The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-16
Lieut.. Commander Brum-
NETT for the First Time
Will Be in Charge Of Naval
BattaIion's Annual Trip.
LOCAL GUARD GETTING IN
TRIM FOR SEA GIRT SHOOT
Selection of Junior Officers
for First Battery Engages
Captain Marion and First
Lieutenant Marshall.

The annual ten days cruise of the
Naval Battalion of the District militia
has attracted the attention of local
Guardsmen for the past week or ten
days. The tackles set sail this morn
ing for the lower Potomac and the Ches-
apeake Bay and viii not return to
Washington until the night of August
q. Lieutenant Commander f. B. Brum-
mott will have entire charge OF the bat
talon for the first time. on the annual
cruise. Lieutenant Dempf and Lieuten-
ant Clephane will command the First
and Second Divisionsd respectively. A
splendid plan has been arranged for
the cruise and II it is carried out the
men should profit greatly by the twelve
days away from home.
The brigade team of the local Guard
is rounding into trim rapidly for the
annual competitions at Sea Girt, where
all of the crack marksmen of the coun-
try will assemble to contest for prizes
and glory. beginning September and
ending September u. Major James E.
Bell, who has coached the team up to
its present condition, is not resting yet
and hopes TO produce a team which viii
be able to ronp or with a wagon load
of the prizes and trophies.
1t is estimated that thirty or forty
members of the local Guard viii be in
the District of Columbia camp. fitted up
at the Sea Girt range by the officials of
the National Rife Association. Last
year the District representatives did not
come up to the old-time standard and
lost a number OF matches which they
should have won. Major Bell intends 10
get his men in perfect condition this
year and make up for last years slump.
Board Checks Signal Corps.
Lieut.. VIII Niemeyer. the commander
of the Signal Corps. one of the most re-
liable and efficient organizations in the
Guard. has requested that a board Of
survey. similar 20 the one appointed
by General Harries TO investigate the
loss of property in the Naval Battalion,
DE chosen TO look over his equipment and
stores and give him a report OF its fnd-
3ngs, so that he may know Immediately
whether or not there is any shortage 10
be charged to him. General Harries has
granted the request. This is done by
Lieutenant Niemeyer to protect himself
and his men when they turn in their
equipment Immediately after camp and
account for the loss or breakage. The
board consists of Major w. E. Harvey,
Capt Edward F. Figgs. aide-de-camp Of
the general stan. and Lieut.. G. s. Den
nison, inspector OF rife practice, Fifth
Battalion.
Men Honorably Discharged.
The following named enlisted men have
been honorably discharged from the Ma
tional Guard by the commanding officers
of their respective organizations: To
accept promotion by commission. Can
didate" Sergeant Ivan K. Strasburger,
Company H, First Regiment, June "A,
1903; Major Henry F. Marshall. Second
Regiment, June %, 1903; First Sergeant
Taylor T. Curran. Company F. First
Regiment, April p. 1903; Sergeant John
W. Gilman, Company H, First Regiment,
June 10, 1903. and Private Rutherford 3.
Bergman, Company c, First Separate
Battalion, June p, 1903 Private Arthur
NJ. Scott. Company L, Second Regiment,
and Chief Gunner's Mate Charles A
Suydam. Naval Battalion, were dis
charged upon their own application. Pri-
Yate Louis a. Tucker, Company B, Sec
ond Regiment, received a dishonorable
discharge.
Leave of absence for three months,
with permission 10 leave the United
States, has been granted 10 Major Arthur
Brooks, First Regiment. Separate Bat
TALON.
Officers for First Battery.
IN the First Battery. Field Artillery
the question of junior officers remains
Undecided. Capt. Thomas Marion and
First Lieut. Henry F. Marshall have re-
ceived their commission, but two lieu
tenancies-a junior first and a second
are stu 10 be filled. Captain Marion
upon whose recommendation. approved
by the commanding general, the ap-
pointments depend, has received many
applications from outside the battery
but will probably decide to select from
among his own men.
The final selection, even with the
choice thus narrowed down, is made
difficult from the fact that the recent
camp developed so many among the
enlisted men who could wear the
shoulder straps with credit TO them
selves and 10 the organization. To solve
the difficulty and ensure the selection
of the most fitting IL is understood that
Captain Marion is about to resort to civil
service methods. a competitive exami-
nation before the brigade board has
been suggested, with the two commits
sions as prizes, but those IN position 20
know say that the board IS now toe
busy 10 hold any examination not pro-
Vided for in usual National Guard pro-
cedure-
A strictly competitive examination
by the highest authority in the Guard
being thus out of the question there
stu remains one way by which the
battery commander may obtain a line
upon the capabilities OF his men. and
that, too. by examination by the bril-
gade board.
An old general order provides chat
any commissioned officer or pri-
vate who has passed thu required ex-
animation for non commissioned officer,
may apply for permission TO 90 before
the brigade board for examination as a
candidate for mission, and that his
application being approved by his cap