Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-05
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Citizen Soldierly Busy With
New Drill Regulations.
UNIFORMITY. INSURED
REPORT OF CAPT. BUCKLEY ON
HARPER'S FERRY CAMP.
Several Changes in the Service-Res-
ignations Of Observation-Disclosures
for Commissions.

| The National Guard of the District OF
| Columbia, with the exception Of the LIST
Battery of Field Artillery, the Naval Bat
| TALON and kindred organizations, Is very
busy lust now in an endeavor to master
the complete revision of the infantry drill
regulations recently published for the in
| formation and government Of the army and
| the organized militia of the United states.
With view to insure uniformity all infan-
| try exercises and manuevers not embraced
| in the new system have been prohibited
| and those therein prescribed will be strictly
observed Company commanders are real
izing that it is a difficult task to make the
| members of their commands forget the old
! manner of drilling. 1t Is believed, how
| ever, that by the time for the inauguration
parade March next, the local brigade
| will at least be as proficient in executing
| the teachings laid down in the new book
as any other body OF troops In the col
| umn.
| AS heretofore statedf Just as soon as the
| War Department promulgates the new uni
| form order, District militia headquarters
will issue Instructions regarding the cloth
| ing to be worn by the officers of the Dis
| trict militia and National Guard. 1t Is a
| certainty that the olive-drab overcoat Will
| be required, and that the same must be
! procured in time to be worn the 4th of
March Service medals, it is hoped. will
| be issued in the very near future.
| Changes in the Service.
| DR.. D. Harry Moran, until recently a
member Of the Naval Battalion and for
merly connected with the Morton Cadets,
has entered the medical department Of the
| United States navy. After passing an ex-
| cellent examination as to his professional
| qualifications he was assigned to the
! United States naval hospital, Brooklyn, N.
Y, and is now there. 1t is expected that
| he will receive promotion at the end OF
| six months.
The resignation of Lieut.. Lewis P. Clep-
| hane, LIST Division, Naval Battalion, has
| been accepted
Sergeant Wilbert E. Locklin has accepted
commission as first lieutenant commanding
the Signal Corps.
The President has accepted the resigna-
ton Of Second Lieut.. George B. Clum Com
pany I, I'd Regiment.
Hospital Steward William K. Scott has
been nominated for commission sur
geon, with the rank of first lieutenant and
Sergent Major William s. WormIey as in
spector of rifle practice, with rank Of first
lieutenant Of the LIST Separate Battalion.
Capt. Buckeyes Camp Report.
The War Department has received the re-
port of Capt. Mervyn C. Buckley, Artillery
Corps. United States army, of his tour Of
duty with the organized militia of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, held near Harpers Fer
| ry, W. Va, from August 1 to August Ii,
inclusive last. Following are extracts from
Capt Buckeyes report:
The entrainfng was orderly and proceeded
with but slight confusion, as was the de-
| training at Harpers Ferry. The time con-
sumed In the movement, distance Of
about sixty miles, was an average for
| each section about two hours.
| The location and site with addition of
about thirty acres would be an ideal camp
&c.
| troops now composing the National Guard
| OF the District of Columbia. The only OBJ
| lection to the present acreage is that the
| drill and parade ground is too small for
| brigade drills and extended order drills and
maneuvers. 1t has been unofficially ascer-
| tanned by me that this additional acreage
| could be readily rented at a nominal cost.
| It's availability for maneuvers and its sit
uation in regard to the surrounding coun-
| try for that purpose is excellent. The camp
could actually afford comfortable camping
grounds for four thousand troops by limit
| ing the parade ground and using Sibley
| tents.
The camp was broken at the last note Of
| the general in most soldier-like and ex-
! peditiouS manner.
The food was prepared by experienced
| hired cooks when in camp, but when out
| of camp, on vancouver or marches, by the
| men themselves or by cooks specially de-
| tailed from the company. The food ap-
peared. at frequent inspections by me. to
| be especially well prepared and with very
| little waste.
Showed Marked Improvement.
During the first day the drill and appear
ance of the troops were not up to the
standard. as almost a majority of the en-
| listed personnel were recruits and were
| drilling for the first time not in an armory.
The second day showed marked improve
ment, and this Improvement continued from
| day to day until their drill, carriage march
iprr nd oi,1i inn in, anty l.
lent Both the commissioned and enlisted
| personnel We're at this camp for practical
| work and eagerly sought instruction and
| tried in every way to benefit by it.
The proficiency shown by the command
| on the drill ground after the first few days
| was well illustrated and demonstrated dur
| ing the ceremonies held during the camp
| Their fire discipline and use of cover also
| showed marked Improvement after the first
| day of the field maneuvers. Their appear
| ance and marching in the ceremonies was
most favorably commented upon by officers
| of the United States army not on duty at
the encampment, but who were visitors
while it lasted
The commissioned personnel was very III
| telligent, energetic. painstaking and SOL
dierly. They were moreover, very careful
and correct in all matters concerning mil
itsry etiquette. Many of the officers had
seen service in the Spanish American war
and one or two in the war of the rebellion.
The conduct of the enlisted men in camp
There was no disorder of any kind noticed
by me in or out of camp during the entire
two weeks of the encampment The salut-
ing and military courtesy was most care
fully observed by them, and in those few
cases that l noticed where 1t was lacking
1t was through ignorance, the man being
usually a recruit of very short service.
Guard Duty Well Performed.
Guard duty was well performed, especially
after the first few days of instruction. Many
of the men had never been on guard before,
but they rapidly learned, in great part by
observation and noting the corrections
made to others, showing by this that their
hearts were In their work. The officers and
non-commissioned officers were usually well
instructed. The instruction of sentinels in
regard to the special duties, day and night,
was very good; their challenging and adj
vancing at night was also good, and they
were usually vigiant and on the alert.
Many did not know all their general
orders. as required by the Guard manual,
but this was not to be wondered at, as 1t
was the first guard duty for great number
OF them. The general meaning and object
OF these orders were, however. understood,
although the orders themselves were not
known verbatim
the usual company records were kept,
and TINS was well done in those books that
had the time to inspect. The brigade
headquarters records were very well kept,
as were all those required by the different