Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

They seemed to flow in an
~ endless stream, and no one on
the outside would suspect that
the National Guard of the District OF CO.
lumbia held so many shining examples OF
the adage, practice makes perfect" as
were brought to the front and center ana
presented with their prizes Friday even
ing at Center Market Armory. An arm
full of medals and a treasure car loaded
with trophies and yards upon yards OF
service ribbons were distributed. All OF
them were received by the guardsmen
from the hands Of Brig. Gen. Robert K.
Evans, chief of the division Of militia
affairs, War Department. The list of
trophy winners and individual medal
wearers was published in The Star last
Sunday, but the mere reading of those
names does not approach the actual sight
of those handsome men in their dress
uniforms moving forward in solid mass
to receive further additions to the ire
mendous number of prizes won in previ
Gus years.
There was one man who had SO many
medals pinned on his chest that he looked
decidedly like a jewelers. shop window.
X X i. x
The band of the LIST Infantry never
played better music than it did Friday
night, and it was a pity it's program was
so short Just imagine that band playing
in an armory of the District National
Guards very own. big marble affair.
better than any armory ever built before.
Gen. Evans is in sympathy with the
new armory project. for he said so in
the short speech he made to the prize
winners.
Now comes a period Of rest for most
Of the National Guard Of the District of
Columbia, as the officers at headquarters
have heard the Christmas horns blowing
somewhere and realize that even
soldier must do a little Christmas shop
ping, and that many national guardsmen
are engaged in business pursuits which
bear the brunt of the enormously in
creased business at this season of the
year. me late hours at the stores, rail-
road offices. express companies and other
business houses which feel the Christmas
rush demand the full time and attention
OF officials and employees, and it is in def
erence to this condition that the National
Guard activities will rest for a few DAYS
Drills will be suspended until after New
Year The hard worked officers who at
tend Capt. Allisons schools won't have
to worry about ration returns and sum-
mary court problems until 1912-sounds
farther off than it Island the armory
will be duller than it has been for
year except for the rattle of those
musketeers who can't be persuaded to
keep away from Maj. Kings targets.
Many members of the National Guard
pointed not to receive their service rib
bons Friday night. 1t was explained by
COL Smiley that reports Of their service
had not been received. AS soon as the
commanding officers follow out the in
structions Of a recent order on the sub
Ject and present the names and records
of the men entitled to the same the rib
bons will be distributed without waiting
Tor another ceremony.
Every member of the National Guard
of the District of Columbia will be in
terested in what the Secretary of War
has to say about the organized militia
of the United States In his annual re-
port, presented to the President few
days ago. Secretary Stimson said:
The strength of the organized militia.
according to the latest reports, is 117,9ss
officers and enlisted men, net decrease
OF 1,6I2 over the preceding year. In ad-
d1tion to the usual camps of instruction
for officers of the infantry, cavalry and
field artillery as prescribed in general or
ders 4, 1910. more than a thousand eff
GERS of the organized militia served for
periods of fourteen days with the maneu-
yer division Of San Antonio Tex. Twelve
batteries Of field artillery were given in
at Sparta, Wis, and the coast artillery
reserves received the usual annual in
struction at Notifications.
In July the mobile militia of Massa-
chusetts conducted a maneuver campaign
of seven days under conditions Stimulating
as closely as possible those of war, and it
Is very gratifying to report that in all
matters pertaining to the administra ton,
supply and tactical handling of troops in
campaign this militia showed very great
improvement In efficiency over the condi-
tions observed in the maneuvers by the
same militia under practically the same
commanders two years ago: The differ
ence indicated particularly creditable
study and devotion during the interval.
by act of Congress, approved March 3.
1911, the President is authorized to de-
tach not exceeding 200 officers Of the
active list from their proper commands
for duty as inspectors and instructors of
the organized militia, 200 additional Off
GERS being created in the regular army
to support this additional requirement.
This number of extra officers was calcu-
lated as necessary in order to detail one
officer on duty with each militia regiment
of infantry, squadron Of cavalry, and bat
talon of field artillery. Thus far one
officer has been assigned with
each state and territory. and officers of
cavalry, field artillery. and coast artillery
to districts formed from contiguous states
having these arms. This number will be
increased as fast as the law can be car
commissioning of the new officers. Bene-
fetal and far-reaching results to the mi
litia may be reasonably expected. but in
asmuch as the officers detailed to the
militia are selected because of their eff
cheney and their places with the regular
troops must be filled by newly appointed
officers without experience, it can readily
be seen that this legislation has brought
no relief to the regular army. the disci-
pline and instruction of which have for
many years been suffering from q short
age Of officers.
Il earnestly recommend the passage of
the volunteers bill providing the neces-
sary legislation under which in time of
war a force of national volunteers can
be created without delay. The bill now
before Congress is intended to provide
United States volunteers which shall be
called out after the organized militia has
been mustered in. The machinery for or
ganizing and calling out in time of war
the militia has already been provided by
the law of May u. 1908. There is no new
policy or principle involved In the pro-
posed volunteers bill. which is based on
the experience in all previous wars. 1t
has been pending before Congress for
about six years. Much consideration has
been given 1t by both committees, and
the former objections which have pre-
vented it's passage | believe have all been
met 1t has been somewhat shortened:
it is general and most elastic in it's terms
and has been considerably improved in
conferences with the chairmen of the
committees on military affairs. The bill
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