Evening star., 1915-03-14

&GuARD
~ D.

rNtANTRS orGaniza tions of the Ma :
uonal Guard of the District OF
Columbia will have TO content
III themselves with Il camp alone this
year. while the lSt Battery, Field
Artillery. Signal Corps Company and
medical organizations are enjoyins
joint camps with federal troops. Notice
was issued by the War Department
during the week that appropriations
VIII not warrant holding joint camps
for infantry instruction. But the no
rice stated that cit is contemplated to
hold joint camps of instruction for
field artillery. coast artillery. signal
corps and medical corps during the
coming summer. and it may be possible
10 hold a joint camp for the cavalry OF
small scale
No steps have yet been taken by To-
cal National Guard officials looking TO
the selection of q site for the next an
1ual cHcanpmeut. although there are
a number of officers and men of the
loca National Guard who favor a re
turn to the Virginia Beach camp site.
II was declared to he probable, how
ever. that Brig. Gen. George H. Harries,
I
1;si!itia. will take up the question of a
camp site in the very near future.
Although the battery OF field artil-
lery of the local guard has not been
in camp with the other organizations
for the past three years. il is pointed
out. this part of the organization is not
really needed at an encampment How
ever. isieut. Col. Parmerter, adNItant
general. District of Columbia militia,
declared that the Signal Corps would
he missed in working out tactical prob
lens, although to send il to a joint en-
campnent would not work a hardship
on the infantry organizations.
Col Parmerter conceded at the same
time that much benefit would be deriv-
ed by the signal company ,by a joint
encampment with the troops of the
regular service.
Some time ago it was believed that
so much money would be taken up in
paying the property shortages of 1917
that there would be little left for an
encampment of the infantry this year,
but Col. Parmerter said he believed
there would be sufficient funds with
which to finance camp this year with
out creating 4 deficit
The question of a camp site and the
dates for the encampment of 1915, it is
declared. will have to be determined
very soon, in order that the members
OF the guard may make their arrange
1nents for getting their leaves of alb
sence. To wait until the eleventh hour
to announce the dates, il is stated. al
ways has its effect upon the camp at
tendance. because the men cannot get
away from their civil employment on
short notice.
The target practice of the National
Guard of the District of Columbia Will
be held on the Congress Heights rifle
range in May and June of this year
according to Col. Parmerter. He said
the order for the practice had been
prepared, but he did not want to pub
liSh IT until he mad had Il conference
with Mai. Joseph G.. Castner e. & A.
who is TO relieve Col Parmerter as ad-
Jutant general-for the reason that the
practice season comes after Col. Par
merter relirquishes his duties here.
Mai. tastner is already visiting the
local National Guard organizations on
their drill nights, getting in touch with
the work of the militiamen. He has
made several calls at the armories dur
ing the week. and has been present at
The annual inspections of some of fhe
commands. Capt Horace p Hobbs,
u. :. A.. instructor assigned
TO the local National Guard. who re-
ported for duty here last Monday, is
conducting the inspections.
In view of the fact that Mai. Castner
is taking course at the Army War
College al Washington barracks and
Will not finish the course until some
time in June. it is understood that Mai
e. Fred Cook. adjutant generals de-
partment. \. C. D. c., will act as ad-
Jutant general of the militia until such
time as Mai Castner completes his
studies at the War College.
The organizations to be inspected
during the coming week are Companies
l. and NJ, I'd Infantry, Monday: head
quarters fieid staff and non commits
sioned staff supply company and Com
panies and 3, 1st Infantry, Tuesday;
COMPANIES and d, 1st Infantry
Wednesday: Companies + and +, fst
Infantry. Thursday: Companies Il and
il. LIST Infantry. Friday.
y book of instruction for the solu-
ton OF map problems. written by Capt.
Bernard Sharp. L. s. A, is ready for
distribution. according to the bulletin
Of the division of militia affairs. War
Department. 1t has been especially
prepared for militia officers who are
pursuing the course in applied tactics
by the solution Of map problems
Commissions were issued during the
week TO Capt. John II. Scharf. 1st In
fantry: Capt. Thomas Brown 1st In
fantry. First Lieut.. James g. Jones. fst
Infantry, FIRST Lieut. Marsh A Boden-
bert L. Eanes. Ist Infantry. and First
Lieut.. John A. Dugan. lst Infantry
Col. William z. Harvey. commanding
-.
G.. has been granted leave Of absence
70 April IL. He has gone to Porto
Rico on business
I:
After twenty-seven years of efficient
service. Maj. Romulus A. Foster
Medical Corps. y. g. .. C.. has been
retired on account Of age. Mai Foster.
at the time of his retirement was i'm
command of the sanitary detachment
Of the 1st Infantry, which is the repi-
mental hospital
Maj Foster. who is sixty-four years
of age. was presented with his gold
medal for twenty-five years service
Just two years ago. The presentation
took place on the big camp ground at
Camp Ordway. Harpers Ferry. w
Va. when the entire brigade of the
National Guard of the District of Co
lumbia was drawn up On the parade
ground. Brig. Gen. George H. Harries,
commanding the District of Columbia
militia, personally presented the
medal. and complimented Maj. Foster
upon his long service.
Practically every camp of the guard
LEa h,yA TAI N