1910 03 11: Twenty-Third may lose several line officers

Story is That Certain Captains Have Been Slow in Recruiting

COLONEL NORTON IS SILENT.

One Resignation Already In - Regiment Attains 99.04 Per Cent. at Muster.

Now that the annual inspection and muster of the Twenty-third Regiment is over, it is reported that a number of line officers are about to retire. Whether or not this is in line with the avowed intention of Colonel Frank H. Norton "to go down the line" after he had finished with the field and staff is not positively known; but when one officer last night after his company had returned from the floor where it had been inspected was asked about his reported resignation, he refused to discuss it and referred the questioner to the colonel.

It has been rumored for some time that several company captains had signified their intention of getting out of the regiment as soon after the annual inspection and muster as practicable, and those who had their ears to the ground last night heard of at least one and possibly two resignations.

That of Captain George Ball is now in the hands of the colonel. Captain Ball is the commanding officer of Company F. This is one of the small companies of the regiment, its aggregate membership as reported to the inspecting officers last night being but 49. There is but one other company with a smaller membership than this; both are below the minimum. When Colonel Norton assumed command of the Bedford avenue organization last summer he impressed upon his officers and men the necessity of getting recruits. It is said that some of the companies have increased their numbers; but that others appear to be at a standstill. The officers of the companies who have not made good are now slated for retirement, it is said. As to this, however, the colonel himself is non-committal.

Captain Ball enlisted in Company F as a private in 1884. He advanced through all of the grades to the position of first sergeant in October, 1898. He was elected a second lieutenant in November, 1899, a first lieutenant in July, 1902, and a captain in January, 1905.

Just before the inspection of the regiment last night, Colonel Norton swore into his new duties as captain of Company G, John R. Sawyer, the first lieutenant who was recently elected, and the members of the company unanimously chose Second Lieutenant Ethelbert Green as first lieutenant to succeed Captain Sawyer. As soon as Lieutenant Green receives his new commission, Sergeant Fenton will stand for the election of second lieutenant.

Last night was Sergeant W. J. Dalton's last appearance as a member of the Twenty-third Regiment. Sergeant Dalton has been a member of Company M since its organization and prior to that time served with other companies. He recently was elected a second lieutenant of Company C, Forty-seventh Regiment. and passed the brigade examining board last Wednesday evening. His old comrades in Company M last night, after the inspection, presented him with a saber and belt.

The annual inspection and muster last night in many respects was the best ever had at the Twenty-third Regiment armory. The mustering and inspecting officers were enabled to complete their work with dispatch. The entire proceedings were over with by 11 o'clock, whereas in the old days, 1 o'clock in the morning was the usual time for terminating the inspection.

That last night's inspection was consummated so quickly was due to the fact that the equipment and appearance of the men was above reproach. Lieutenant Colonel G. A. Wingate of the division staff, who has been inspecting and mustering for years, said: "The reason we got through so quickly is due to the fact that the men were neat, their uniforms clean and their equipment laid out in an orderly manner upon the drill floor".

The inspection officers were Lieutenant Colonel G. A. Wingate, Lieutenant Colonel John N. Stearns, Lieutenant Colonel G. W. Bunnell and Captain Cornelius Vanderbilt for the state and Captain R. Foster Walton and Lieutenant Townsend Whelan for the regular army. Brevet Major General J. G. Eddy of the Second Brigade staff and Major R. G. Moran, brigade inspector, were present in uniform. Previous to the inspection Colonel Norton and his staff entertained the inspecting and mustering officers at a dinner served in the Union League Club. The muster showed a total of 732 officers and men on the rolls, of which 725 were present and accounted for. The percentage of attendance was 99.04. Last year the total on the rolls of the regiment was 760, of which 9 were absent. Following is a detailed list of those present and absent last night:

Brooklyn Daily Eagle