The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-11
.HOW|TZERS LOSE
F|GHTF0R GROWTH
War Department Refuses to Rec
ognize New Battery OF
Artillery.
STATE FUND INSUFFICIENT
Does Not Provide for Commands
Now i'll Existence-M Major
in Opposition.
STATE FUND INSUFFICIENT

A final veto WAS placed yesterday
on the efforts to organize second
company or battery of Richmond How
tiers, when Governor Mann entered
an order disappearing the request that
the proposed command be mustered
into the service of the Virginia Vol
unteers. This means that the plan for
Immediately forming second battery.
to be followed by a third. so as to
make local battalion OF field artil
lery, must be abandoned
Rulings made by the War Depart :
| ment left the Governor no other re-
| course. After extended corresnondcpc,
on the subject. the Division of Militia
, AHairs has refused TO recognize an ad-
!, ditionHi battery In Richmond, shoul,,
1 one be formed. until such time as tho
state increases its expenditures for the
care or military property and improve
fnent oil the personnel TO the point re-
! Farded by the department as essential
Tor the adequate maintenance and eff
f. cheney of the field artillery.
/ Met Much Opposition.
first ana last. the efforts to add
10 the artillery branch Of the National
Guard OF Virginia have involved most
! OF the militia in one WAY or another
| Imposition was made manifest by the
! infantry, which feared an undue pro
portion OF the military fund would go
| TO tho other branch Of the service ~
IL were added TO in the manner pro-
posed. Not only this. but those be-
! nina tho new battery had also to con
tend with the opposition OF Major Il.
N. workman. the commander OF the
eN's'Ihg battalion of field artillery.
| VINO used efforts to prevent its addition
F, to the service
| me war Department feels that the
| S'"tc ~ not now spending nearly
enough money TO maintain an efficient
~. -" '.aiioh OF heid artillery, and that
equipment on hand. 1t thinks TO do
the Job properly, from $4,000 10 SIS. 900
| auouiu oe spent on each battery from
state FUNDS each year. This Of course.
"ouid be impossible in Virginia
rake Equipment From Norfolk.
further. the department saws that
Tor live years it has been waiting for
! Norlolk TO give proper protection IN
'ne uhiteo states property in the hands
Oh the Light Artillery Blues and that
cannot wait longer and will either
| take the guns away or else reo,iro
| the State 10 put up an indemnifvin,,
pond of $4,000 TO secure against loss
oy hre. II is reported. however. that
both Norfolk and Portsmouth are pre
narlnE to provide suitable armorics.
I tiers. f''
me movement for an additional bat
! tc'E OF artillery in Richmond was
1 begun III December. 1t was based
/ largely on circulars sent out by the
! war Department, suggesting 1bat
| Whcre batteries exist. ii would be ad :
visable TO form battaIions of three
! batteries each. using the same mate
! RAJ ana drilling on different nights
a committee worked hard on the prop
osition' securing about eighty members
/ Tor the command. a Temporary or
]
Lieutenant James g. Pollard. of the
ola battery as captain. All other on
GERS were also chosen. The objection
( Oh extra expense WAS met by a prom
lse WAT me battery would not ask for
an appropriation.
another committee began to get Sig
natures for a third company. i, was
matted when thirty names we're So
cured TO await the outcome OF the
| hshl on the second battery
Not Doing Enough Now.
! Opinions We're first sought from, OH
| GERS OF the existing batteries in mis-
state. Those in Norfolk and Ports
mouth discouraged the idea Then tho
advice OF the War Department was So
Melted. In a reply from the Division
! or Militia Affairs, General Mills said
the state Is not taking proper care OF
| Wnat IL mas. NO encampmcnt for the ar
tillery was held In 1912, he said nor
| Sp
/ hire Tor practice purposes in tho Ia c,
| eighteen months. He also mentioned
| the TACK OF arnlory facilities. especially
! in Norfolk.
IN a response from -ltijutant- General
sale, at the direction of the C;overnor
attehtion was called to mistakes in
1eheral MISS letter 1t was shown
.n't *-'oVo a year is spent for horse
hlre in Virginia. The camp was not
! hn
ment itself fixed the date so that II
| CONNECTED with the time Of attendance
on the artillery school for officers ar
| fort Riley. Ut is the policy OF Cen
era Sale TO have all the militia. com
nands IN camp every year
! But the department is obdurate
Eenesal NILS makes another reply. in
which, admitting the points made bv
General sale, he still withholds the
departments approval from the or.
1 ganization of the new battery II was
not ATTENDED, he says, to have addi-
tionai batteries formed TO remain ner
manently unequippcd with guns and
That all those accepted will be so
| equipped. lie contends that Virginia
should spend more money on the bat
! teries she has. making them service
able. before forming more He rcii-
crates his intention to take away the
| equipment of the Norfolk Blues unless
the property is taken care of by the
erection of suitable armory
Lieutenant Pollard and his associates
accept the situation philosophtcalIv
! and hope the time may come when
they can enter the service with new
battery. Thcy have spent much ;imc
! and gone to much trouble TO form the
/ command. 1t was intended to restore
the wartime strength of three com
panies OF IIowitZers.