Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-14
THE DISTRICT GUARD.
An Indoor Rifle Range for Use by Com.
panies.

p0uIeSs
rrrEcr OF THE ORDER RrLrrv1yo Irur.
LxMY-KFfoRTs TO SECURE ITS REVOCATION
ATTITUDE OF THE MILIrIA-THE FALL DRESS
PARADE.
There is a premonitory quiet at the national
guard headquarters. The adjutant general has
folded his tent and like the Arab has silently
stolen away to join his battery in obedience to
the order he recently received from the War
department. He went with q sigh, for he had
grown found Of the place, its duties, and the
men with whom he had been surrounded
during the few weeks of his stay, an affection
that was more than repaid by that which had de-
veloped on the part Of entire guard towards him.
His successor has not yet been named, but
there is a determined movement on the part OF
Lieut.. Lemly's friends to secure the revocation
Of the order of relief. Before many days have
passed protests against the appointment of any
other man will be made at the White House,
and when Secretary Proctor returns next Tues
day he will find q rather knotty question be-
fore him.
There are folks who claim that this order
relieving Lieut.. Lemly was the act OF high
military authority on duty here who has an
tagonized Gen. Ordway's efforts to organize
and sustain the national guard and who has,
on more than one occasion before now, thrown
obstacles in his path. However this may be
the general is not bereft of all hope Of getting
Lieut.. Lemly back.
PREPARING FOR THE WINTER.
The general and his adjutant we're making
their plans for the winter. They had just ar
ranged for series of lectures to the guard on
topics relative to their duties and there were
many details Of the winter campaign worked
out. Everything satisfactory, all looked
prosperous and the officers of the staff were
beginning to congratulate themselves upon the
aspect of national guard affairs when the bomb
was thrown into their midst, scattering plans
and projects and momentarily darkenlng the
horizon. OF course the routine goes on as
usual. Capt. Piexotto is performing the duties
of adjutant general pending appointment and
there has been q slight recovery from the
shock
THE ATTITUDE OF THE MILITIA.
Referring to the situation an officer Of the
guard expressed himself day or SO ago as fol-
lows: 1.-THE antagonism in the minds Of tho
militia men against the coming man, which
you mentioned the other day in The STAR, is
not myth or a fiction, but a positive, I'M
doubted existence. 1t is smouldering now
simply because there is no object for its at
tack, but there is now forming in the minds of
the men an opposition to the new officer even
before he is known. before any one knows who
he will be. that will make things mighty I'M
pleasant There is a determination on every
side to receive him with as little cordially and
support as possible. The armories will be
opened to him with sort of protest and plans
| are forming to thwart him in his official duties
without exhibiting the slightest breach of
military discipline. He will find himself tied
hand and foot. You see, the question strikes
| the men just about this way: they feel that the
guard shall have Just little to say about
who should occupy its offices, and especially
such an Office that of adjutant general.
They feel that when they like man and want
him to stay and he wants to stay he should be
allowed to stay. That is ALL"
ROOM FOR RIFLE PRACTICE.
Gen. Ordway has been trying for some time
to get possession of a suitable room for the rifle
practice of the guardmen this winter. He has
realized that the men very deficient in this
matter, where a militiaman should be an ex-
pert. The scores made at Fort Washington
were ridiculously small, and it is quite appar-
ent to the officers of the guard that there was
good field there for reform. There would be
little or no opportunity for the men to avail
themselves of the opportunities offered for
practice by the targets at the arsenal during
the winter on account of the short days and
bad weather, SO it was decided by the general
that the best plan was to provide good indoor
range that could be used at night. His efforts
IN this direction have at last been successful,
and during the past week he concluded ar
rangements with the Kingsley creamery COM
pany for the lease of the third floor of their
large building on d street between 9th and
10th. which was originally built by Frank
Ward. This affords room 1876 feet in length
by 80 feet wide, a magnificent range for shoot
ing. 1t Is centrally located, easy of access, and
will be fitted up with all accommodations for
the purpose. Work will be begun at once and
it is expected that the range will be ready for
opening in three or four weeks. thick plank
partition will be erected at the rear end of the
room covered with a sheathing Of metal thus
affording perfect security against accidents
The targets, six in number, will be erected i'm
medlately In front of this butt. They will
probably be of the Uhlmann electric pattern,
self annunciatlng, and will be reduced to the
correct size for gallery work.
COMPANY PRACTICE.
1t is Gen. Ordway's intention that every COM
pany in the guard shall have one nights target
practice each month, and for this purpose the
range will be open every evening except Sum
day. schedule will be arranged to fit this
scheme, SO that there will be no friction The
Use OF the range will be entirely educational and
the work there done will be in accordance with
the most approved methods Of target practice.
There will be no promiscuous firing no care
less handling OF guns, no impromptu matches
between individuals. but a steady, progressive,
scientific course of study in the art of rifle firing
Maj. Pollard, inspector general of rifle practice,
Will be IN charge of this work, while the in
spector of each battalion will be responsible
for the achievements of the men under them
If the men do not show that they know how to
handle a rifle how to pose, how to aim, they
will first be given instructions in what is known
as the position, aiming and sighting drill before
charge Is put into their guns. From this
point the instruction will proceed, a record be-
ing kept Of each shot fired.
BECOMING MARKsMEN.
When a man makes an average of 80 per cent
of perfect record, or in the military vernacu-
lar, qualities" he becomes ''marksman,"
and as such is entitled badge indicating that
achievement This consists of a miniature tar
get worn like button on the lapel of the coat
Then whenever he attains a record of 80 per
cent he becomes ''sharpshooter," and is en-
titled to wear the badge distinctive of that
rank. In the army these insignia are highly
priced by their winners, and are almost always
worn with feeling of pride. They will be
awarded to the District militiamen as fast as
they are earned.
1t is Gen. Ordway's idea that these induce
ments, added to the novelty of the practice,
will create great interest in the guard The
monthly trip to the range will afford pleas
ant relief to the monOtony of drilling, and the
constant rivalry and competition between the
men to attain high scores will undoubtedly
serve to stir up some of that enthusiasm that
is sure to lead to a healthy condition Of affairs
in the ranks of the guards. The range will be
fitted with lights and ventilating fans, the lat
ter to carry the smoke out OF the room. The
cartridges will be loaded with short charges of