Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-08-20
FIRST MACHINE GUN
DETACHMENT ORGANIZED
Present Plans for Annapolis and St.
Johns Means Great Things.
FIRST ORGANIZATION OF KIND.
10 ANY College Of United States---
Manifest Interest Of Major Riley
and Lieut.. MOss---Lalter to
be Detailed in Command

The first machine gun detachment
to be organized in Maryland Will be
secured for Annapolis if the present
plans of the military authorities Of the
State mature, and an opportunity Will
be offered to the students of St Johns
College to form it.
IL they avail themselves of the op-
portunity, it viii be the first organiza
tion of the kind in any college in the
United States. St Johns will be per
forming a distinct service to the State
and Union, and the tremendous neces-
sity Of more machine gun detachments
is recognized by all military men.
To indicate the great need OF ma
chine gun organizations. Il is stated
reliably that there are but $50 of these
weapon in the hands of troops i'm the
United States. while Germany and
France each had about $4,000 at the
opening of the present war. The war
has shown the vital necessity Of ma
chine guns in nearly every operation
and any infantry force of the United
States would be at an Overwhelming
disadvantage in the event of hostili-
ties II Il was not adequately supplied
These considerations have had great
weight with the Federal and State mil
itary authorities. and have led them to
make the effort to secure these organ
izations. The matter of forming a
machine gun detachment has been
urged for over a year by Major Hugh
r. Riley, of this city and the Adiutant
General, after receiving a strong let
ter on the subject from the War De-
partment, has issued an order for the
formation Of the detachment in An
napolis. to be attached to the Fret
Regiment NJ. n. G.
The First Regiment was selected for
the first effort as II is much stronger
in numbers than the other regiments
OF the State Major Riley and Lieut.
X. Graham Moss, Of this city. confer
red with Gen. Charles d. Gather. the
brigade commandment Saunders Range
this week, and General Gather an
proved OF the plan to secure the de-
tGchment of st. Johns. if possible
and also stated that Lieutenant Moss
would be detailed to command il
Lieutenant Moss is enthusiastic on the
subject.
Lieut.. c. S. Mcneil. commandant at
St. Johns. has expressed his general
approval of the plan when il was dis
eussed tentatively some time ago. He
has been sent a communication outlin-
ing the specific plan, and asking for
his views. Lieut.. McNeill was for
merly a Guardsman, and hass hown
great interest in the local company.
He commanded machine gun company
for two years. and will be just the man
to help the new organization.
Moreover. should Lieutenant Nc
Neill leave annapolis, there is no doubt
that an officer of the Marine Corps or
Navy would always be willing to help
Tn organization with technical advice
A minimum of thirty-eight men must
be obtained to form the new com
pany. but it is hoped that the max
imum Of fifty can be secured. The
members must be eighteen years Of
age, and have the consent of parents.
II minors. The plan will probably be
to enlist the detachment from all the
classes but the senior, so tha. they
can remain in the organization for at
least two years.
Seniors who live in Annapolis may
also enlist, as they will probably be
able to remain in it after graduation.
The detachment may also take in a
few former ST. Johns students liv-
ing in Annapolis, but it is hoped to
make At st. Johns affair. and thus
give st. Johns a unique feature from
pointed out that the possession Of the
organization will give st. Johns de-
cided claim upon the State
Membership in the organization will
entail no expense. on the contrary
the members will be supplied with
uniforms and other equipment, and
will be paid when they go to camp
They will also have the privilege OF
the rife range. Membership will give
great advantage to those who wish
10 secure a commission in the Regular
Army through appointment and ex-
animation. OF course, the movement
is contingent upon obtaining the ap-
Droval of the authorities of st. Johns
College.
1