Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-15

Quotes Mai. Brett on the Need Of
q New Armory.
GIVES RESULT OF INSPECTION
Remarks That Armory Accommoda'
tions for LIST Battery, Field Artil-
lery, Are Discouraging.

to the organized militia of the various
states and territories and the District OF
Columbia is contained in the first annual
report Of Lieut. Col. E. NJ. Weaver. Coast
Artillery Corps as chief of the division
of militia affairs of the War Department,
organized last February.
The total organized strength of the mill
tia of the District of Columbia, excluding
the naval battalion. as found by the spe-
cial inspection Of 1908. is stated as follows:
Of1cers, 1872: enlisted men, 1908; total,
1885, of which there was a percentage or
1.O4 absent The organization consists OF
one brigade, brigade band. corps Of field
music artillery, one field battery; lnfan-
try, two regiments OF twelve companies
each: one battalion of four companies,
ambulance corps. signal corps, naval pat
talon, four divisions. The report STATES
that the District militia has not adopted
the standard of physical examlnauon 10.
enlistment or re-enlstment as prescribed
by War Department circular. FEBRUARY
8. 1904 All the troops are armed. uni
formed and equipped, but II IS stated III
the report that none of the dmerent or
ganizations conforms to United states
Army organization. 1t is pointed out that
this cannot be remedied until pending leg
islation is enacted.
Need for New Armory.
Under the head of recommendations
and remarks relative to the militia made
by officsrs of the regular army appears
the following statement by Maj. Lloyd
NJ. Brett, list United States Cavalry. in
regard to the District militia:
"A suitable armory continues to be the
CRYING need of the National Guard OF the
District of Columbia A bill for SUCH q
structure is again before Congress ana
has the earnest support OF the war D o
partment Congress has in many ways e4-
pressed itself. unequivocally, as favor1ng
the proper support by the federal govern
ment of an efficient organized militia. NO
troops have shown themselves more oe-
serving Of encouragement than those IN
the District Of Columbia, and 1t Is believed
that Congress will come to their relief as
soon as it realizes that they have no nj
place In which to do the military work
necessary to qualify them for their coun-
iry's service.
1T is recommended that infantry COM
panies of the regular army camp with
the infantry regiments OF the national
Guard; that both the oficers and non-conr-
missioned officers of such companies be
utilized as instructors and eXamplars OF
army methods. The non-commissfoned OF
ficers will get closer to the guardsmen
than the commissioned officers, and will
teach them the little things of camp life
that means so much in the way of COM
fort. and can offer many suggestions
about messing. arrangements OF tbs
tents. and the Importance of prompt
response to duty calls. the militiaman' 3
weak point. The benefits to be derived
from the constant presence Of we'll set
I'D. trained and disciplined men during
the annual camp period cannot be over
estimated.
Reference to Mounted Troops.
1.-The need of such instruction and as
sociation to cavalry and field artillery is
augmented threefold by the horse, his
use, equipments and care. Mounted Ma
tional Guard troops In my opinion, can
be made efficient only by association with
and instruction from like units of the
service.
1T is believed that attachments of the
regular army cannot be more pfoftably
employed in times of peace than instruct
ing the National Guard forces IN camp,
and, when possible. at home stations. The
two forces will mutually benefit by the
association. The regular, with the eyes
of the young volunteer upon him as the
finished product of the standing army.
will strive to reach the highest standard
in his abilities IS his responsibilities in
crease. The militiaman will gain an un-
derstanding of discipline and the correct
methods In his military work. Maneuvers
on large scale are not favored at this
time. The guardsman is in the primary
stage Of his development. and it will take
several years of careful training along
well-thought-out and progressive lines be-
fore he can contemplate anything more
advanced than the simplest problems In
attack and defense"
First Field Battery.
Regarding the LIST Battery of Field Ar
tillery. the expert states that it is provid-
ed with four breech-loading rifles 3.2-inch
caliber. model 1897: four carriages with
limbers; four caissons with limbers and
one wagon forge and battery, all of which
are described as "serviceable." On the
subject OF personnel It il stated:
Men are rugged and of very satisfac.
tory physical appearance, but lacked
military bearing. Character and reliability
good; zeal. moderate: efficiency, fair. A
number Of skilled artisans and machinists.'
AS to the battery armory, the report
says:
THE armory accommodations are dis.
couraeing. One coal stove on second floor
is the only heating plant. The guns are
stored On a cement floor. The battery
should be given the entire lower floor
There are not even decent quarters FOL
the men,.
The following statistics are given in re.
gard to the small-arms practice Of thu
District militia during the season Of 1907
Average strength. present and absent
commissioned and enlisted. for the entire
period Of firing. 1.4S9: per cent OF aver.
age strength qualified, 66.0S: expert rife
men. l25: sharpshooters. 50: marksmen
52S: first-ciass men 80: second class men