The Washington herald., 1909-04-25


the order with explanations OF its signis-
csnce and the obligations II imposes was
the feature Of every assembly Of militia
men during the past week. Each com
mandiug officer. IN a brief address TO
his men. impressed upon them that hence
forth the orders issued by militia officers
of the District cannot be disregarded with
impunity. and that their violation VIII
be punished as surely and Telentlessly
as II they were the police regulations Of
the District.
The legal phraseoloEy Of the sections Of
the Orded dealing with courts-martisI was
not perfectly clear 10 all the men. but
every one was made 10 realize that a
court-msrtial Of the National Guard has
now quite as much power as the police
court Of the District
Each Gets Copy Of Orders.
We've got to soldier now and It's q
good thing" was the general opinion Of
the men, Every man al the dierent as
semblies last week was given a copy Of
the order and signed a receipt for It.
Already the effect OF the order is sD-
parent in better attendance Of companies
and this week. after every one has re-
ceived a copy Of il, il is expected that q
still more radical chance in attendance
viii be noted. Absence from the regular
weekly drills from now or will be a seri-
Gus affair, and unless permission is OBJ
tained beforehand from the compsuy COM
mander. IL makes the absentee liable 70
punishment. In the past. officers had TO
adopt methods 10 induce the men 20 at
tend drills. but under the new regime
they order
Already there are ten cases before the
summary court OF the Second Regiment
Most OF the charge are for nonattendance
az the recent annual inspection. or for
persistent absence from drill without per
mission from the company COIHmzndeT.
Session Of summary Court.
The summary court viii begin It's ses-
sions on Tuesday evening IN the Center
Market Armory. II will be the first court
martial 10 be held under the new law.
and its proceedings will be followed with
great interest Mai William z Harvey.
commanding the Third Battalion. Is the
summary court officer Of he Second Reg
iment. He is a lawyer by profession. has
had a long experience with the National
Guard. and personally drew Up part Os
the now famous General Orders No. s
Mai Harvey said last night that the
men who would be tried BY summary
court would not be treated harShiy. and
would be given every possible COnsidera-
ton. but at the same time they would
be made to realize that henceforth 6ls-
obedience 10 orders OF caTelessness N
carrying them out is to be punished
There was fear among some OF the Ma
tionsI Guard officers that the strictness
OF the present regulations and the pow
ers given the officers 70 enforce orders
would cause a falling on in enlistments,
which are voluntary. and that heneeforth
it would be difficult 10 recruit up the
companies Exactly the opposite seems
TO be the case. The men themselves
welcome the change. and are glad that
rigid provisions for enforcing discipline
have been made. because II gives the
companies higher standard as military
organizations and reduces the difference
between the militiamen and the regular
army. Instead Of decreasing enIistments,
the new status and higher responsible
ties conferred upon the National Guard.
and the brighter prospects Of promotion.
it is fu1lye expected that the total
strength OF the brigade a. the next an
nual encampment viii be Tar greater than
in any previous year.
First Battery 20 Turn Out.
The First Battery. Field Artillery. has
been ordered 20 turn out mounted on
May TO FIRE salute in connection with
the ceremonies attending the unyefllng
Of the monument 10 the late Gov. Alex
ander R shepherd The battery viii as
semble at its armory at I2.S0 o'clock and
after the teams are hitched viii proceed
20 the Monument grounds for mounted
drill The salutes will be fred AZ 81
in the afternoon by The entire command
drawn up in battery formation This
viii be the first mounted drill OF the bat
tery since il participated in the inaugural
parade on March J.
On Friday night after drill the members
Of the battery VIII hold al informal
smoker and decorating party"
At a recent meeting or the command
the nustractiye appearance Of the az
mory was thoroughly discussed and &
united effort was planned 20 make the
quarters OF the men more cotnfortabIe
and attractive Every batteTyman has
been requested TO attend the smoker
Friday night an dto bring as an Offer
ing 10 the organization some object which
sill add to the appearance or comfort
Of the quarters. Books, piceUTss. small
pieces OF furniture. and numerous other
articles have been promised and the bat
terymen expect that after Friday night
no one will again be able 10 cTiticise tho
bare appearance OF their assemoIy rooms.
Donations Are Made.
Corporal Friei has donated two sets Of
boxing gloves, and Private Trussen q
punching bag. Several bouts and vrest-
ling matches have been arranged for the
programme on Friday. when the Battery
men expect TO entertain many friends
from other companies infthe bridage.
Last night Lieut. William A. DuvsH.
quartermaster OF the Third Battalion,
First Infantry. who is known TO every
man in the bridage as the superintendent
Of the Center Market Armory, appeared
before special board, composed OF DORIS.
Woodman. Weaver. and Bennett. sur
geons Of the guard. 20 undergo medical
examination in connection with his ap-
pIication for retirement on account OF
physical disability.
Lieut.. Duv2n has been in the Guard
for more than twenty years. and many
Of his friends tried 10 induce him not to
retire He viii. however. still retain
charge of the ArmorY and vii! attend
the annual sncsmpments in charge OF the
quartermaster supplies.