The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-07-25
GUARD WILL LEAVE
WITH1,5OO TROOPS
Col. Smiley Says District
Contingent Will Be Fit.
MEN ARE EAGER FOR BATTLE
Company, Battalion, and RegimentaI
Officers Are Training Soldiers TO
Acquit Themselves ms Seasoned
Men-TvO Bands to Take Part in
Maneuvers on the Coast.

All Of the companies in the brigade
will have their full quota Of men when
we leave for the maneuvers," said Lieut.
Col Smiley yesterday, thereby setting at
rest the persistent rumors afioat that the
brigade would be considerably short Of
its supposed enlistment of 1900 men when
II left for Massachusetts, on August y.
For several days II has been limited by
some Of the company officers that there
was a shortness in the ranks due TO a
delay in the forwarding Of information
regarding the trip. It was claimed that
because of this lack Of knowledge, high
school cadets who had contemplated the
trip had failed TO join the National Guard
before the time when the enlistment
ranks are closed.
Ready for Front.
AS matter of fact" Col Smiley says
Washington VIII have one OF the COM
pletest and best drilled contingents in its
history when It leaves for the front. An
Of the men. taking advantage of the extra
drills, are rounding themselves into splen-
did shape for their campaign In Massa-
chusetts. They are not little tin soldiers,
but hardy. seasoned militiamen some Of
them with several years experience"
An examination of the equipment, made
by the officers Of the brigade. has shown
the accouterments and arms Of the troops
to be In excellent fighting order. The
''purp' tents have been overhauled and
those beyond repair have been replaced.
thus making the Districts campaigning
necessaries complete 10 the last degree
Many Of the officers. foreseeing the
need or perfect discipline in the ranks
on the trip away. are drilling their men
several times a week on the White Lot.
BY special permission the soldiers can
be called out here at any time and put
through the military tactics. Company.
battalion. and regimental officers are
training the soldiers. so that when they
finally get on the field Of battle they viii
be able to acquit themselves as seasoned
men.
Daily acquisitions are being made for
the new olive drab shirt prescribed in,
the military memoranda Of the Depart
ment OF the East. Up TO the present time
the men have worn the dark blue shirt
on their excursions away from home.
This year since they are. required 20
dress in new color. they are keeping
several taiiors constantly at work in an
effort 70 turn our 1500 shirts. II is ex-
pected that the last consignment OF
shirts will be received at the District
headquarters Office by the middle Of next
week. The "lSit" Of the National Dis
trict Guardsnan this year viii not be
lighter than In previous years
Regarding the examinations Of officers
with an eve 70 their physical fitness for
active duty Col Smiley last night said
that these would not be completed by the
time the troops left for the front
1t was announced yesterday that in
stead OF the single field band with field
musicians, which has accompanied the
troops in days gone by. there viii be two
regimental bands and two company musi-
clans with the brigade this year. This
is made possible under the new reorgani-
cation act.
Adds Military Spirit.
The new plan viii probably add to the
military spirit The new band corps. has
been disbanded as q result Of the new
movement with the members either trans
ferred TO various companies Of released
from service. Most Of the members Of the
band have remained with the brigade.
Joseph Rabbit. formerly in charge OF
the Field Band, has been made principal
musician Of the two bands for the com
ing year
These members Of the Field Band also
are ordered transferred: Sergt J. Dod-
drell, to Company j; Privates E. f. Nc
Kenna. 70 Company D; J. r. Kimmering.
to Company r; r. r. Collins. Company
F; c. G. Quantrille, Company c; F. A.
Callan, Company II; o. w. Mansfield,
Company Fl. and H. L. Supplee. Company
Tao
A. w. La Vergne, p. H.. Griffin. w. N
Fuller ]. a. De Mari. J. NJ. Stewart. r.
A. Holmes. w L. Matthews. r. G.
Moore, II. Tanner, J. F. Thornbe-g, and
/. II. Nelson.