Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-21

THE NATIONAL 0 GUARD
Orders Indicating a Camp
Near Harper's Ferry.
AN ADVANCE PARTY
ENGINEERS ANpe SIGNAL CORPS
WILL GO OVER THE SITE :
Major Neumeyer Completing Arrange
ments for the Annual outing-No
Camp Site Available.

just been issued from headquarters, Dis
trict of Columbia militia, as follows:
First Lieut. Pnckney w. Smith, quarter
master, 1st Battalion, LIST Regiment, is de-
tailed as assistant to the acting quarter
master general until further orders. He
will report to- the acting quartermaster gen.
eral for instructions.
Capt. Edward H Grove. First Lieut..
Alfred r. McGonegaI and four enlisted men
of Company c, 1st Regiment will report to
First Lieut.. p. W. Smith, assistant to the
acting quartermaster general, Saturday,
the 23th instant, and proceed with him to
Harpers Ferry, Viva, for duty In con-
nection with mapping and plating camp
sites.
First Lieut.. Thomas D. Evans, jr., Sig
nal Corps. will report to First Lieut. Smith
Saturday, the 2Sthl instant, and proceed
with him to Harper's Ferry w. Va. for
duty in connection with the annual en-
campment
"Quartermaster Sergeant Will ii. Chase
and Commissary Sergeant D. Spencer Bliss,
District of Columbia militia, will report to
Lieut.. Smith and proceed with him Satur-
day, the 18th instant, to Harpers Ferry,
W. Va, for duty in connection with the
annual encampment.
For the duty above mentioned the quar-
termaster's department will furnish the
necessary transportation and the commits
sary department will furnish the necessary
subsistence"
Major Neumeyer Very Busy.
The foregoing constitutes the first official
announcement from militia headquarters
that the outing of the brigade this sum-
mer will be in the vicinity of Harper's
Ferry Major Neumeyer and Lieut. Smith.
within the past week or two, have been
directed in special orders to proceed to the
rlace mentioned, and Adjutant General
Brett has also made visit there, but the
latest orders providing for the mapping
and plating of the camp site indicate that
the matter is finallys settled.
1t is learned unoficially that the only
obstacle that remains to be overcome in
connection with then putting Of the bri-
gade into camp in the immediate neighbor
hood of the scene ofethe John Brown raid
is lack Of water However, when Lieut.
Smith proceeds tos Harpers Ferry next
Saturday he will neEaccompanied by an ex-
perienced well digger, md the problem will
be disposed Of at that time. Col. Brett has
inspected the site selected for the camp and
1t meets with his approyal.
Proffting by past experiences, Mai. Neu-
meyer this year fas taken time by the
fcrelock and almost three months prior to
the date set for the outing to begin he has
practically completed arrangements for the
use of grounds for the camp and planned
for the mapping AND plating and other
details having to do with the site. The in
dications are that several weeks prior to
completed and that the local brigade. in
consequence. will indulge in the most sue
cessful outing in the history Of the citizen
tsoldiery of the natisna capital.
Entitled to Benefits.
The brigade commander today received
the following communication from the mill
tary secretary's office. War Department:
II have the honor to inform you that as
the result Of the recent inspection Of the
organized militia of the District Of Co
lumbia, the assistant Secretary of War de-
cides that 1t is Sufficiently armed, uni
formed and equipped for active duty in the
field SO as to entitle 1t to the benefits of
section IA of the act approved January 81.
1903" The communication was signed by
Assistant Adjutant General Guilfoyle.
No Rife Range Available.
Aside from the preparations for the COM
ing encampment, a mid-season dullness
pervades the guard. Official rifle practice
in the gallery is at an end, and there are
no prospects of going ahead in the near fu-
ture with the outdoor target work, for the
reason that there is no range available.
Capt. Thomas s. King. acting under the d.
rection of MAJ. James E. Bell, inspector
general Of rifle practice. has secured the
District of Columbia and nearby sections
sof Maryland and Virginia in quest of
ground that might be converted into a rifle
range, but he has met with absolutely no
success. The intention il. though, to con-
tlnue the search.
Unless range facilities are soon secured
so that team and other practice may be in
dulged In the National Guard of the Dis
trfct Of Columbia will be seriously handi-
capped In connection with the important
competitions to be held at Fort Riley, Kan;
Sea Girt. N. j.. and Creedmoor. Long
yS1o nd ha I'd - - A..
first part of September next.
The LIST Separate Battalion. because the
gallery at Its new armory has not been
completed. is using the rifle gallery at the
Center Market armory for the completion
OF its ordered indoor practice.
Instructions for Keeping Records.
District militia headquarters has received
copies of instructions for conducting cor
respondence and keeping records by the or
ganized militia and volunteer, just issued
by the War Department. The stated object
of the instructions is to reduce to con-
else form for the use of the organized mill
ita and such volunteer forces as may be
called in to the service Of the United States
the various laws. regulations and GUS
toms of the service relating to military
correspondence and keeping Of mill
tary records No attempt has been
made to improve upon the admirable sys-
of some OF the states, but rather to apply
the simpler, and in some respects the more
adaptable. practices for field service In use
In the army. AS zalh military instruction
looks to its application in time of war, 1t
Is explained, so all methods OF military cor
respondence and record keeping are valu-
able In proportion to their ready adapta-
bility for use In the field.
The law requires that when a military
organization is mustered out Of the serv-
Ice of the United States. according to the
instructions, all Of Its records must be sent
to the adjutant general of the army, in
order that they may be used in the SUBJ
sequent settlement sof claims against the
government of all accounts growing out OF
such service. and for other official purposes.
AS the volume OF such srecords In the ag-
gregate under the most favorable conditions
cannot be other than enormous at the close
OF a war, 1t Is most desirable that they
should comprise only the most essential
data. Again, when engaged In actual serv-
ice in the field, 1t Is always difficult and
often impossible for regiments to maintain
unbroken records. tits usual for the head
quarters wagons. in which the records are
carried in charge of the regimental clerks,
to be taken to place Of safety, usually
some miles In the rear, SO that 1t may hap
pen that the adjutant as well as the ser
geant major may be separated from their