Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-28

Guard of the District OF 70
lumbia under the law en-
acted the 18th ultimo is call issued
late yesterday by District OF Columbia
militia headquarters TO every officer In
the brigade for a precise declaration in
writing OF his intentions in the event OF
war The call is worded as follows:
In view of the fact that statutory pro-
visions require the National Guard TO
serve IN the first line whether at home
or abroadD should the nation be engaged
IN war. the commanding general desires
precise and prompt declaration Of in
tention from each officer before the re-
organization of this brigade takes place.
should 1t seem clear 10 you that cir
cumstances would not permit you 10 serve
III war you will state, giving such
reasons az you care TO advance. III.
on the other hand. YOU feel at liberty
TO pledge your services you will so an
nounce. Your conclusions should be set
forth In positive terms in order that
Notwithstanding may not be possible.
You will. therefore. reply by indorse-
nent hereon and return this paper direct
10 these headquarters at the earliest pos
sibe date
Your reply will be regarded as conf
dental. and the envelope containing your
reply should be so marked I'm plain char
acters or delivered in person to the adju-
tant general
1t is understood that no officer will be
retained under the reorganization who
Is not prepared to respond promptly to
any duty in the field. at home or abroad.
w men these declarations of intention have
Deen submitted they will be studied by
the commanding general in connection
with the individual service reports recent
~ made by the officers. The retired
list will be made up and those officers
who are to step down and out eliminated,
Then II VIII be possible to proceed in
diligently with the recasting. so to speak,
OF the commissioned personnel.
The present general staff and general
non commissioned staff of the militia will,
to all intents and purposes, go out OF ex-
istence. giving way to staff departments.
These will probably be the first organized.
The formation of battalion OF Coast
Artillery will also receive attention In
the near future. but the other changes
will not be completed probably for many
BY operation of law Col. Urell COM
the I'd Regiment, goes on the
retired list at once. with rank of briga-
der general, and ii is stated that Lieut..
Col O'Brien will voluntarily retire, with
the rank of colonel. This Will result In
mand of the regiment. The only we'll
defined rumor affecting officers OF high
rank in the 1st Regiment is that Lieut..
Col. Reichelderfer will he placed at the
head Of the new medical department.
The reorganization will call for an in
crease I'm the enlisted strength of the
brigade. especially as a large number OF
non-commissioned officers. as result OF
the retirement and designations of many
Of the present officers under the new or
90 Ia, oil tod fnr
A decided growth in en-
listments is not looked for, however, un-
til the new armory is provided
A suitable home for the brigade is con-
fdently expected to materialize within
few years.
Preparations are already in progress
for the annual field exercises of the Ma
tional Guard. 1t has been stated that the
maneuvers by the local guardsmen
the peninsula of Maryland are
1t is directed in a circular
just prepared that part of every drill
night until the camp in July will be de-
voted to extended order. Instructions are
to be given first in the officers schools
and non-commissioned officers schools.
In the circular it is set forth that
among the absolute essentials OF any
fighting command are ability to form line
from column and to form column from
individual training is the basis Of all
education. 1t is only through
the training of the individual that the
requisite cooperation of the many may
be attained AS the efficiency OF the regi-
ment depends upon the excellence of the
likewise the efficiency of the
company depends upon the squads and the
ability of the squad leaders. Company
will, therefore. devote every
energy to train the squad leaders and TO
throw responsibility upon them, and to
have competitive squad exercises. Com
panies will always be formed with men in
their proper squads squad leaders hav
ing list of men in their squads, one squad
being broken up where necessary to fill
incomplete squads. Squad leaders will
especially practice their squads in adj
by rushes and creeping; in load
ing in all positions of the body and while
and especially in the transmit
ting of orders and signals. Skrmishing
will be taught in the squads.
X
The guardsmen are TO be trained in
the different ways of deploying, as
sembling and forming: movements Of the
line with increased and diminished in
tervals; advancing by rushing and creep
Ing, occupying position, IOadlnS In all
positions of the body and while march
ing, aiming at different ranges and from
behind cover. the different kinds of fire,
cease firing and the transmission OF or
ders and signals.
The mechanism Of these movements will
be taught In the drill hall and streets
and then squads trained OH varied ground
whenever practicable. The squad must be
considered as team, must work as a
team and must be taught to pay attention
to the leader.
The training of the squad leader re-
luires particular care. He must be trained
in using field glasses for identifying the
target, in estimating distance quickly and
reliably and in giving commands. The
squad leader must be able to conduct the
fire of his own squad. to utilize without
every opportunity which pre-
sents itself for approaching the enemy,
and to support each movement of neigh
boring squads by means OF his fire.
A part OF every drill night until next
camp, whether in drill hall or On streets.
1t is directed, will be devoted to extended
order While some companies are drill
ing in line at a halt, al least two COM
panies can occupy the rest of the drill
hall with extended order work. Majors
will regulate the details of this work Tor