Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-08
LIEUT.. COMMANDER HOPKINS.
Resignation Of the Head of the Naval
Militia rendered.

The resignation of Lieut. Commander
Sherbourne Hopkins, who has been in COM
mand of the District Of Columbia Naval
Battalion, has been received at National
Guard headquarters and will be acted upon
within the course of the next few days.
The resignation of Mr.. Hopkins was eX-
pected by those who have been familiar
with the affairs Of the naval battalion dur
ing the past six or eight months. 1t is be-
lieved that the retirement of the COM
mander of the battalion is preliminary to
the Installation of a regular naval officer as
instructor and navigating officer Of the
battalion.
Some months ago a serious disturbance
occurred in the naval battalion, which was
investigated by the general commanding
the National Guard and resulted in the
announcement that the battalion would be
mustered out of the service. 1t was not
and is not the intention Of Gen. Harries to
do away with the naval militia feature OF
the guard, but it is his intention that an
efficient organization shall be maintained.
Unless the proper standard of efficiency can
be maintained with the men in the bat
talon the general commanding presumed
that another set of men could do better,
and in consequence the announcement was
made that the battalion would be mustered
out. The action of the general was no
criticism of the officers individually, but
simply of the manner in which affairs of
the battalion were managed. Charges OF
various sorts were made against the off,
GERS Of a more or less disparaging charac
ter, although none of these charges were
proven, nor could investigation show any
foundation therefor. The commander Of
the battalion, Lieut.. Commander Hopkins.
it was alleged, was not popular with the
men, and could not get the best work out
of them. Other officers were alleged to be
working at cross purposes with the bat
talon commander. While these charges
and cross charges were not made out, it
was sufficiently evident that the battalion
was not in the condition the circumstances
of its origin and continuance seemed to
warrant, and consequently 1t was decided
to muster 1t out of the service of the Dis
trict. The muster-Out proceedings have
not yet been held, however, and they may
not now be held. If the muster out is
accomplished, however, it will but precede
the muster in of new battalion, probably
with the same officers as the old, except
Lieut.. Commander Hopkins.
Mr.. Hopkins succeeded to the command
Of the battalion on the resignation of Com
ago. Mr. Hopkins is son of Mr.. Archi-
bald Hopkins, and is well known an at
torney throughout the District He Is re-
garded as an accomplished seaman and is
thoroughly familiar with the duties Of a
naval officer. When his resignation is ac-
cepted Lieut.. R. B. Brummett will succeed
to the command of the battalion until an
other officer is appointed in Mr.. Hopkins
place. Lieut.. Brummett has been navigat-
ing officer of the battalion for several years
and is regarded as one Of the best posted
and most efficient naval militia officers in
the country. His specially ia ordnance. and
he holds a position in the Navy Department
as an ordnance expert.