Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-27


~ ~ Harries. comma naing the District
of Columbia militia, to send TIE
entire brigade of National Guard of the
District of Columbia to the Dig camp to be
occupied jointly by regulars and organized
militiamen at Mount Grena. near Harris
burg, Pa, has resulted in q most pro-
nounced stir of interest among the local
guardsmGn:r
Gen. Harries proposition was to send mis-
entire command to Mount Gretna for a
period of twelve days. beginning August /
next The command was thus described in
the communication to the War Department
General staff, general commissioned
staff. tst Regiment. I'd Regiment. 1st Sep
arate Battalion, 1st Battery. Field Artillery;
Signal Corps. Ambulance Corps. Band and
Corps of Field Music He estimated the
expensHs of the movement as follows: Pay,
$4,000 subsistence. 81, 30. and transporta-
ton, $4,000, making a total of So, 300
1t WIS decided by Assistant SecretarT
Oliver 20 advise Gen. Harries that the ell
tire co.nmand would be accepted for duty
at the mount Gretna e:.Campnfent for the
period from July 2S TO August 8.
The tecsion was also reached that the
War department should pay the transpor-
tation and subsistence OF the District troops
practicable, from the limited special appro
priatioi, of 100000, with the understanding
that sueh part of the pay as 1t is unable to
meet from that appropriation shall be borne
out of the allotment to the District of CO.
lumbia from the regular annual approprla-
ton of $1.O60,O0O for the organized militia
of the United States for the fiscal year be
ginning July / next.
The allotment to the District militia for
ha Ac1a iS TO t.-bi oh
1t is explained, may be added any unex
pended balance from the allotment for the
current fiscal year, of which there was
hand May l about s., 500
The War Department limited the period
for the encaiz1pment of the District troops to
nine days. instead OF twelve days. The
effect, 1t is pointed out, Is to reduce by
one-fourth the estimate expense of SO, 200
for the pay and subsistence of the troops,
making the total expense about $4,000.
The reduction OF the period of the encamp-
ment from twelve to nine days does not
meet with the favor of the guardSmen. 1t
will make a strong endeavor to have the
department adopt his original suggestion
that the outing be for twelve days.
Further, the dates mentioned are far from
being acceptable to the rank and file of the
Guard. The men prefer to go to camp on
a Thursday and return to this city on a
Friday. or not later than Saturday morning.
Adjt. Gen. Henry explains that he has
selected the I'd Regiment to represent the
National Guard of the state of New York
at the encampment of National Guardsmen
with regular army men at Mount Gretna,
Pa. If the War Department is agreeable to
the plan the adjutant general will order the
I'd Regiment to the encampment the first
week in September. The headquarters OF
the regiment is in Troy.
The War Department announces that
seven states have declined the invitation
of Assistant Secretary Oliver to send some
of their National Guard organizations into
camp with the regular troops this summer
Colorado explains that the National
Guard of that state Is too much scattered
to admit of easy concentration. The ap-
preaching trials for murder of the labor
leaders in Idaho has made it prudent for
the authorities to retain the entire force or
militia within the limits of the state ready
Tor any uprising against the legal authori-
ties.
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Ohio
say they have already planned to have their
entire National Guard go into large state
camps and are unwilling to go to the ex-
pense of another camp, In doing which the
state authorities are meeting exactly the
suggestions of the War Department, which
Is going to be taxed to the utmost to make
the expected appropriation of $I00,ooo meet
all the expenses Of the combined camps.
1t Is reported by California that the ex-
perience Of the state troops In guarding
San Francisco and other pisces devastated
by earthquake and fire and the expense 10
which the state has been put makes 1t tn
expedfent to join In the regular camping.
South Dakota reports that the National
Guard Is not equipped or uniformed Tor
season In camp.
Fourteeu stases 20 tar failed to respond