Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-05
the naval militia bill, putting that
branch of the organized militia on

~ Congress will make a law out OF
the naval militia bill, putting that
branch of the organized militia on
IL the same footing in connection with
the avy Department, as the land
| forces are In connection with the War
Department, the Naval Battalion of the
| National Guard Of the District of Column
bia will take a long step forward toward
the standard of efficiency held up by the
United States Navy. Much of the trou-
BILE of the battalion is traceable to the
| fact that the men in the regiments and
other land organizations have much
| etsier time getting what they want be-
cause they are closer to the regular army
than the citizen sailormen Of the Ozark
| are to the navy.
That naval militia bill, it will be remem-
bered, is almost word for word dupli-
cate of the bill which reorganized the rest
Of the National Guard. and differs only
where it is necessary to specify the diff
ference between the army and navy. II
passed the House of Representatives last
year and it is possible it would have pass
ed the Senate had it not been for the eff
forts in opposition by Senator Frye. The
| president of the Naval Militia Associa-
ton was in constant attendance at the
Senate in it's latest session, doing every
thing in his power to batter down the OPP
position. He had the promise of senators
! to call up the bill at the first available
1 opening, but in the lively moments of the
closing hours of Congress the bill died.
That it will be reintroduced is regarded
as certain.
Should this bill become a law, 1t is prob
able that the Navy Department will de-
tail naval officers to the various militia
\ x,Iin ntl in, har h ot,
/ Capt Allison IS now detailed to the land
| forces of the local brigades. 1t has long
| been matter of regret to the naval
! militiamen here that, even without COM
polling law, the Navy Department has
/ not seen its way clear to assign an Of
! iicer to the battalion.
| + 4 = 4
The capital of the nation has some fine
! men ready to go to it's defense by water.
| The personnel of the Naval Battalion has
/ always been high. 1t is "a matter of
| pride with the officers of the brigade that
many of the officers of the battalion have
| been of so high caliber. 1t has been I'M
| fortunate that many of the best men
/ have had to resign from the service be-
/ cause of removal from the District. or
| because business interests simply would
not permit them to attend to their naval
duties with the persistency that is re-
| quired to keep u floating fighting force
j in perfect trim.
| X !. !; X
! AS for that. it is noticed at headquar-
ters that the entire administration of the
| National Guard is series of constant
| compromises between a mans occupation
his living-and his duty to the National
Guard. Lieut.. Col. Smiley. adjutant gen.
| eral. speaking of this very point recently,
| said
| Il don't see how SO MANY of them, with
i such heavy business interests and so
many necessary demands on their time
and brains, can keep up the efficiency OF
| their commands to the excellent standard
which they actually have attained.
! = =
The regular staff meeting scheduled for
| Monday, November G, at militia head
quarters. has been postponed to Tuesday,
| November II.
| :. = :: =
In the report of Col. 0. B. Mitcham, I.
$. A.. chief ordnance officer. Eastern d.
vision, considerable attention is paid TO
| the matter of property. As result OF
his recent inspection and report, even
more attention will be paid tn this feature
by the batterymen than ever before. Not
that Col. Mitcham condemned the men