Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-14
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Changes by Reason Of New
Militia Law.
TO APPOINT OFFICERS
DRILLING MAY BE PART OF THE
ANNUAL INSPECTION.
Organizing the Brigade Team - Rifle
Practice observation-disclosures Of
Sharpshooters and Marksmen.

GdnlZdtlon or the District OF COlunlDld va
tional Guard by reason of the enactment OF
the bill to promote the efficiency of the
militia-popularly known as the Dick bill
will be few, if any, go far as can be learned.
AT special meeting of the general stan
of the District of Columbia militia at head
quarters last Tuesday evening, the new
law, which had been carefully studied by
the officers of the staff, was discussed in
thorough manner. The Dick bill does not
repeal the act of 1885, providing for the or
ganization of the District National Guard,
which is considered somewhat of a model
and which, it seems, will continue to be
followed practically in its entirety.
The War Department has requested Cen
eral Harries to submit any suggestions that
occur to him regarding the Dick bill ana
the best manner for rendering such sugges-
tons effective, and he has forwarded ms
views. AS soon as the governors OF the
several states do likewise the departments
Interpretation of the law will be announced.
r With the view Of increasing the efficiency
Of the local brigade the proposition has
been advanced-and it is receiving consid-
eration-that change be made in the pres
ent method of electing company officers
The proposed innovation is that headquar-
tiers shall appoint all officers. 1t is argued
that 1t would be a long stride in the direc-
ton of betterment to transfer a command
ing officer whose company was known to
be in a deficient condition and assign IN
his place a captain, whose reputation for
capability was unquestioned. However, the
matter will receive most careful attention
before decision is made.
Drilling at Annual Inspection.
OF interest to the guard generally is the
statement that hereafter the annual inspec-
ton and muster will consist of something
more than answering roll call, standing at
attention, fixing and unfiXing bayonets and
executing port and order arms. The in
spector general means to urge that the GUS
tom of the regular army be followed, and
that every organization of the guard be re-
quired to show the inspecting officers
what 1t can do in the way of drilling and
other exercises as part of the inspection.
Every reason exists upon which to base the
belief that the recommendation of the in
spector general along the line will be
adopted.
The annual competitions at Sea Girt next
August and September will be conducted
on scale much larger than ever before.
Especially is this SO because the appropria-
ton Of $500 to provide national trophy
for rifle practice will then be available. In
view Of the fact that the military riAemen
of the District of Columbia will have
harder problem to solve In winning glory
and prizes than ever in the past, steps are
to be taken to organize a brigade rifle team
considerably earlier this year than is GUS
tomary.
Major James E. Bell, inspector general of
rifle practice, District Of Columbia militia,
will call meeting for the Goth instant of
the members of the brigade team of last
season, and others who intend to compete
for places on the team to be sent to Sea
Girt the coming August. The first move
In the direction Of organizing the team for
1903 will occur the date mentioned, and If
the Districts representatives fail to capture
first prize at the Jersey range it will not
be possible to ascribe the failure to lack of
practice.
Jackies, Batterymen and Engineers.
Regarding the discussion over the reported
purpose of Lieut. Latimer, United States
navy, to decline the invitation that it
was intended to extend to him to serve
as an instructor of the Naval Battalion,
D. G. N. G., officers of the battalion who
are familiar with the details of the situa-
Harries exhibited any discourtesy toward
Lieut. Latimer by first mentioning the mat
ter to the assistant secretary of the navy.
Gen. Harries had been assured by persons
closely associated with Lieut.. Latimer that
the latter was not only willing, but was de-
sirous of being assigned to duty with the
Naval Battalion. 1t is pointed out that it
would have been discourteous to the as
sistant secretary Of the navy if Gen. Har-
ries had ignored that official by first ar
ranging the details with Lieut. Latimer, a
subordinate of the assistant secretary.
1t is said by those in a position to know
that the reason why Lieut. Latimer made
up his mind to decline the proposed in
vftation was that he concluded, when
he realized that he would not be re-
lieved of his regular duties In the Navy
Battalion detail, that he would not have at
his disposal the time necessary to devote
to the battalion.
The members of the Naval Battalion have
been ordered to assemble this evening for
a tour of duty to continue for twenty-four
hours. The commanding officer has been
authorized to instruct the men in getting
the Oneida under way: Under no circum-
stances, however, Is the vessel to proceed
farther than Alexandra.
The proposed battery Of field artillery
continues to interest large number of
persons in and out of the guard who desire
to be members of the new organizations.
Capt. Alfred P. Robbins is going over the
field very carefully, but he has not yet de-
cided whether or not he will accept the
captaincy of the battery. From the many
seems to be more certain than ever that no
difficulty will be experienced in recruiting
the battery to its full strength.
The general order disbanding the En-
gineer Corps was expected. With no capa-
Bile commanding officer In sight it was con-
sidered useless to continue in existence the
organization, which was very small in
number of members. The disbanding OF the
corps will leave the situation free for the
mastering in of an entirely new command
The latter, it is understood, will soon ma
terialize.
Rifle Practice Qualifications.
Major Bell has just completed his report
giving the names of those guardsmen who
qualified in rifle practice as sharpshooters
and marksmen during the past season, with
their respective scores. As soon as the War
Department fills a requisition for the deco
rations-crosses, bars and buttons-to which
those who have qualified, as stated, are en-
titled, date for the presentation ceremony
will be announced. The qualification list
follows:
General staff: sharpshooters- Captain A.
p Robbins 100; Major James E. Bell, 1S9.
Neutrality-suspicious. F. l. Averill, $50.
First Regiment: Staff sharpshooters-
Capt. Thomas S. King. 173; Captain Clar-
ence A. Weaver, ITO.
First Battalion: Staff. Sharpshooter-
First Lieutenant P. w. Smith, ia Marks
men-Sergeant J. B. Baker, 1856; Sergeant
J. L. Durnbaugh, 131.
Company B: Sharpshooters- Sergeant
Randolph Alderman, $50; Private ]. R. L.
johnson. ITO; Lieutenant J. H Shreeve, 1872.
Acknowledgment c. g. Dietrich, 158;
Captain J. 8. Robinson, 1853: Private T. c.
Young, 151; Sergeant B. s. Elliott, 1879; Pri-
vate A. P. Ferl, 1879; Private B. 3. Padgett,
1873.
Company c: SharpshootersEPrivate C.,L
Bode, 100; Sergeant L. C. voigt, 1872; Cap
tain e. W. Zea, 174. Marksman-Private q.