Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-13
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
Grovi;ng Over the Results OF the Recent
Shooting Matches


INJUSTICE OF THE COMPLAINTS ssowS-oRpER u
REGARD TO DRILLING UNDER THE NEW tactic:
COMPANIES MUST FILL UP THEIR RANKS OF
CoSsoLIDATE-nUSTISG FOR NEW QUARTERS.
Tho GROWER unfortunately. has his place
iE creation. he is part of the Divine poli.y
and has to be. The world would be much more
comfortable without him. but thea the world ii
net constructed with a view to universal COM
fort. so the grumbler and several other dis-
tu-bers Of mental and physical peace keen right
along with the human procession. preaching
the doctrine Of professional iiscon;eat- The
GROWER, humanity speaking. never institutes a
reform; he simply grovls at conditions. Time
aud the persisteucy OF energetic men may
bring sbeSt changes in the conditions, but the
crovler will rrovl az the changes and tho
cause. witch made them possible just as visor-
ously as he erSw.ed at the older order Of
things."
after thus introducing his subject, proceeds as
follows;
ep1wrrNa At rur siFLr MATCHES.
There are GROWERS in the District National
Guard as there are in all organizations. but at
this time the GROWER who talks most and SAYS
least is the man whose spirit is disturbed be-
canse the brigade rifle matches were so ar
win any of the big prizes. One Of the crit
icisrns that made it, appearance since the close
Of the annual shoot was full o. complaint be-
cause inspectors Of ri,e practice competed
with those vino were not inspectors. Tho
INSPECTORS were hkened 20 college professors
and the others were ret up students
and from these absurd premises were drawn
irrft.onal and unfair conclusions. The pro
fessor and the student could not compete In an
examination, but there is no analogy between
the two cases A professor Is engaged to
teach. and he receives therefor more or less
remuneration: an inspector OF rifle practice IN
the D. C.. n q. gives NOR. time TO his Work
than any other line or staff officer, spends at
least as much money, receives nothing more
for his work than the consciousness of duty
well performed. and now the GROWER would
shut him ont from competition because expert
encc has made him somewhat of an expert In
his branch Of study. The same amount of ex-
perience may be acquired by any man IN the
brigade il ne will devote to rifle practice as
much time and thought as do most of the in
spectors. Skill in the Of the rifie cannot be
hastily produced; IL comes only IN response TO
strenuous and long-continued effort
ALLEGED INEQUALITIES OF coNPErIr-oS.
More than one Of tine ncn-winners who COM
peted during the meeting last week seemed to
think il was unjust that they were brought
into competition with sEarp=horters; they
srgued that sharpshooters should be pittsd only
against sharpshOoters, and that most OF the
matches rbclld be for mGrksmen cnly. Never
WAS mere unreasonable theory adrauced- Inc
man who cannot make sc pres TIA. Will come
very near 20 averaging so per cent has no right
10 o prize of any considerable value Costly
gold medals not for those who have failed
10 win the sharpshooters' silver cross. and it
would be a dark day for rifle shooting II big
rewards were consequent upon lcw-Srade
shooting. The idea OF magnificent prizes for
mediocre shooting Is most undesirable novelty
in the world of clean sport. COMPANY medals
l., 49,
strive for: then capture the silver cross. and
when that has been accomTisne the average
riieman NAV begin 10 hope Ger thoss emblems
which are Indicative OF mere than ordinary
proves on the range. For those men who
were outclassed in the big matches last week
q score of prizes-many of them valuable
were set esiie. These should satisfy reason
able beings. IL medals worth from sac TO SIS
were offered for competition IN the maj ksman
class alone where would be the incentives Tor
better shooting? The GROWERS can rest assured
of one thing. and that Is that the big prizes in
the District National Guard will never be won
BY men capable only of making small scores.
IL there be material IN this statement for
grovl. why growl away
STOP pRa.LIyG UPTON!
The following official communication, which
is general orders No. IA. dated November 10,
explains itself. Everybody can see that it
means that toe piJtrict National Guard shall
immediately cease all drills not in accordance
with the n2w system:
Il The President having approved a rev
system Of drill regulations for the government
OF the army and for the observance of the
militia Of the United States they are hereby
adopted for the instruction snd drill of tho
National Guard Of the District of Columbia.
AL exercises and maneuyers not embraced in
that system are prohibited and those pre-
scrIbed will be strictly followed
III Regimental commanders will immedi-
ately organize schools of officers. and battalion
Commanders schools of non-cOmmissioned Off
GERS for instruction in the new drill.
iii. IL is desired that all officers will care
fully note and communicate direct to the ad-
jutant general. from time to time, all inquiries
suggestions and criticisms that the practical
application Of the new drill may Indicate as
worthy of consideration.
SOMETHING GOING TO DROP.
But this change Of tactics Gin which the Dis
trict National Guard, as usual, is ahead) means
more thar is apparent at first sight. Double
rank f-rniaticn is now compulsory. and where
companies are too wax to make such n forma-
tim practicable there will be consultations
Nothing l. to be done hasIily-Gen. 0rdway
moves SLOWLY In a matter of such importance.
Ii II evidently bis desire to give every weak
COMPANY \ chance to strengthen itself and he is
going &c allow a safficiency of time bat unless
there - wonderful growth apparent within a
reasonable perio there will be fever companies
In both the first and second regiments before
eprlnTtmc Svmetn
Cavalry non-eommissioIed officers are busy
a. bees on the new tactics. Capt Barbour has
warned the cheyron-we2rers that proficiency
Is the only thing which will insure them their
distinctive marks OF favor; therefore are the
sergeants and :orporals sawing much wood SO
to speak.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Troop AMI light battery are getting
ready to move on. Some business man has Sc
cured a lease Of the New York avenue rink
building and must have possession January l.
SO cavalry and artillery are looking around for
new quarters. To get the right kind of an
arn,ory for these troops is no easy thing. Big
guns cannot be ho:sted in and out OF third
story windows. nor is II convenient for troopers
20 pack their riding equipment up and down
ten or dozen flights of stairs. None of the
boys want to move; they we're very comforta-
bly and centrally located and thev despair of
finding home just as good us the one they are
preparing 20 leave.
movement is now on foot which may re-
suit IN some sort Of partnership between the
Columbian University and tine engineer CORPS
The idea is to make such G special arrange
meat A. Will permit members of the corps
TO receive necessary scientific instruction at the
university. As partial return for this privi-
lege (the balance being IN CASH such university
students as 80 desire will be permitted to par
ueipatc in the field work Of the corps.
GALLERY Rifle MATCH.
Company T. fourth battalion, held its quar-