Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-14

and the naval militia the growth and de-
veOpment of the citizen sea fighters in
the form of an organized militia Will be
retarded. Naval militiamen believe also
that their branches should run parallel
with the National Guard organizations In
the matter of pay, and should the present
bill for the pay OF the National Guard
for attendance at drills become law
without the naval militia bill being passed
also a serious handicap in the matter of
recruiting will be imposed on the naval
militia.
Those who have a heart-and-soui Inter-
est in the National Guard of the District
of Columbia say they are genuinely sorry
to note the difference between the inspec-
ions of the land forces and that of the
men Of the Ozark. The infantry, artil-
lery, Signal Corps Company and sanitary
troops are all inspected by the War De-
partment. The Naval Battalion militia
will have no naval officer to inspect it.
1t undergoes the scrutiny, Of course. of
The inspector general, n. G. d. c., but a
splendid thing for the men of the good
ship Ozark, as every one In the guard
freely admits.
This and new armory. Wouldn't that
combination make the National Guard of
the District of Columbia the most-sought-
af er military organization in the United
States?
x* X
Lieut.. Col. Smiley, adjutant general,
District of Columbia militia, sent in a
requisition for the new signal flags for
infantry organiza tons as outlined in the
new infantry drill regulations. Here the
Cni:ed States takes another leaf from the
books of the Japanese. The correspond
ents. military attaches and others have
constantly mentioned the signal flags Of
the japanese infantry. The signal flags
take the place of the flag kits issued to
the regular army under the army regula-
tons Two flag kits each, consisting of
two flags, two staffs with canvas car
riers, are tn he issued to each infantry
company, and will form part of the equip
ment.
In general the flags are SO designed
that an instant's glance viii tell an Of
f1cer the regiment, battalion and COM
pany. The first battalion will be kno n
by tho red field of its flag. the second by
field. Company A, 1st Battalion. will
have a white square on the red fell;
Company b. LIST Battalion, will have a
blue square. while Companies and D
will be known by the white and blue
diagonals respectively. on the rel field.
Company E of the I'd Battalion will rave
a red square on the white field. which
from now on will be the mark of the I'd
Battalion; Company F will be known by
its blue square and white field. Red
diagonals for Company G and blue for
Company Fl will complete the combine
ton for the battalion. The 3D. Batta ion
flags will carry out the same scheme with
their blue fields. Companies I, X, ami
NJ will be known in order by the red
square. white square, red diagonals ami
blue diagonals.
These flags will all have the regiment
numbers, of course. In addition to thei
value in visual signaling. the flags will
serve to mark as the point of asse nbly
for each company when disorganized in
combat, and to mark the location of the
company in bivouac and elseaher OF
will be waved around in full view of the
enemy. Their very presence would tell
a scout just what organizations were In
front of him.
Gen. James A. Drain, editor of Arms
and the Man, will make the presentation
speech at Center Market Armory tomor-
row night. when new ", re q 1nsa coiors
G. D. c.. The occasion will be marked
by all the pomp and splendor of dress
parade and review. The band Of the regi-
ment has been ordered to be on hand
with its liveiiest tunes, and every man in
the regiment is expected to be present,
with his uniform spotless and his &C
couterments in perfect order. The new
colors are woven of thick silk and are
heavily braided with gold. After the
ceremony q dance will be given by the
officers and men of the regiment.
Representative Richmond Pearson Hob
son had been expected to speak during
the evening, but It is understood he will
not be able to be present.
y 4 n e
Much OF the pomp and circumstance of
war have been eliminated I'm the new in
fantry drill regulations of the United
States Army. issued by Maj. Gen. Leonard
Wood. chief of STAFF. They take. away
the show and state OF mass evolutions
and leave only the necessary movements
required to train troops.
An important change is the provision