The Washington times., 1903-04-12
Resignation Of Sherbourne
@. Hopkins Caused Great
Surprise - Lieut.. Brum-
NETT IS Temporarily in
Charge Of Organization.
Orders for Annual Inspec-
ton of Guard Sent Out,
But No Time or Place
Fixed as Yet Pay for
District Troops.

The resignation Of Lieutenant Com
mauder Sherbourne c. Hopkins. Of The
Naval Battalion. which vas accepted by
the War Department officials several
days ago, proved more OF surprise
than anything that has Iranspired N
The ranks OF The local citizen soIdjery
Tor some months. General Harries' an
nouncement, some time ago. 10 the eff
feet that regular naval commander
would be appointed TO command The
battalion, IS said 10 have been the
cause Of the resignation OF Lieutenant
Hopkins, who throughout his regime has
conducted the battalion to the best of
his ability and worked d marked in
proyement N IL.
AS yet General HaTries has not chosen
the naval officer who is to command the
jackies in the District militia. and since
Commander Hopkins has rendered his
resignation and the general recommend
ed that It be accepted and take effect
from the day II was signed, it Is ex-
Jremely doubtful. it is said, if a naval
officer viii be appointed to the com
maud Lieut.. r. b. Brummetr, who has
been the navigating officer OF The bat
talon and commanding the Fern for
several years is now temporarily at
the head OF the battalion He is one of
the most efficient officers in the Guard
and has d thorough technical knowledge
OF naval affairs and manning a man-of-
war He IS an ordnance expert and holds
a position in the War Department In
that capacity He viii command the
battalion until The naval officer is ap-
pointed, should General Harries take
that step.
No Harmony in the Corps
Last December General Harries made
the announcement that he would mus
ter out Of the service the entire naval
battalion, from the acting commander
down 10 the raw recruits The battalion
according 10 General Harries, was not
conducted as he desired. and therefore
ne DECIDED to make the change It is
generally known that the officers have
not been working in harmony, and there
we're frequent descriptions among the
petty of7ieers and their supeTiors
Charges we're made against-aImost every
man VINO held an Office They were
thoroughly Investigated by the officials
oil the National Guard. never substan-
tlated or proven. and were summariIy
dropped Despite the fact that the
charges were never proved and court
nartLaIs did not result, they still con-
tInued, and as last resort, and seeing
20 other way out Of the quandary, Gen
eral HaTTies announced he would mus
ter out the naval branch This step
vas never taken. but instead General
Harries made the statement that he
would place a regular naval officer at the
head OF the command
It was also stated about that time
that Lieutenant Commander Hopkins
would resign when the naval officer was
chosen. Lieutenant Hopkins, however.
denied that anything Of the sort was 70
take place, as he was satisfied in the
place he held. and had no reason for
severing his connection with the bat
talon.
Men Were Enthusiastic
About month ago Lieutenant Hop
kins took the battalion out on a twenty
a
fair in an admirable manner This
seemed to prove concIusively that he
sgould remain IN the battalion The
cruise awakened dormant interest. and
the men even volunteered 10 90 aboard
the ships. tins Fern and Oneida. and
practice signal and boat drills, as we'll
as scrub the decks and polish up the
guns II was believed everything was
going smoothly in the battalion when
the War Department officials announced
they had received the resignation Of the
acting commander. and recommenda-
lion from General Harries that 1t be ac-
eepted.
shcgbourne c. Hopkins is a well
known local attorney associated with
his father. Archibald Hopkins. and has
commanded the battalion since Inc re-
signati5u Of Capt z T. Hams. about
year and a half go. Since NJ. Hopkins
succeeded 10 thu command % the or
EanLzalion it was conducted in . com
meaaabIe fashion, and Il great deal was
accomplished toward instructlag and
drilling the men III their duties Nj
Hopkins has bad a great deal of@ez-
Berience On the seas and mas long since
been recognized as a thorough seaman.
bright and Intelligent officer. and one
Of whom the Naval Battalion and the
District Of Columbia National Guard had
just cause 10 be proud Ii is true there
we're petty troubles aboard the ships, as
Is always the case, and, osieourze. the
commander. or The acting commander.
figured ia them bat despite that fact
Lieutenant Hopkins was well liked and
popular with he men. ana 10 the last
o. Them thcg are sorry BE has taken
lhis decisive step.
Order Tor Annual Inspection.
Aajutant General Theodore llosher
has received tie orders Tor the annual
inspection OF the brigade Of infantry,
bot a. get ne has NOT announced tile
date. The orders we're issued from the
War Department by Major Parker. hay
Ing charge OF the annual inspection and
encampneut Of all OF the National
Guar6s 81 the country The plans Ior
the inspection like hose for The annual
oot.Eg OF The brigade were delayed q
long while because o. the passage Of the