Evening star., 1914-05-31

WI D~c~6

I'm view of the statement made during
| the week by Secretary Lindley NJ.
| Garrison of the War Department, it
III would appear that neither the Ma
tional Guard of the District of Co.
! lumbia nor any of the states in the vi
cinity of the District will participate in
the scheduled maneuvers involving the
attack upon and the defense of the Cap
ital city. AS matters look now. it is
| probable that the District and state or
selves with their usual encampments-
Secretary Garrison. when questioned
about the coming maneuvers. declared
that at the present time there were no
troops available to participate in the
maneuvers with the organized militia
and that the maneuvers depended upon
the present Mexican situation. He de-
clared it was probable now that they
would not be held. In this part of the
country they had been scheduled for ten
days between August and 20.
Until some definite information is re-
ceived from the War Department the Of
ficers of the National Guard of the Dis
trict of Columbia can make no plans for
an encampment to take the place of the
planned to hold a five-day camp at
Wheaton. Md, Immediately previous to
the beginning of the maneuvers, but it is
probable that these plans will be changed
in the event word is received from the
War Department that the maneuvers
must be called off.
1t takes the National Guard longer to
prepare for encampments than it does
I f@,- HI nID
the guard officers are desirous of having
some definite information at this time.
Lieut. Col Almon l.. Parmerter, adjutant
general. District of Columbia militia, last
week sent a communication to the COM
manding general of the eastern division,
at Governors Island, \. y, asking 1or
some definite Information concerning the
maneuvers, and informing him of the
urgent need of setting some dennlte date
either for the maneuvers or an encanlp-
ment. 1t is probable that TINS com
munication will be forwarded TO the war
Department and a decision soon VIII De
reached one way or another. PendlnS
reply to this message, the local suaro
will have to mark time. so far as prepa-
rationS are concerned.
If it is decided to call Off the maneu-
yers the matter will be laid before Brig.
| Gen George II. Harries, commanding the
! District of Columbia militia. TO set tne
| time and place for an encampfnent- Al
| though preparations have been mace 10
hold the short encampment at Wheaton,
| as stated, it is probable that the camp
! site will be selected at a farther as
tance from the citv if the maneuVerS
are not held. 1t is doubtful whether the
| camp will be maintained at boiivar
Heights near Harpers Ferry, w. Va
where il was the last three years Early
| in the spring. when the maneuvers were
| proposed, the owner of the land on whlch
| the guard has usually encamped was IN
formed that it would not be required py
| tho local guard for camping purposes
| this wear and it was stated at Natlonal
| Guard headquarters that the owner
proba bly, now had it under cultivation.
| There is a probability that camp may
| he established at Frederick. Md. All OF
| the lumber usually needed at camp as
| we'll as the water system ana shower
! baths are at Harpers Ferry, and TO Sc
1 iect a camp elsewherel Will lhVolve ,he
| moving of this equipment. Whlch nos
/ beeu left on the grounds from year 10
| wear in the interest OF economy.
| = *
/ ,inn.i C,uard armory bill being passed
| by the House of Representatives at thls
| session seem not to be very bright Owing
| to the action of the caucus III Young
| against proposing any public bullolngs
| aScant the Department of Justice, 1t is
| declared probable that small appro-
| nriation will be carried in the sundry
civil bill for the plans and preliminary
| excavation. ,,. .,,s
| inps and grounds has approved tne
measure but Chairman Clark o. floIloa
| has so far refused to report the measure
| owing to the caucus inhibition. However,
| pressure was brought to bear to show
| the importance of such an armofy Tor
| the local National Guard, and II was
| pointed out to the chairman OF the cohi-
I l.,rE n
| facilities was having its effect upon the
| enlistments and the efficiency OF the
| guard which was beyond the control of
| the officers of the organization.
| Unable to get the bill reported those
who have been working hard for the
| measure set themselves to getting some
/ sort of an entering wedge in the way or
| appropriations SO that the remainder
| would have to follow. The proposition
| of having appropriated 5000 for plans
| and preliminary excavation was sug-
| gested. and Chairman Fitzgerald Of the
| House appropriations committee was ap-
| proa ached on the matter. He favored it,
and turned it over to the subcommittee
| on appropria tions. and the chances of
getting this small amount seem to be
| favorable at this time.
| 1t is believed by those in close touch
with this proposed legislation that when
this small sum is approved the guards
men can count on the iong-worked-for
armory as a fact. The appropriation
would become available the first of July.
The excavation would take some time
and il is the hope of those working for
the measure that by the time this money
is used up Congress will again be in
session and efforts to get early action on
additional appropriations will be made, in
an effort to keep the work going, once II
is started.
= X
The tubes of typhoid prophylactic
which were ordered for the use of the
National Guard of the District Of Co
lumbis during the week arrived at Ma.
tional Guard headquarters The work OF
administering it to the National Guards.
men probably will begin this week. II
will be administered by the officers of the
Medical Corps of the National Guard OF
the District of Columbia, under the di.
Erection Of Lieut. Col Luther II. Reichel