Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-25
OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS.
Matters OF Interest in Connection With
the ID. c. National Guard.

Matters Of Interest in Connection With
the ID. G. National Guard.
| CHANCES AMONG THE oFFIcERs-TALK OF THE
NATIONAL RIFLES COMING INTO THE oReASIzA-
TIoS-A DESIRABLE MovE-DRILL OF TIE rIrTH
BATTALIoN-soCIAL FEATURES.
One of the most interesting possibilities in
connection with National Guard matters is
said to have arrived at such q stage that II
| may now be denomnated q well-founded
rumor. The story goes to the effect that Capt
James M. Oyster Of the National Rifles has
been rendered a commission a. major in tine
District National Guard, and that the captain
VIII accept the preferred honor II the majority
OF the membership of the Rifles will only so
| with him into the guard. There's the rumor.
Ii Capt Oyster should enter the guard he
would probably take the place of Maj. Camp
bell That gentleman's health is not as robust
as he and his many friends would wish it
to be and his resignation has practically
| been in Gen. Ordway's hands every since last
| August. To have their old commander at the
| head Of the fourth battalion would be no small
honor and advantage to the Rifles, for if they
| should follow him he would. without doubt,
| make them company A, and as such they would
| be on the extreme right of the second regi-
ment
| ADVANTAGES TO THE RIFLES IF THEY COME IN.
The result Of such q change as has been
| limited at would be more healthy rivalry than
| now prevails. Lieut. Manson would make q
most excellent captain for the converted COM
pany and it could at once take its place as one
OF the crack commands in the brigade.
Really there seems to be no good
and sufficient reason why the Rifles
| should longer delay their entry into the
| guard. From the beginning many of their
| most prominent members expressed their
| Willingness to go with the rest OF the boys, and
| slnce then every valid excuse for continued
hesitation has been removed. The District
militia Is now founded on law-sound law
and its legitimate expenses are duly provided
ior by congressional appropriation. Its status
| Is OF the highest order and it is only ques-
| ton Of little while before the National
Guard Of the District Of Columbia will be, in
every sense of the word except as to numeri-
cal strength, superior to any other similar Or
ganlzatlon In the United States.
DRILL OF THE FIFTH BATTALION.
The fifth battalion had its first drill last night
under the command of its new senior officer,
Maj r. A. O'Brien. There was an unaccus-
toned amount of snap in the proceedings and
the men enjoyed the maneuvers and the in
| struction; they were sadly in need of both. 1t
has been the custom to have the various COM
panles to fall in in their respective rooms and
from thence to march, In go-as-you-please
sort of way, to the drill hall, where the bat
talon was formed Last night new and bet
ter order OF things was visible and audible. At
O'Clock drill call was sounded; ten minutes later
and the assembly rang out. This was followed, at
SEQ, by the ad jutant's call. II yesterday even
ing performance may be used as basis upon
which to start prediction it is safe to say that
other battalion commanders will have to keep
moving or they will be distanced.
CHANGES AMONG OFFICERS AMI MEN
There have been changes among the officers
Of the fifth battalion and the outlook is favor
able at present for other minor decapitations or
transfers. Adjutant Printz has resigned His
place will be taken by Mr.. H. V. Tierney, a
local attorney and most popular gentleman.
In connection with his appointment the men of
the fifth say they are going TO have the best
looking adiutant in the brigade.
Capt. Beagle and Lieut.. W. B. tombstone
both company officers in the fifth, have been
ordered before the brigade board for exami-
nation as to their fitness to continue in their
present positions and it is by no means i'm
probable that other officers Of that battalion
may receive similar notification
Twelve members of company OF TIE fifth
the old Emmett Guard) have been transferred
to company c, and Second Lieut.. Fainter went
with them. To fill the vacancy caused by the
transfer OF Lieut.. Fainter Second Lieut.. Boyer
Of company will go to company A.
Company of the fourth has q new set of
officers. Second Lieutenant Brewer has been
elected captain, while Second Lieutenant
Birchfeld Of company has been promoted to
the first lieutenancy Of company C. This left
open a second heutenancy in G and that has
been filed by the election Of First Sergeant
Odell.
Private Smythe and Corporal Howard of
Company d of the fourth have been appointed,
respectively right and left general guides with
the rank of sergeant.
THE SOCIAL SEASON
is opening up largely. On Monday evening
the first battalion, clad in their gorgeous raj
ment as the Washington Light Infantry corps,
will go over to Baltimore to decorate the Ma
sonic fair. 1t will also give moral support to
Capt. John Miller and company ID, as they do
an exhibition drill in the hall where the fair is
to be held. A great many members of other
battnlions propose to accompany the white
coated favorites and they won't come home till
morning.
On that same night company of the second
(the National Fencibles) will show themselves
IN an exhibition drill at the National Rifles
Armory, and If any company in this region be-
lieves it can outmaneuver the Fencibles Capt.
Domer and several others of the second bat
talon would like to get look at it.
The second battalion proposes turning ont
bodily on the night of November4. The MEM
bers OF that well-trained subdivision Of the
brigade will attend fair for the benefit of one
of its companies-the Marion Rifles.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE SHOOT"
on the 9Th proximo are going steadily on
Some Of the battalion teams are doing lots of
good, steady work in the way of practice. One
or two Of them are very proud of the scores
and they do not hesitate to make audible and
self-laudatOry remarks about the way in which
they propose to win the trophy. LET him that
thinketh he standeth take heed lest he also
fall"
THE ENGINEER CONpANy
II the engineer company falls short of being
a success it will hardly be the fault of its pro-
motors. They are doing everything in their
power to give the organization a prestige which
| will last it for some time to come, and the
character of those who are being admitted to
membership seems to be more than ordinarily
desirable. Those whose applications have
been approved by the supervising committee
| and who appear at brigade headquarters on
Monday evening will probably be mustered in
The EVENING STAR medal to be shot for on
November is on exhibition in Calls window
NICKEL FOR ARMOR PLATES.
Talk OF "Corners'' I'm the Metal-HOpes
of Supplies From Domestic Sources.
Additional results of the recent tests of armor
Mate at Annapois are still COMING To liobt