The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-27
NATIONAL GUARD AFFAIRS
Preparations Being Made for the
Annual Inspection.
The Resignation of Capt. w. It. II.
King-PInns for n Trip tn the Pan
American OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of
the Camp-A Number of Discharges

the Camp-A Number OF Discharges
In National Guard circles everyone is
in a fever Of preparation for the annual
inspection and muster. orders regarding
which were issued last week The first
date set is Saturday evening. May 4. when
the general staff and the non-commis-
stoned staff will be inspected at militia
headquarters. The week following will
be devoted to inspection of the entire
Guard, one battalion at a time At pres
ent everyone is busy in preparation for
the ordeal Company commanders who
have considerable dead timber in their
commands in the shape of soldiers who do
not attend drills are making efforts to
clear it out. At headquarters yesterday
orders were issued for the discharge of
siNty-five members of the Guard. This
uumber is about six times as many as
usually are ordered discharged in week,
but no greater than the number who usu-
ally go out just before the annual mus
ter and inspection. If the men who do
not attend drills or apparently take any
interest In the affairs of the Guard were
permitted to retain their membership it
would have a perceptible effect on the
standing of the commands. For this rea-
son there is always an annual shaking
uD about this time of the year and the
effect is highly beneficial.
Capt. w. r. II. King. of Company b, OF
the Fifth Battalion. has rendered his res
ignation. 1t will probably be accepted
within the coming week. Captain King
is a member of the brokerage firm of
King & Co. and his business will not
permit him to give his company the time
and attention it deserves. Notwithstand-
ing the fact, however. that Captain King
Is unable to give a great amount of time
to his command, he has built it up Won
derfully since he was appointed captain
in 1895 Just before the breaking out of the
Spanish-American war. Captain King
had previously been an officer in the Ma
tional Guard of Texas and Of Virginia,
and the soldierly qualities he displayed
after becoming attached to the militia
of the District did credit to those or
CARNATIONS. At the outbreak of the war
he went into service with the First Dis
trict Volunteers and commanded Com
pany b during the time that regiment
served in Cuba.
The Pan-American trip project which
was started several weeks ago is at a
standstill. a large number of the mem
bers of the Coreoran Cadets, the Capron
Cadets. and the Morton Cadets. which
companies make up the Second Battalion,
together with the Rife Cadets of the
Third Battalion, have signified a willing
ness to attend the exposition. 1t is de-
sired that the guardsmen attend the expo
sitiOn at such a time that they will be
able to take part in the celebration of
the day set aside for the District of Co
fumbia. In the meantime several railroad
officials have been consulted regarding
rates for transportation of the troops
There will probably be some decision
reached within week or two.
The indoor meet of the District National
Guard was a distinct success and its pop
ularity and that of the soldier athletes
was attested by the large attendance.
Athletic matters are now quiet and the
attention of the Guardsmen will probably
soon be turned TO outdoor sports. Several
of the companies will probably put base
ball teams in the field. The Washington
Light Infantry basketball team. cham
pions of the District Basketball League,
has made arrangements to play series
Of games with the New Jersey and Della
ware teams at Atlantic City some time
during the coming summer.
The question of the location OF the camp
of the Guard this summer still remains
No decision has yet been
reached and IL will probably be several
weeks before the matter is finally deter
mined. A number of the officers of the
Guard had made plans for trips into the
adjacent to Washington for the
purpose of looking up a suitable location
for the camp, but the heavy rains of the
past ten days caused the abandonment
of the trips.
The battalion matches at the 60o-yard
stage were shot last night, and the crack
Lieut.. w. w. Cookson. came of victori-
Gus, with a score Of 469. The Third and