Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-11
ORDERS TO THE GUARD
Official Announcement of An
nuaI Encampment.
TO BE HELD AT MT. GRETNA
Joint Outing of Local Brigade With
Regular Troops.
rs A FIXED MILITARY DUTY
Each Member of the Command Ex-
pected to Meet Responsibilities
He Has Assumed.

The first general order relative to the
participation Of the local citizen soldiery in
the big encampment at Mt Gretna was is
sued this afternoon from the headquarters
of the District of Columbia Militia, as fol-
lows:
THE annual encampment OF the National
Guard of the District of Columbia will be
held at Mt. retna Pa, from July % to
August 3. 1906, inclusive
THE details of the movement of the bril-
gade by railway transportation from Wash
ington, D. c., to Mt. Gretna, Pa, will be
published later.
ION the duty required for this encamp-
ment officers and non-commssioned officers
of the general staff and orderlies and the
fell and staff officers of regiments and bat
talions and one orderly to each regiment
will be mounted.
THE post office address of the brigade
will be Camp Roosevelt, Mt Gretna. Pa
Fixed Military Duty.
Under the law making provision for the
organization of the militia of the District
of Columbia the annual encampment of the
National Guard of the District of Columbia
is a fixed military duty which demands of
all its members faithful discharge. The
oaths of officers and enlisted men entail
positive obligations and unavoidable re-
sponsibilities. With this in view it should
be needless to state that the annual en-
campment is an occasion for such military
exercises and instructions viii tend to
develop and foster the most efficient mill
tary organization possible in the District OF
Columbia To accomplish this, while 1t Is
neither desired nor intended to prevent or
obstruct the proper individual enjoyment
and recreation of the soldier when off i'm
mediate duty, mere personal. pastlIne or en-
joyment must nevertheless at all times be
regarded as secondary and subservent to
that military duty of which rigid discipline
and accomplishing loyalty are the dis
tinguishing elements
These points being well fixed in MIND,
1t is expected that every member of the
guard during the coming encampment VIII
strive faithfully and untiringly to meet
the responsibilities which he has volun-
tarily assumed. In this the conscientious
soldier will find his task for the short
period of the encampment easy to perform
The object to be kept constantly In view
by all concerned during this encampment
Is increased military efficiency. The equip
ment of the soldier has been restricted and
the camp baggage of the officer has been
limited to actual requirements. The pro-
visions for tent pitching, cooking and mess
ing, field exercises, drills and the various
other camp duties are all based upon con-
ditions of actual service. and 1t is ex-
pected that guardsmen will appreciate the
TACT that the advantage OF only q rev Gays,
out of $685. devoted to military outing must
be mea Sured by the cheerful and willing
loyalty of the individual soldier In learn
ing his lesson in field and camp to the
fullest extent possible. -
Important Preliminary Matter.
1.-The most important preliminary duty
of guardsmen respecting an annual en-
campment Is attendance. and 1t is expected
that officers will resort to every practicable
means to insure the fullest possible at
tendance of men In case less than Is per
cent of the enlisted strength OF any COM
pany organization shall be reported for the
encampment the commanding officer of the
organization will be required to show cause
why he should not be relieved from com
mand of his decimated company. II men
fail to attend. except for good and suffl-
Client reason prompt punftory or disciple
nary measures will be adopted. Simple ex
cuse, or offer of excuse, will not suffice.
I\The excuse must be previously offered by
the soldier and accepted by proper author
Ny and the soldier who fails to attend ex-
cept for sufficient military reason will be
| regarded as absent without leave. or in de
sertion as circumstances indicate, and Will
be dealt with accordingly.
Special attention Is directed to the uni
versally common tendency of national
guardsmen to disregard the forms of MILL
tary courtesy and respect so essential to
true military discipline. The effort of all
officers and non-commissioned officers will
be directed to the instruction of members
OF their respective organizations in their
duty in this regard, bearing IN mind at all
times that example on the part of superiors
is ever an easy and useful lesson to the
subordinate. Officers and soldiers alike
must be mindful that the prescribed salute
is an act of courtesy, involving neither ser
Witty nor degradation, and whatever be
the attitude maintained between the MILL
tary superior and inferior in their civil rela-
lions. in the military the surest mark of
intelligent appreciation of the obligations
assumed by all alike in taking the pre-
scribed oaths Is a punctilious observance of
all the forms which experience and good
order have set in government of the rela-
tons between necessary classes in the mill
tary service. 1t is not deemed essential
to repeat IN this order the detailed instruc-
tons respecting salutes; the authorized
manuals being sufficiently explicit regarding
the duties OF officers and soldiers in this
regard, 1t Is only deemed necessary to an
nounce that strict compliance with their
provisions will be required.
General Routine Of Exercises.
Aside from the general routine of ex-
ercises and instructions hereafter to he
prescribed, special attention of all COM
handing officers will be directed to instruc-
ton In guard duty in all its phases and re-
Qufrements. Each soldier must not only
be instructed In the general duties of a
sentinel, but will be taught to recite the
general orders, and, as soon as possible
after their PRONUNCIATION. the special orders
for sentinels IN camp. Officers of the Aay
and officers and non-commissioned officers
OF the guard will be held to rigid respon-
sibility for the proper performance of guard
duty In camp as well as their knowledge of
all requirements pertaining thereto
Maj. Alfred P. Robbins inspector gem
| eral. will have charge of all matters per-
| taining to guard duty. and will see that
| the provisions of the foregoing paragraph
| are carried out.
Capt. c. Fred Cook. aid-de-camp, is as
| signed 10 duty as assistant adjutant gem
| erSl. He will be obeyed and respected ac-
| cordingIy.