The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-12
FIRST REGIMENT
HAS OLD RIFLES,
Oldest National Guard Organiza
ton in State Gets No
KraG-Jorgensens.

When it enters upon its annual encamp.
ment at Lake Contrary. near St Joseph
July l9. the First Regiment of St Louis
though the oldest and the senior organi-
cation of the State. will be the only one
not equipped with krag-Jorgensen rifles
The reasons are the subject of much sur
mise on the part of the regiments rank
and file. Brigadier General Clark and Adj
jutant General Cameron. 1t is alleged In
st. Louis. have Disseminated In favor of
the country regiments in allotting the new
equipment. But they have declared that
there was some hitch in obtaining the
rifles from the Federal Government. which
caused the delay.
1t is the belief of many of the officers
that the matter goes deeper than this. and
Is an outerowth of the dissension between
Colonel A. c: Sinclair and Lieutenant Colo
after last years encampment.
since that time the breach between the
t taet ,od: has not been bridged; Colonel
ment. but has little TO do with it, and now
Is upon ninety days leave of absence
which covers the encampment period. Hence
Mii TIN not be io Pref EaH at the outing
was Major Marquardt, who retired about
a month ago. His resignation is in the
into effect. the regiment practically will be
without a field officer save the Colonel, since
the Northumberland does not participa te
actively in regimental affairs
These conditions in the regiment in nd
dition to the alleged fact that the dissatis-
fled element have used their influence to
are accepted by those who study the poll
ties of the local National Guard. as the
causes for the failure Of the arms to ma
Among those approached who We're asked
to take one of the majorships is former
Colonel Edwin Batdorf. who commanded
III I, r;-t, 81
Is understood that Colonel Batdorf refused
to have anything TO do with the regiment
urder the present regime.
The report now Is that the rifles will he
on hand after the inspections at the st.
Joseph encampment, IL the regiment passes
the inspection BY the United States officers
which one of the officers said he believed
would prove correct. that several companies
would fail to meet reguati tons at the in
spection and would be mustered out. leaving
only five or six companies. This would prac.
tically disband the organization since at
that roster it could not legally have a
Colonel. The rest of the plan involves it is
saia, Colonel Batdorf Major Rumsey. Ma.
jor Marquardt and Colonel Holtcamp step
pins into harness again.
Despite all this evidence of militia ..noI
tiles" the companies are busily preparing
for the encampment, and their captains de-
that the idea of falling to meet repmIass
tons is ridiculous.
The general order from BrIgadier Gem
was received in st. Louis last night. An
advance. consisting of the Quarterma ster
and a detail. Is to leave ST. Louis on July
II. The regiment proper will depart on the
evening of July IS. arriving in ST. Joseph
on the morning of July 49, ="
Light Battery is now in shape for the
encampment. For a time, II was without
horses for the guns and mounts for the Of
ficers This difficulty has been overcome nv
the donation of 5000 from an unexpected
source. The battery is now ready to make
a credita BILE showing.