The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-16
AFFAIRS IN UNSETTLED STATE
Lieut.. Brummett Relieved
From Command of Oneida.
PARADE FOR THE PRINCE
First Regiment to De Represented
by a Rifle Team ut international
Tournament - Guard PASSES Most
Successful Shooting Season in His
tory.

Gen. George H Harries has been at
the head of the citizen soldiery of the
District of Columbia since the death of
Gen. Albert Ordway, November -,
1897. During that time the organization
has reached fits highest stage of efficiency
and is now rated one Of the best militia
organizations in the United States Gen
eral Harries' influence upon the National
Guard has been very great. He enlisted
in the ranks nearly fifteen years ago.
His military experience, however, dates
back long before that time. He was born
in Wales. the son of a British army Off
Ger. and entered Sandhurst to prepare for
the English army. He did not complete
his course there but came to America
when a young man. He went to what was
then the unbroken West, and for some
time served with the Canadian Northwest
mounted police.
For fifteen years he has lived in Wash
ington- For time he was a reporter on
a Washington daily. then entered business
and has been uniformly successful.
Prior to promotion to command the
National Guard he was inspector general
of rifle practice and captained several
brigade teams which competed at Sea
Grit In business life he is vice president
of the Washington Traction and Electric
Company, secretary Of the Washington
Board of Trade, and a member OF the
Board of Education.
Probable Changes in Naval Battalion
Before the Fern weighs anchor for the
annual cruise next summer there prom
ises to be a great change in the person.
mel of the Naval Battalion. Lieutenant
Commander S. G. Hopkins. who, since the
resignation Of Commander R. P. Hams
several months ago. has been in command
of the organization, has declared that in
the future an effort will be made to en-
list as many men as possible who have
seen service in Uncle Sans navy.
Every man who enlists will be required
to come up to, in every particular. the
physical requirements specified in enlist
ment orders. Those who are at present
members of the Naval Battalion who do
not come up to the physical requirements
and who are not able to perform their
duties will be discharged in the interest
of the service"
The Naval Battalion Unsettled.
The condition of affairs in the Naval
Battalion at present is very much unset
tied. Recently about thirty-five members
of the organization signed their names
to. petition in which their grievances
were aired. This was presented at Dis
trict National Guard headquarters. Moth
ing has as yet been done with it.
from the command of the Oneida. to
which he was assigned soon after the
resignation of Commander Hams. Lieu
tenant Commander Hopkins relieved
Lieutenant Brummett on Friday. Febru-
airy Y, the regular assembly night of the
Naval Battalion.
Lieut.. Commander Hopkins Action.
Lieutenant Commander Hopkins says
that his reason for relieving Lieutenant
Brummett is that the latter was dilatory
in attending to correspondence connected
with his station. Lieutenant Commander
Hopkins further declares that when he
assumed command of the Naval Battalion
some time ago he found the discipline of
the Naval Battalion in deplorable con-
dition, and that all his actions and orders
since that time have been directed toward
the curing OF that condition OF affairs
He further says that many of the mem
bers of the battalion are mere boys, who
do not come up to the standard OF physi-
cal requirements. and that at the time he
took charge OF the Naval Battalion there
were few really competent seamen in the
battalion.
To Join North Atlantic SQUADRON
X is planned that the Naval Battalion
shall be recruited as rapidly as possible
TO its full strength. and will join the
North Atlantic Squadron in July for the
summer maneuvres.
This will be great step in advance
for the District Naval Battalion. mas
much as the annual cruise heretofore has
consisted merely OF ! run down the Po-
tomac River and short sea voyage. con
summing in time seldom more than week
The cruise during the coming summer
VIII last probably for ten days.
Lieutenant Commander Hopkins be
lieves that there are enough young men
in Washington with experience as sailors
who can be enlisted TO form the basis of
a highly efficient battalion with 400 names
on the rolls. Young men without expert
ence can be enlisted but these recruits
viii necessarily be men of muscle, to
whom the rigorous work of ship drill will
come easily.
Within the next week or two the boats
of both the Fern and the Oneida will be
ovcrhauled, and as soon as the ice leaves
the river boat drills will begin In ear
nest.
To Parade for the Prince.
General orders will be issued tomorrow
from National Guard headquarters regard
ing the parade of the brigade Monday
February "A, when Prince Henry of Prus-
STA will arrive in Washington. The entire
brigade, with the exception of the bri-
gade band, will be formed in a double
line OF sentineis from the Pennsylvania
depot, Sixth and - Streets northwest, to
the White House.
The men will he stationed four PAGES
apart, and each soldier will bring his rifle
to present" as the carriage containing
the prince passes. The brigade will be
formed at the corner of Fifteenth and
Pennsylvania Avenue at 9:45 O'Clock a.
III. on February "a.
Will Not Garry krags.
The new Krag -Jorgensen rifles which
have already arrived will not be supplied
to the troops in time for the parade in
honor of Prince Henry, Major c. II. GU
rand, inspector general. has been ordered
to inspect the Springfield rifles now in the
hands Of the troops, with all equipment