Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05
ing advance guard Brown forces, chas
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You will Immediately advance and de-
velop the army's position
At io:51. In pursuance of the foregoing
order. the first shot was fired by one OF
our batteries, field orders No. having
eanwhiie been promulgated.
When the conclusion of the rnaneuvers
was signaIed our main attack-delivered by
our left-had not met and was not neetinS
with serious resistance. while our secondary
attack held the attention OF the enemy. ana
undoubtedly weakened his right. There IS
now no reason why the advance OF the
Brown force should be delayed Very re-
specially GEO. H. HARRIES,
Brigadier General.
Commanding Brown Detachment
N. B.-Messages received forwarded here
with.
Effort to Belittle Reputation.
An apparently determined effort to belittle
the reputation of the National Guardsmen
of the District of Columbia fo- gentiemanly
conduct. which has always been excellent.
was noted early this week A report was
circulated. and even conveyed to Gen.
Grant that District guardsmen had been
guilty Of disorderly conduct while in Leb-
anon. Pa. 1t was emphasized that the reg
uiars. without exception, conducted them
selves with the utmost prCpriety while on
pass visiting the nearby city. and that only
the white members OF the brigade from
Washington were the ones who disturbed
the peace of the community.
Immediately upon hearing this report the
issuing of passes for enlisted men TO go
beyond the limits of camp was prohibited
by Gen. Harries He then sent Capt. An
drew Parker of his staff to Lebanon to
make thorough investigation and obtain
the facts, no matter OF what nature the
latter might be. Capt. Parker, in his report.
stated that he found that the assertions
OF disorder on the part Of National GUARDS
men of the District OF Columbia were not
based on fact, the stories OF the so-calied
disorder being greatly exaggerated HE
submitted affidavits of the chief Of police.
patroiman of the police force and promi-
nent citizen, not an official. of Lebanon.
Capt Parker added that he conversed
with a large number of citizens OF the city
In question and with conductors and brake
men on the railroad between Lebanon ana
Mt Gretna as to the alleged disorder on
the part of members OF this command
Their testimony, he says. was substantially
the same as that of the affiants
Chief of Policies Statement.
Mr.. ], G. Zimmerman, chief of police OF
Lebanon. having been on duty this week.
and since the arrival at Mt. Gretna Of the
troops OF the District OF Columbia depesed
that nothing was reported by the officers
under his command or the citizens or
Lebanon. warranting the apprehension or
arrest of any of the troops while In that
city for misconduct or destruction of pub
lie or private property or the use OF vulgar
or obscene language.
Orders Promptly obeyed.
H w. Shay. a patrolman of the police
department Of the city of Labanon. having
been on duty for this week and upwards
since the arrival at Mt Gretna Of the
troops of the District Of Columbia, made
the following statement:
In the performance OF my duty Mon
day afternoon and night I came in contact
with some Of the District troops and found
that every request made by me to move
on or ia maintain peace and quiet was
strictly and promptly complied with. The
noise made by them. the troops. was not
enough to amount to anything and was of
an inoffensive character.
mo complaints were made to me by the
citizens account of the aforesaid troops
Not to my knowledge were any women in
suited on our streets or was there any
boisterous conduct in evidence or vulgar
obscene language used by the troops in
question.
Views of a Citizen.
]. NJ. Shindel. attorney at law. and
resident of Lebanon, declared under oath
that he saw a member of District of Column
bia troops, as well as others, on the streets
of the city and observed no misconduct on
their part In fact he added, he heard
compliments passed upon the gentlemanly
behavior OF the soldiers.
Having been a resident of Washington
for many years in my boyhood days" Mr..
Shindel further said II particularly OBJ
served the conduct of the District Of Column
ba men and spoke with several of them.
found nothing in their conduct Objectionable
and did not hear one man use profane or
vulgar language
II have spoken to a number of citizens
of Lebanon and have received no COM
plants to the conduct of the District of
Columbia troops
Work Hard and Comforts Few.
While the work has been hard and the
comforts few, 1t is conceded by all that
the week spent here was a profitable period
for the National Guard of the District of
Columbia. BY close contact the officers
and men. learned much from the regulars.
The guard came to camp with uniform
clothing for field service, tentage, company
messing facilities. tools for police purposes
and both blue and chambray shirts. The
company officers had the opportunity of
familiariZing themselves with the details
of the messing, cooking and sanitation of
their companies from the time. they left
Washington during the camp period The
success of the camp as well the health
of the men depends directly upon how well
company officers perform the important
duties mentioned Company commanders
this week inspected each meal served, saw
tnat IL was properly prepared, that his
camp and grounds adjacent thereto were
kept in proper state of police and that
the sanitary regulations were observed.
Company commanders were required to see
to 1t that the cooks kitchens and cooking
utensils were at all time scrupulously
clean and that no part OF the ration was
exposed to flies.
In the first two days drill work two bat
talions of each regiment OF the District
National Guard were combined with one
battalion of regular infantry and used
with artillery. The third and fourth days
took the character of exercises in which
separate force of all arms of the service
was employed against another similar force.
illustrating the general subject of advance,
rear and flank guards and outposts The
program for the fifth day was the solution
of tactical problem, two opposing forces.
consisting of all arms of the service being
engaged. The attention of all officers was
directed to the preparation OF field orders.
Irregularities Avoided.
Efforts were made to avoid the COM
monty reported irregularities of past maneu-
YER camps.
Before leaving Washington experienced
officers were designated as auartermasters
to take charge of and superintend the en-
training of the several organizations.