The Washington herald., 1909-03-11
MILITIA TEST OPENS
Maj. Reichmann InaugurateS
Annual Inspection.
FOUR COMPANIES PASS MUSTER
Center Market Armory Scene OF No
table Array OF District Guardsmen-
Troops Clad in Regulation Uniform
Look Fit for Active Campaign-Ex-
animation 10 Last Two Weeks.

Prepare for inspection march,
At this command. given IN the Center
Market Armory last night. four com
panies Of the National Guard Of the Dis
triet OF Columbia. comprising the Third
Battalion. Second Infantry. drawn Up In
column OF companies and under command
OF Maj. William r. Harvey. reported 10
Maj. Carl Reichmsnn, Twenty-fourth
United States Infantry who. under spe-
cial detail from the War Department. be
gan the annual inspection Of the District 5
citizen soldiers.
The inspection viii continue during the
next two weeks until he has inspected
every infantry organization in the
brigade.
Brigade Looked Fit.
Clad in olive drab oyercoats. khaki uni
form. leggings. and campaign hats. and
carrying blanket rolls haversaeks. tin
cups. and all other articles necessary 10
field service. the men looked as II they
were about 70 enter upon a real campaign
instead Of merely executing a few
maneuvers before a representative Of the
War Department
After ranks were opened. MAI Reich
mann. followed by Mai. Harvey. passed
up and down each line. miuUtely inspect
ing the appearance Of every man. includ-
ing his uniform. equipment. and the con
dition OF his rife.
After this inspection was completed the
muster roll or each company was called
and the list Of absentees noted.
Company K. which is known as the
Y. VI. c. A. company. and ranks among
the best in the guard. attained the high
est percentage OF attendance. Only two
men failed to answer their names on the
muster roll One OF these was quaran-
tined FOR smallpox. and the other was
likewise so III that IL was quite imDossi-
bic for him 10 attend.
The attendance Of Company fell con-
siderably short Of what was hoped by MAJ
Harvey. but otherwise the appearance %
the company was excellent. COMPANIES
l. and NJ had a tairly good attendance.
and made a creditable showing.
After the rolls were called. arms were
stacked. each company extended inter
vals. and every man removed HIS blanket.
roll and haversack. opened them Up and
spread the contents on the moor so that
1t could be examined by the inspecting
officer Maj. Reichmann examined the
personal equipment OF every man care
fully and made note OF any article that
was lacking or not in proper condition.
After the inspection OF equipment. ihe
battalion was reformed and maneuvered
about the drill hall After the men were
dismissed the books and papers OF each
company and Of the battalion adjutant
were inspected by Lieut.. Col. Smiley.
adtutant general. District OF Columbia
militia.
Inspect Property To-day.
Nal Alfred P. Robbins. Inspector gen
eral OF the brigade. assisted by CAPT
Edward F. Riggs. aid-de-camp. made his
inspection Immediately after Mai. Reich
mann. This afternoon all property which
is charged to the officers Of the Third
Battalion viii be overhauled counted
and inspected by Maj. Reichmann.
I This is the most rigid annual inspection
TO which the National Guard Of the Dis
4 trict has yet been subjected. No official
report will be given out for some time
4 but the general impression among the
militia ofhcers. who witnessed the inspee-
tlon as onlookers. is that Mai. Harvey
battalion made an excellent showing
ABOUT I'o men answered 10 their Names
as the muster roll was called. To-Dight
the Second Battalion. First Infantry. m
oer command Of Maj. HodZson, will be
/ inspected.