District militia might
obtain from the men the amounts owed
The money will be taken from the sal
aries of the indebted officers. Salaries of
many officers in the volunteer army are
also alleged to have been held up since
last March pending an auditing of the
several accounts. This is said to be
regular method of procedure and pre-
sents no unusual features.
Captain Walsh stated last night that
the sum which he owed the National
Guard would amount to less than $50. He
has already taken steps to pay the claim
against him. and of which he says he has
been in ignorance since going to Manila
nearly two years ago. and the money will
probably be turned over to the proper
authorities today. This will settle the
claim against Captain Walsh.
Captain Lewis is understood to be now
on his way to Washington from Manila.
The amount of the claim against him is
not known, although it will not ag-
gregate more than that of Captain Walsh
1t is understood that there are several
additional claims against other former
I'd
AID of the claims are for various quar-
termaster's supplies lost or mislaid dur
ing the service of the men as officers in
the militia. The officers are held respon-
sible for the articles. and must replace or
account for them. The lost articles are
made up of small stores including
blankets. letters worn on the collars of
the officers, screw drivers, and other
articles of similar description.
In the cases of Captain Walsh and Lieu
tenant Lewis, their departure from Wash
ington upon receiving commissions in the
volunteer army was so hurried that they
were unable to attend to the matter.
They took steps TO pay for the lost
articles under their care after reaching
Manila, but the matter was in some man
ner delayed until the present time.
Captain Walsh returned to Washington
on July u. ten days after he was mus
tered out of the volunteer service. Ac-
cording to his statement there is very
little fighting going on in the Philippines
now and the war Is practically over, al
though he believes that there will be
trouble with the Fnpinos for some time
to come.
He will again become a member of the
District of Columbia National Guard.
Captain Walsh has had command of a
company In the local militia for nearly
ten years After his recent hard service
in the field he will no doubt be reelected
~ and nf
of the Fourth Battalion. at the next
company election, to be held this month.