Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-25

HRP 1ITH less than three weeks re-
manning before the departure
AAx for Massachusetts,, the great
w est activity reigns In Ma
tional Guard circles. Not
since the departure of the 1st District
Volunteers during the Spanish-American
war has there been such activity among
the citizen soldiers of the District as is
now going on in preparation for the joint
maneuvers under Mai. Gen. Wood.
Militia headquarters are open until late
every evening attending to the details of
The transportation of the troops and their
maintenance in the field, and completing
the reorganization of the guard, which
will be about finished before the departure
for Massachusetts,.
The brigade board of examination l..
holding several sessions each week, either
for the practical or theoretical examina-
ton OF about twenty-seven candidates for
promotions or commissions who have been
ordered before il. Officers and non-com-
missioned officers of the line, from colonies
to squad leaders, are bending every eff
fort to give those under them the maxi
mum amount of instruction and practice in
the short time now remaining before TAX
ing the field with the troops of New
York. Connecticut, Massachusetts and the
regulars.
Everything possible is being done SO
that the National Guardsmen of the Dis
trict will make a creditable showing in
comparison with the citizen soldiers of the
other states
The equipment of the District troops
will be complete in every respect. Large
shipments of clothing have Just been re-
ceived. and next Tuesday Lieut.. Duvall
viii begin to issue. at the Center market
armory, uniforms, olive drab shirts
shoes, hats and everything necessary to
equip the large number of recruits who
have enlisted within the past few months
The reorganization of the guard along
lines similar To the regular army and the
news that the District troops were going
to participate in the war game in Massa-
chusetts greatly increased the applica-
tons for enlistment. and it is now esti-
mated that more than 400 men will go
10 camp.
During the last two weeks every officer
in the guard was subjected To a rigid
physical examination. and all who failed
10 pass it will be retired. and those re-
manning will receive another commission
IL Is understood that in addition to those
already retired several OF the officers
were found physically disqualified by
Drs Weaver. Luce and Bennett who are
conducting the physical examinations
The names of those who are to be retired
will not be given out until the order re-
firing them is issued.
Capt. Summers and Capt Walker of the
"a Infantry and Capt. Tate of the list In
fantry are now being examined for pro-
motion TO the rank OF major They with
the other candidates for promotion or
commissions, were given their practical
examination last week. The captains
were placed in command of battalion,
ana the neutenants in charge of compa-
MES, and drilled their commands before
the members of the brigade board of ex-
infantry. is head of the board The other
members are Majs. Simms. Harvey.
stephen. Young, Robbins, Hodgson and
McCathran, and Capts. Fox and Coope.
capt W eayer and Lieuts. Luce and Ben
net are the medical members of the board
The theoretical examination of the can
dldates will be held this week. The men,
bers of the board are expediting matters
as much as possible so that the officers
who are to be promoted or commissioned
will receive their commissions from the
President before the troops leave for Mas
sachuSetts.
Al the maneuyers the work will be
carried on just as If actual hostilities
We're in progress, but 1t has been state
~ militia headquarters that the men
VIII not be overworked. About eight
hours out OF every twenty four the men
VIII have nothing to do. and after the
h'aneuvefs are over. August Il, they viii
he given AMPLE opportunity to visit the
cities or towns in the vicinity. The gen
efal opinion among the officers and men
of the guard is that the exercises Will
De the most interesting and instructive
mat the guard has had in an annual
encampment.
B!oGses Will not be worn on the field
put the men will take them on the
transports where they will be left until
the meneuvers are completed. They Will
be numbered and those of each com
pany placed in boxes and left on board
Each mess will be allowed one cook nj
s. a day, and an assistant ut 81 80
Owing TO the larger number of enlist I'D
men the LIST Battery. Field Artillery. will
be allowed one cook and two assistants
The cooks will he enlisted men whers
available. otherwise civilian cooks wi,
be employed. During this camp the
enlisted cooks. who ordinarily receive
81 dax. will get an extra allowance