The Washington times., 1902-08-03

on Panther.
With the brigade encampment of the
National Guard thing of the past, the
attention of the amateur soldiers from
now on will be directed to the work of
the rifle team which is to compete in
the tournament at Sea Girt, n. J. The
tournament begins the latter part of
the month.
Drills have been suspended in all or
ganizations, and, except for social meet
ings of the companies, nothing will be
done until late in the fall. The armory
is practically abandoned. Superintendent
Duvah. however, is kept busy looking
after camp property and storing it so
that it can be secured without difficulty
next summer.
Much gossip has been occasioned, not
only among those interested in mill
tary matters in the District but among
army officers and civilians, in regard to
the breach between Brig. Gen. George
II. Harries, commanding the District
Militia, and Col Henry May, command
ing the First Regiment. 1t will be re-
called that in the field maneuvers which
took place on the morning of the last
day in camp, Lieut.. Col. Burton R. Ross
was placed in command of column of
troops, of which the First Regiment was
a part, and that Colonel May was left
behind in his tent while the troops
went forth to battle
May Demand an Inquiry.
Whatever may have been the cause
for ignoring the colonel of the First
Regiment, there is no doubt that he
felt the humiliation keenly. and his
friends are anxious that he demand an
inquiry into the affair. Even though
the commanding general lid authority
to srpe-sede Colonel May by putting a
junicI in command of his troops, it is
, asserted that it was not just or proper
for him to assert that Colonel May is
incompetent. 1t is stated by those IA
miliar with military law and etiquette
that such criticism of a brother officer
constitutes breach of discipline.
The airing, Of the expressed views of
the commanding general through the
public press, it is asserted, will tend
to lower the standing OF both officers il
the eyes of the general public, and will
affect the efficiency of the NatioEe;
Guard as whole.
Colonel May has been granted five
months leave of absence 1t is highly
probable that at the end of that period.
if not before, he will adopt measures 20
ascertain from headquarters why a
junior should be placed in command of
his troops during his presence in camp.
There is no doubt that General Harries
would like TO dispense with the services
of Colonel May, but he is prevented from
doing SO, as he found out nearly two I
years ago when ne recommended the /
discharge of the officer from the service. |
1t wo1iid not be surprising. therefore, i
should Colonel May retaliate. There |
are those in a position to know who as
sert that one, or 1t may be both, of the |
officers will be dispensed with during |
the year
Aside from this one incident every !
thing at camp was conducted withou
hitch. The best of spirit prevailed
among the officers, and the regular
troops mingled freely with the militia
men,. The field maneuvers were inter
esting in the extreme, while there were
several other features which marked
the encampment of 1902 as a notewor
thy one. More progress was made in
instructing the troops in the art of war
fare than ever before. The work of put
ting up intrenchments was for the first
time attempted by the militiamen.
PreDaripq for Sea Git Shoot.
Major James E. Bell. the inspector
general Of rife practice of the militia.
is now the-busy man of the brigade, and
from this time until after the shoot at
Sea Girt is over he will have his hands
full. There are twenty candidates for
the brigade team, and the work of pick
ing the twelve principals will be no
easy task. II has been decided that they
shall not be named until day or two
before the match is fired. although the
twenty men will probably be taken
along.
The meet at Sea Girt will be the great
est affair of the kind ever held in this I
country, and there will be not only rep :
resentative rifemen from this country.
but the cracks from IdnaQa, treat
Britain, and New Zealand will take part
in the competitions.
Arrangements for the trip TO Sea Girt
have practically been completed by
Major Bell, and now only await the
of the commanding general. The /
is that the team will leave :
here at 10 q. m, on August y. over the ,
Railroad. and will return
on September ;. at S u. m. over the BAL
timore and Ohio road. A one-rate fare !
has been secured and Major Pell is anx- (
ous that those who desire to accompany {
The team on the trip shall send In their ,
names at the earliest opportunity In
order that accommodations may be Sc
,ured. !
Lieut.. p. w Smith. who had charge of d. d.
he quartermaster' department at Camp ,,
1rdway, will go to Sea Girt as quarter
master Of the team. The adiutant has
lot been selected, but he Will probably
le chosen from among the men now prsc-
icing for places On the team.
Major Z. H. Neumeyer. the commits
;ary general of the militia. will plan the
ness for the rifemen this year. Here s
ofore the men have been fed either at !
he hotel or at the club. The quality of il
God supplied at these places has not (;
,een satisfactory, and II was determined =.
hat the food for the boys should be