Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-26
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
Rifiemen to Compete With Crack Shots
at Creedmoor.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COMING ENcAMPMEST-
IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE IN THE GROUNDS
SCHEDULE OF RIFLE PRACTICE FOR MAY-NoTEs
FROM THE ARMORIEs.
Active interest in rifle shooting, which has
never been slack since Gen. Ordway opened
the rifle gallery, has become more marked than
ever during the past week. and there will be no
less enthusiasm when it becomes known that
the District National Guard is to be represented
at Creedmoor and Seagirt, when the crack
shots OF the land are holding their annual COM
petitive meetings at those places made famous
by the presence of sbarpshooters with whose
names the whole world is familiar. Naturally
there will be much rivalry before the team
from this city is finally made up. but the best
men will win. and when the twelve experts go
forth to do battle for the honor of the
local soldier boys they will already have made
regulations in their preliminary practice. In
order that Maj. Pollard inspector general of
rifle practice. and Eegimental Inspectors Cash
and Bell may the more easily select the steadi-
est marhsmen practice at the range will be
taken up next month. Not generally. not for
every man who would like to bang away at a
target. but for those who in the gallery have
at least shown themselves capable of averaging
s. per cent Those who have done thus well
may prepare for the summers work that lies
before them. This special practice will be
Kept up through May. on each Wednesday from
2 to o'clock, June and July, and by the time
camp comes to an end the dozen steady-nerved.
clear-eyed. muscular representatives of the
guard will be selected and will be ready to take
care of their regulations in the hottest kind of
contest. Men who participate in this volun-
teer practice will appear in undress uniform.
CAUSE FOR REJOICING.
The February scores made in the gallery
II.
STAR a week ago that such a course was being
seriously considered by Gen. Ordway. and,
after consultation with Maj. Pollard. the gen.
eral decided that 1t would be unfair to test
mems shooting ability with ammunition that
was faulty in almost every instance. The May
score will take the place of February.
Following is the schedule for gallery practice
for May: First battalion-CompaDy A, Friday.
May 10; company b. Wednesday. May =; com
pauy L, Saturday. May Il: company D. Satur-
day. May 81. Second battalion Company A.
Tuesday. May 8; company Il, Monday, MAY D.;
company &. Tuesday. May 20; company ID. Mon
day. May I9. Third battalion company A,
Monday. May 20; company b. Friday. MAY .;
company G. Thursday, May 8; company d,
Tuesday. May b. Fourth battalIon-Company
A. Friday. MAY 80; company b. Thursday. May,
~ company G.. Tuesday, May "a; company ID,
Wednesday. May2S. Fifth battalion Company
A. Wednesday. May IA; company b, Friday,
NAV 2: company G.. Thursday. May /; company
A. saturday. May 10; company b, Wednesday,
May 81; company c. Saturday. Mays. Seventh
battaliOn-COmpany A. Thursday, May 10; COM
pany q, Thursday, May Is. Eighth battalion
Company A. Friday. May %; company b. Fri
day. May %. Cavalry troop, Thursday, May
~. The general staff and the teld and staff
officers and non-commissioned staff of regi-
meats, Saturday, May "a. The field and staff
officers and non-commissioned staff of bat
taliOns. the evenings assigned 10 company of
their respective battallons. Practice for the
month of April will be at 300 and GOO yards;
each man viii fire one score at each distance,
and his scores will be recorded.
FAIR PLAY ALI. AROUND.
Some of the more promising among the
newly discovered rifemen have been looking
with some anxiety for the appearance of regu-
lations governing matches for medals. badges
and other special prizes. None of the rules
have as vet been formulated, but they are being
considered and will be submitted to Gen
Ordway during the coming week. Each special
prize will need special regulations. If all the
competitions were open ali the prizes would
go to three or four men, There must be
different classes or every man will not have a
fair show.
IMPROVING THE CAMP GROUND.
good deal of attention is being given just
now to the not-far-away annual encampment.
The plans are complete and the brigade staff is
AZ work on their fulfiment OF interest to the
average guardsman and of supreme importance
To the civilian visitor is the condition of the
roads in and around the camp. A force of men
Il at work on the roadways now .flling up holes
made during the rainy season IN July last and
spreading gravel literally wherever it seems to
be necessary. Nothing like this done last
year. and as a consequence it was muddy for
the pedestrians. The wharf is also being at
tended to and will soon be one of the most sub
stantial on the Potomac.
The kitchen water supply last year was hardly
IL. ,E..l
be ample next time. The United States Fish
Commission authorities now have in operation
much more powerful engine and large pump
at their station near the wharf. Use OF this
improved machinery has been rendered Gen
Ordway and accepted Two large tanks will be
placed on the ramparts. and into these will the
Potomac huld be pumped, to be retailed at
convenient points In the kitchens. In accord
ance with the plans decided upon by the gen.
eral after his visit TO Fort Washington early
this week the old kitchens will be supplemented
by new one, now in course of erection. The
old ones will have ranges in them and there
will be done the frying, broiling and roasting
In the new addition will be huge cauldrons, in
which will be cooked the coffee soup and
potatoes for which the soldiers appetites will
call No arrangements have as vet been made
Tor the compromising and parboiling OF a fish
ehowder. The chowder served last year was
hardly a success, and in fact achieved unpopu-
Iarlty several degrees more acute than that
which attached to bologna sausage, known in
the military vocabulary as dog"
why THE REGULARS LOOKED PRETTY
very interesting fact has just crawled out
In connection with the review OF regular troops
and national guardsmen that took place here
on the 18th instant. Heretofore the regulars
have been inclined to sneer at the citizen SOL
diery and have always gone to more or less
trouble to impress upon the militiaman's mind
the truth that he was too far down in the mill
tary scale to be in any sense "A competitor
Sometimes this doctrine has been accepted, but
not always. Now things have changed very
materially. Previous to bringing his men over
TO the review Col Carpenter. commanding at
Fort Myer. told his non-cOmmissioned officers
that he would hold them personally responsible
for any blunders which might be made by the
men. and he further intimated that if any man
did slip up on tactics that poor unfortunate
would secure unImpeded entrance into the
guard house rs soon the troops returned to
their post. Fortunately there were no notice
able errors, so all was well. but it is worthy of
note that au old army officer thinks il neces-
sary to stir up his continually drilled force
whenever they have to appear ON parade IN
company with troop of the District Guard
The local troopers are much tickled over the
affair.
STRAY SHOTS.
Instructions have been issued to lay the camp
out on the same lines that Of last year. Had
II not been for the softness of the soil in the
Third Artillery garden, which was in front of
the right of the First Regiment whole