Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17
THE NATIONAL GUARD
February Field Maneuvers
Are Abandoned.
PLANS FORTHE SUMMER
ORGANIZATION OF BATTERY OF
ARTILLERY IS ASSURED.
Action Regarding New Uniforms-Pay
Rolls All in-Date of Sea
Girt Meeting.

0AAt 4ACCI1ASs
The proposed midwinter maneuvers of the
District of Columbia National Guard will
not materialze. AS is now we'll known.
plans have been under discussion for an
outing Of the local citizen soldiery, the
purpose being to have the brigade engage
IL tactical exercises that ought to prove
instructive, interesting and of considerable
value as part Of the military training OF
the guardsmen. The Idea was that troops
Of the regular army should participate, and
the army officer in command Of the artil-
lery district Of which this city and nearby
points of Maryland and Virginia are part
was approached and entered heartily into
the spirit Of the proposition.
1t was suggested that the District Ma
ttonal Guardsmen, under prescribed condi-
tons, should make an advance on either
Fort Washington or Fort Hunt. This, 1t
was pointed out, would permit of the Naval
Battalion, with it's fleet, joining in the at
tack from the river side of the fort selected
to be assailed.
The exercises were planned to occur
about Monday, February %. 1t was 1e-
garded as possible that the troops might
be embarked on a steamer for the scene of
the mimic strife Saturday evening, Febru-
airy 81.
The proposed maneuvers will not ma
terialize principally by reason of the fact
that the ceremonies incidental to the lay
Ing OF the corner stone of the Army War
College building at the Washington bar
racks, scheduled for February %, will
qu1re the presence on that occasion Of al
the regular troops stationed in this vicinity.
Furthermore, the District National Guard
may participate in the ceremonies In view
OF these circumstances the commanding
general has decided not to order out the
brigade for midwinter work in the field.
Plans for Summer Outing.
Notwithstanding the passage by both
houses Of Congress Of the Dick militia bill
and the provision contained therein for
joint encampments of the army and the
National Guard, the indications are that
nothing can be done In the way of estab-
fishing a camp of the character mentioned,
in which the troops of the District Ma
tional Guard shall be represented during
the coming summer. The majority of
those connected with the. local citizen SOL
diery are jubilant over the fact that the
Dick bill has passed the Senate The gen.
eral impression Is that no hitch will occur
SO far as the conferees are concerned and
that the bill will be enacted prior to the
adjournment Of the present session of Con-
gress
There Is every reason to believe, as here
tofore announced, that the regular outing
of the District troops this summer will
take the form Of a series Of maneuvers,
embracing a siege of and an attack on
Fort Washington. The outing will extend
through ten days, and 1t is likely that the
troops of the army stationed at Fort Myer,
the Washington barracks, Fort Hunt and
Fort Washington, and possibly force Of
United States marines, will participate.
Action Regarding New Uniforms.
Definite action has been decided on re-
limo ,,,;f Co.
tional Guard. AS the chances are that the
new clothing for the enlisted force of the
brigade cannot be had for year at least,
the majority Of the officers will be permit
ted to purchase the latest regulation attire
at their convenience, a possible exception
being made in the case of the general staff.
The officers Of the general staff further
more, will be the only members of the bril-
gade who will be required to secure the new
full-dress uniform. This must be procured
not later than December 81 next. in order
that the attire may be worn at the White
House reception New Year day, 1904.
Battery of Field Artillery.
1t now seems to be assured that a battery
of field artillery will be a feature of the
District National Guard within the next six
months. The indications are that an appro-
priation will be available July 1 next for
the organization and maintenance of such
a battery. 1t will comprise at least four
and possibly six of the new 3.2-inch field
pieces, and the strength Of the command
will be eighty-One men. The commissioned
officers will consist of a captain, a senior
first lieutenant, a junior first lieutenant and
a second lieutenant.
The battery in armament and equipment
will be modern and thoroughly up to date,
and the intention is that it shall be main
tanned on scale of efficiency never before
eQualed locally.
Although the personnel of the officers for
the new battery has not yet been consid-
cred seriously, 1t is safe to say that the
command will be rendered to Capt. Alfred
P. Robbins, aid-de-camp, District of Column
bia Militia Captain Robbins served for
several years as senior first lieutenant of
the battery that formerly flourished here,
and he is considered as thoroughly equip
ped to serve in command of artillery as in
his present capacity. In fact. Captain Rob-
bins is thoroughly equipped to creditably
perform any military duty 1t is believed
by those in authority that he can be in
duced to accept the command of the new
consensus Of opinion is that the success of
the organization is already assured.
Notes.
Private Samuel E. Further, Company A,
4th Battalion. has been discharged in the
interest Of the service.
Privates Francis c. Escherich and Thorn
as G. Woods, both Of the Signal Corps,
have been dshonorably discharged by
reason Of expulsion from that command
The enlisted men Of Company B, 4th Bat
talon, have been ordered to assemble the
evening Of Tuesday, February g. for the
purpose Of electing second lieutenant
Maj James E. Bell, inspector general of
rifle practice, District of Columbia Militia,
has been unanimously elected an honorary
vice president of the New Jersey State
Rifle Association.
The next annual meeting at Sea Grit NJ J.
will begin August Is and end September 8.
The indications are that the meeting will be
the largest and most important in the his
tory Of the National Rifle Association of
America. and of the New Jersey State
Rifle Association.
All the pay rolls covering the six months
ended the 31st of last month have been
received at headquarters. Adjutant Gem
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