The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-04-18
PROVIDE PENALTIES
IN MILITIA ORDERS
GuaFdSmen Must Live Up to
Voluntary Obligations.
NEW LAW PLEASEs OFFICERS
They Declare II Gives Them a Better
Hold on Men Guilty OF Breaches
of DiseiPIine-Copies of Orders
VIII BE Sent to Every Member Of
the District Brigade.

General Orders No. 6. issued yesterday
from militia headquarters. mark an i'm
postant step In the general reorganization
OF the National Guard Of the District.
which is now IN progress The order
specifies the obligations placed upon the
officers and enlisted men or the brigade
under the new military law, ana de-
fines the new jurisdiction Of the military
courts Of the District.
Owing 10 is Importance a copy Of the
order VIII be sent to every member OF
the brigade, who win be required 10
sign a receipt COR f. Company com
manders viii read il TO their organiza-
tons al their next regular assemblies
during this week. and every effort Will be
made 10 have each officer and man IN
the District Guard become thoroughly
familiar with Us provisions. Il is. in a
manner, The articles Of war Of the
District militiamen. and viii De read 20
every recruit as he enlistS in the Guard.
Laxness in Brigade.
The order begins with the assertion
that trere exists IN the brigade AZ pres
ent certain amount of laxness in the
performance OF military du.y. due more
20 csrelessness and a misconcept,on Of
the obligations Of National Guardsmen
than 70 willful dlsobedience Of orders
In the past. there has been lack o.
auuority on the part OF commanding on
GERS 10 enforce military discipline. but
this has been changed by the act an
proved last February, which gives the
military courts fun power TO impose
punlshments within the limits fixed by
law The order continues:
This change In the law involves such
radical departure from former methods
OF enforcing discipline that Il seems but
tar 10 an who by their oath have as
sumed obligations as members Of the IA
tional Guard and are subject 70 the penal
ties imposed by tie statute for their viola
ton. that their duty should be clearly
pointed out and fair warning given of
what may be the consequences OF their
failure 20 live up 20 their voluntarily as
sumed obligations
Must Live Up 10 Regulations.
In future District National Guarasmen
win be compelled 20 live up TO the letter
and spirit Of the first paragraph of the
army regulations. which prescrlbes. "Au
persons IN the military service are re-
Qui-rd 10 obey strictly and 10 execute
promptly the lawful orders OF their su-
periors.
The greatest cause Of complaint among
officers as 20 matters Of discipline Is the
irregular attendance Of the men al the
weekly drills. and The lack Of power 10
impose adequate penalties IN recogni-
uon OF this fact General Orders No 6
which viii soon become a by-word among
members OF the militia. makes an Official
publication OF the driH programme for
each command IS follows.
Second Battalion Companies Z. F. and
g.. Second Infantry, every Monday: First
Battalion Companies A, 3, c. and ID
second Infantry. every TUESDAY Third
Battalion Companies I, X, L. and ID.
Second Infantry. every "Wednesday Sec
ono Battalion Companies Z. +. &. and
I'D, First Infantry. every THURSDAY
Third Battalion Companies 7 X. /. and
ID, First Infantry. every Friday: First
Battalion First Infantry every Wednes-
day; First Separate Battalion COMPANY
y. Monday; Company ID. Tuesday. COM
pany c, Wednesday. Company A. Thurs
cay FIRST Field Battery, every Friday:
signal Corps, every Friday. Hospital
Corps. second and fourth Thursdays
Officers and enlisted men OF these con-
mands are ordered 10 report 10 thefr com
handing officers promptly at 5 O'Clock
on the nights assigned 10 their respective
organizations Any man who IS prevented
from performing this duty IS warned.
FOR his own protectisn. 20 obtain per
mission 20 be scnt from his command
ing officer II his work prevents him
from drilling at night he is required BIZ
the new order 10 report the fact in writ
ing 10 his commanding officer. giving the
hours he works and the name and ad-
dress Of his employer. Company com
man6ers are instructed TO investigate
carefully all applications for permission
10 be assent. and not 10 grant them for
trivial reasons.
Increased Attendance Expected.
A material increase n the average. at
tendance OF the different companies is
expected TO result from the rigid enforce
ment OF this order The power 20 en-
force is now vested in the military
courts as provided for in the act an-
proved February Is
The military courts OF the District now
consit Of general courts-martlal. garrison
courts-martlal. the summary court. and
the courts Of inquiry. The construction
and jurisdiction of the courts, the manner
in which their proceedings are 70 be con
Quoted. the limits OF punishment. ana
the proceedings in revision are now gov
erned by the articles Of war. and the
law and procedure OF the military courts
OF the United States.
- L.
taken against 8 member OF a military
court. or a person acting under its au-
thority. acting within the law. and no
officer or enlisted man Of the National
Guard is liable 70 civil or criminal prose-
cutiOn FOR any act done while IN the prop
er discharge Of his military duty The
Jurisdiction Of the courts and boards es-
t7blished By the new act IS presumed. and
the burden Of proof rests with any per
son who questions H.
Must Appear When SubpOenned.
One Of the most important provisions of
the new act to which attention IS called
by order No 6. provides that any person
duly subpoenaed 10 appear as a witness
before any Of the military courts. who
willfully refused to appear. IS guilty of a
misdemeanOr and shall be punished in
the criminal courts Of the District The
punishment prescribed Is a fine Of not ex-
cee6ing $780, CT Imprisonment for thirty
days. or both. The sentences Of the. mill
tary courts. whether Of fines OF fnpris>
orment. are 10 be executed by the United
States marshal in the same name. as
the sentences OF the criminal courts OF
the District
Whenever a militiaman. after being duly
summoned to appear before a military
court, fails to co SO the coUrt-mar:ial
shall issue a warrant for his arrest AID