Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-27

the opening Of the next range season and as
rapidly as men become experts at known dis
lance firing they should be advanced to the
more difficult lessons of the skirmish line.
TIE ENGINEER COMPANY.
''The organization of the engineer company
on the plan adopted has resulted in the reten-
ton in the service Of several expert rifemen
who had decided that business interests would
not permit their regular attendance at COM
pany and battalion drills. and were about to
sever their connection with the brigade. 1t
has also resulted in the enlistment of a number
VINO had seen extensive service in the regular
army. in the National Guard of various states
and In military schools and colleges. and who
were unable to spare the time requisite for
company drills or averse to again begin
ing at the foot of the military ladder
This company lie therefore largely COM
posed OF men who, by. reason of
long service, can dispense with the routine
work necessary for recruits and can devote
more time to expert rifle practice in all it's
branches, thus constituting a most effective
body Of sharpshooters. The outcome of this
experiment will be watched with great and
widespread interest and it is earnestly hoped
may prove to be all that it is expected. Its sue
cess now seems to be assured.
VALUABLE SERVICES OF HIS ASSISTANTS.
''Much sacrifice has been required of all my
assistants, and has been in most instances,
cheerfully made; not that they could always
afford it, but that it was necessary to our sue
cess. 1t is questionable whether they can con-
time to devote to this service the time and
money that will henceforth be indispensable.
Company officers if well instructed, should be
able to attend 10 much Of the detail and should
be required to do SO. Some of the most valued
inspectors of rifle practice have resigned or
only refrained from so doing because of earn
est solicitation. and their only reason for such
4
tice to the exactions of the Office. Whatever
OF success has attended our efforts it is largely
due to their endeavors.
TIE ELECTRIC TARGET.
''This report would be incomplete without
reference to the Ul!man electric target. so
successfully tested in our practice. Without
it we should certainly have come to grief at
the annual ercampment as well "a in our sub
sequcnt practice at the Washington barracks
range With but one of these targets at 200
yards and another at zoo yards we found them
sufficient for all tine practice of the brigade ut
these ranges and fully equal to three ordinary
targets az each distance. These two targets,
therefore, enabled US to dispense with six
mar kers, with telephone lines and attendants.
&c. low estimate of the saving would be Mt
least TlJ per day. They register with GER
tainty. the location and value of the shots are
correctly and instantly given and their rec
ords are impartial and unreasonable.
stormy weather when ordinary targets would
be useless and when markers would be unable
or unwilling to serve. and they could be
adapted to winter practice from sheltered firing
points ut all military posts. In fact. one of the
most attractive of their many advantages is
that they render large. practice easy in all
weathers when other military duty would be
im1ract icable. 1 strongly urge the purchase
of two mid-range targets of this pattern. one
for the 500 and the other for the G00-yartis
targets. will be ample for all the known-diStance
firing"
Lieut.. Geo. H. Harries. inspector of rife
practice. second battalion. has been ordered
to supervise the rifle practice of troop A from
and after January /. Heretofore the cavalry
command has been "nobody's child in the
matter of carbine and revolver practice. This
season the troop is expected to graduate a
dozen hrSt-clasS shots.
Capt. {. \. Domcr commands company that
appreciates his efforts. Christmas night he was
steered into the Eencibles rooms in the Center
Market armory, and there Lieut.. l.. b. Mosher
presented HIN with Christmas stocking.
Roars Of laughter greeted the extraction there
from Of numerous mirth-proyoking articles.
but the laughter turned to applause when the
captain pulled GU: beautiful gold watch
1t was the gift of his company. Speeches fol-
lowed the discovery Of the watch and general
JOlitN DTtNjltU
Members Of the frs. platoon of the engineer
company viii have target practice in the gal
lcry next Saturday evening at $50.
Maj. Bracket, second battalion, has made
the following appointments: Robert L. Maddox
to be sergeant major; Sergt. Thos. s. Scrivener
to be color sergeant: Private ". L. Thornton,
company ID, to be right general guide; Private
}. u. MURRAY, company u, to be left general
guide.
The election Of Eugene J. B. ONeill az cap
tain of company c, fifth battalion. is highly
commended on all sides. Mr.. O'Neill is 4
graduate oi the law department of Georgetown
University and now practices here. He has
been a member OF the National Fencibles for
the pas: two years. YVES the company historian
and was a member of the drill team which re-
flec;ed so much credit on the District National
Guard az Kansas City last year.
The board Of examination for the second bat
talon has been dissolved and new one organ
lied with First Lieut. Charles J.. VI. Skerrett,
First Lieut. Charles A. Meyer and Second Lieut..
VIM. ". Mortimer rs members.
In the gallery rife-I practice schedule for jan
uary company \, second battalion. was assigned
for the evening of New Year day. The sehed-
Ule has been amended so that companies A and
u will do their shooting on January ).
Lieut. IL. L. Surguy. gEarter:nGster, second
battalion. has resigned. He will return to his
home in Columbus. Ohio. Lieut.. Surguy has
been q most efficient officer.
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