Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-04

is one recommendation that mas
proven of great interest to Ma
tional Guardsmen throughout the coun-
try. 1t is his advocacy of a volunteer
army. Gen. Woods views on the SUBJ
ject are embodied in a bill now before
Congress. He says in his argument in
favor of the bill:
THE Constitution reserves to the gov
errors Of the states the right to appoint
officers of the militia. but there has al
ways been very general sentiment In
Congress that the.governors should have
the right to appoint and promote COM
pany and regimental officers of the vol
Unteer troops raised within their respect
i've states. This method of appointment
and promotion of volunteer officers has
been one of the weakest points in our
volunteer system, and yet it will prob
ably be one which will cause the greatest
amount Of discussion in connection with
the present volunteer BILL
There is no new policy or principle in
Volved In this matter, as we have had in
every war United States volunteers in
addition to the state troops. We
now have upon the statutes volunteer
act which has already proved to be a
failure, and which is entirely inconsistent
with the provisions of subsequent acts or
SanlZlng the regular army and the mill
tia. There is no law OH the stat
utes today providing for the appointment
of volunteer officers of the staff corps.
The bill now proposed has been care
has been pending before Congress for
about five years. It was recommended to
Congress in special message by Presi-
dent Roosevelt in $685. in which message
approval of Secretary Of War Taft.
The bill provides for complete re-
organization of any force Of volunteers
that may hereafter be called out,
whether that force be a single regi-
ment or an army of d million men. The
bill harmonizes entirely with the militia
organization under the Dick law and
with. the existing law governing the
regular army. The bill is elastic and
flexible. in that the organization Of the
volunteer forces is prescribed to con-
form to that of the regular army. and
any future changes in the regular army
will automatically carry corresponding
changes in the volunteer forces. This
militia
In the death last Tuesday of Lieut..
Col. James E. Bell. retired, inspector
of small arms practice, the District
National Guard as a body and it's
members individually feel the loss of
a valued friend, adviser and coworker.
His death leaves gap in the staff
corps it's members feel will be hard to
fill.
4 marksman of nationwide fame,
Col. Bell, with his administrative abil-
ity to back up his practical knowledge,
was in Il position to place and keep the
rife work of the guard on high
standard, labor which occupied the
greatest part of his spare time for
III 10
not only made the training and helping
Of every man on the various brigade
teams his particular duty, but with adj
vice and encouragement he kept other
ed, at work on the target range, and
brought the general average for marks
manship In the guard up to q high plane.
There were few officers or enlisted men
who did not know Uncle jimmie, aed
there were few whom he could not call
by name Never, perhaps, in the history
of the guard was an officer more widely
known or generally loved than Col Bill,
whose death, it is generally remarked,
comes as a distinct deprivation to
entire organization.
Everett E. Beall, senior sergeant of
Company X, 1st Infantry, finished first
in the competitive drill in the manual OF
arms, in which the six best men from
each company of the Sd Battalion, LIST
Infantry participated. The contest. which
created no little interest within the reSi-
ment and in general militia circles, was
held in Center Market Armory Friday
night Capt. Harry Coope, LIST Infantry,
and Maj. William Il. McCathran. LIST In
fantry, acted as judges.
The contest was a lively one from
start to finish and aroused considerable
interest on the part of the large NUMBER
of friends of the various contestants pres
ent. The drill was brought about by
challenge issued by Capt. Halfway, In
behalf of Company l., to the other COM
panies of the battalion. Throughout the
drill the ODDS seemed to be in favor OF
Company l.. When all of the contestants
but six had been ruled out OF the con-
test by decision of the Judges TOUR or
the remaining men were Company l. men,
the two others being Company n men.
When there were but four men left three
were Company l. men and one was
Company K man.
The contest finally dwindled down to
two men, Private Mort of Company l. and
Sergt Beall of Company *. Strictly as
a drill in the manual of arms these Two
men were tied for honors. as the Judges
we're unable to decide between them IN
any movement In the manual of arms
On a movement in loadings and hrlnSs
Private Mort was ruled out and Serst-
Beall was declared to be the winner
1t is probable that this winter season
in the armory will witness number OF
similar competitions between companies.
battalions and regiments of the National
Guard An occasional competition. IN
dividual or between organizations, spurs
on the enthusiasm of the men In tner
work. betters the spirit of the orsaniza-
ton and brings officers and men into
closer and more pleasant relations. &C
cording to those who are advocating
competitions as policy in the guard
Among other state organizations, 1t is
pointed out, the men always have some
such competition, or an exhlbitlon TO
look forward to and to work for; Sucl
anticipation serves as spur to the men
during the less interesting weekly drills
and schools.
Companies of both infantry regiments
have taken up the idea. and stan oftlcers
are said to be favorable to the idea as
an established policy of the guard
Members of the Corcoran Cadet Corps.
Company f., 1st Infantry. are looking
forward with high hopes to the vaude-