Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-02
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
Reorganization Of the Local
Brigade TO- 2. Occur Soon.
BILL BEING DRAFTED
IT WILL PROVIDE FOR AN ExPAN-
SION OF THE COMMAND.
- 49,
Independent Camp Likely - War De-
partment Inspection-Indoor Ath-
letic Games-Drin at st. Louis.


eral months ago in The Star, will, it is be-
lieved, soon be carried into effect. Gen.
Harries has devoted all of his available
time during the week ending today to the
drafting of a bill that will be introduced in
Congress- probably next Monday. In the
task the commanding general has been as
sisted by Lieut.. Col. Lloyd M. Brett, ad-
jutant general, and Maj. Walter d. Dav-
idge, judge advocate general, District OF Co
lumbia militia. 1t Is confidently expected
that the bill will become law in the very
near future-certainly before the adjourn
ment of the present session of Congress.
In view of the fact that the provisions of
section 3 of the ''act to promote the eff
cheney of the militia and for other pur-
poses," approved January q, 1903, which
contemplates that the organization, arma-
ment and discipline of Inc organized militia
in the several states and territories and In
the District of Columbia should be the
same as that which is now or may here
after be prescribed for the regular and
volunteer army of the United States within
five years from the date of approval of
that act, it is admitted to be highly desir-
able, as suggested by Assistant Secretary
of War Oliver last fall, that the military
law of the District of Columbia should in
certain fundamental respects, at least, meet
the requirements of the general militia law
in respect to the organization of the local
military establishment.
Contemplated Changes.
The bill, when enacted, will take the
place of the law under which the local bril-
gade exists at present. The new law will
provide for an expansion. Provision Will
be made for another battalion of infantry,
and perhaps for battalion of coast artil-
lery. The regimental organization Will be
fully recognized, with less prominence
49, tfpli or,i0 20
present. The general staff will be dimln-
ished in number of officers, and each bat
talon staff will consist, in addition to the
major only of one adjutant, with rank OF
first lieutenant, and one second lieutenant,
who shall act as quartermaSter and COM
mssary. Each regimental staff will con-
SiSt of one colonel, one lieutenant colonel,
one adjutant, one quartermaster, one com
mssary, one surgeon with rank of major,
two assistant surgeons. with rank OF cap.
tain, one assistant surgeon with rank OF
first lieutenant and one chaplain.
IS The net law, it is understood, will au-
thorize three bands of music, one for each
regiment, and the third for the separate
organizations. No provision will be made
for corps of field music, but the person
mel of each company will include two mu-
sicianS.
The intention of headquarters seems to
be to reorganize the brigade prior to the
time for the coming summer outing. IN
connection with the latter, announcement
was made a few days ago that MAJ. Gen.
Corbin, commanding the Atlantic division,
favors the holding of combined maneuvers
of regular troops and the National Guard
next fall in the vicinity of the Bull Run
battlefield. The only stipulation the own
ers of the land to- be used make, it is re-
ported is that the troops shall not make
their appeara' nee Until after. rthe' a25thS of
September. 80 ~ & -sa=a.l r.
Independent Camp Likely.
Gen Corbin expresses the fear that the
lafa fnr tha ma a
guardsmen on account of autumn business
being well under way by that time:
Company commanders, generally, of the.
National Guard of the District of Columbia
coincide with Gen Corbin in his view that
the 25th of September is too late for
guardsmen to indulge In military work in
the field Business men, 1t is pointed out.
cannot reasonably be expected to spare
their employees just when the dull days of
summer have passed and the brisk business
days of early fall have arrived. 1t may be
stated on authority that is next to final
that the local guardsmen will not partici-
pate in the Bull Run maneuverS unless they
are held much earlier than September %.
Indeed, an impression that the District bril-
gade is not yet prepared for advanced field
work seems to be very clearly defined, and
the knowing CneS do not hesitate to express
the opinion that the outing this summer
will take the form of an Independent camp
heretofore, with small detachment of
regulars in attendance. Furthermore, it is
said, the instruction to be given, while
thorough, will be more rudimentary than
advanced in character. Emphasis is laid on
the fact that the National Guard is, pri-
marily, a school for instruction, and that
problems in advanced tactics are not so i'm
portant to the guardsmen as is the neces-
sity for being well grounded in the A, B,
C's of the profession.
Not only while in the field, but while in
the armory as WELL and beginning imme-
diatey more attention than ever before is
to be devoted to the schools of the soldier
and the squad. and especially to the setting
up exercises. Company commanders will be
held accountable for the proper instruction
of their non-commissioned officers, and the
latter in degree, for the instruction of the
men under them. 1t is predicted that with
in a reasonable period the "set-up' of the
guardsmen will be such that parents will be
glad to have their sons actively identified
with the citizen soldiery of the national
capital
War Department Inspection
The guardsmen are having little leisure
this spring The wind-up of the annual in
spection and muster is closely followed by
General Orders No. from District militia
headquarters, just issued, which provide:
capt. Lloyd M Brett, 7th Cavalry, U. S.
army has been designated by the COM
manding general of the Atlantic division to
make an inspection OF the National Guard
of the District of Columbia, under section
IA of the militia act, approved January Il,
1903, and General Orders No. II, War De-
partment December 20, 1909
"The brigade will parade for inspection
in light marching order and in blue uni
form leaps, black shoes; white collars and
white gloves) as follows:
General staff ard non-commissioned staff
of the militia, at headquarters, Star build
ing, Monday, Aprif II 1904 at o'clock
pm. -
.F'ield and staff 1st Regiment, at Center
| market armory, Thursday, April ID, at 8
o'clock pm.
market armory, Tuesday, April IL, at S
O'Clock pm se rEe4<
Second Battalion, at its armory Thurs
day, April IA, at s:15 o'clock pm.
Third Battalion, at its armory, Thurs
day April IA, at o escioek pm
'.Field and staff. I'd Regiment at its ar
mory, Tuesday. April 19,-at o'clock pm.
First Battalion, I'd Regiment (4th Bat
talion). Tuesday, April 49, at sis O'Clock
second Battalions I'd Regiment (5th Bat
talion), Monday. April IL, at $50 o'clock
pm.
"Third Battalion, I'd Regiment 10Th Bat
talion), Wednesday, April 13, at 8 o'clock
pm.
First Separate Battalion, at Center mar
ket armory Monday. April Is, at 8 o clock
n "a.