Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-18
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
An Omesr Replies 10 Mr.. Evans-The Fscts
Of the Case.

| THE NATIONAL GUARD.
An Omesr Replies 10 ME-. Evans-The Facts
Of the Case.
| To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
1 In Saturdays Issue Of The STAR there APP
i peared o communication from Mr.. George w.
Evans relative to the somewhat disturbed con-
dition of Affairs in one portion Of the District
National Guard. Had that been Mr.. Evans only
effusion on the subject the aggregation. Of ma
licious fiction and ingeniously dishonest mis-
representation might never have been dignifed
into subject matter for controversy, but in the
Post Of yesterday morning Mr.. Evans inter-
viewed himself reporters are 80 liable to error)
and once moro INDUCED in the Misunderstanding
amusement Of throwing mud. Before proceed
| ing to discuss some of Mr.. Evans literary and
mental gymnastics l want TO separate him from
the National Rifies-the company which he
without authority is endeavoring to drag
| into this controversy for the purpose
Of giving him the support he must
| feel In need of. In no sense does he represent
| the Rifles and that fact should be thoroughly
understood. His animus is purely personal
and was first publicly apparent when. by the
! operation of law and the exercise of proper
authority, the Rifles turned over their arms to
these same colored troops-the troops that arc
now being eulO yized for the purpose Of insult
ing the white commands.
Mr.. Evans opened mp on Saturday by stating
that the two colored battalions were, in the
judgment Of many military critics, the re-
deeming feature Of the District National Guard.
yield to M one in the matter of fair
ness, and the officers Of the seventh and
| eighth battalions can testify to my active
friendship in their behalf. but neither Mr.
Evans nor any other enemy Of the National
Guard can circulate such nonsense as he has
written without at least meeting with one an
tagonist 1t is safe and popular to be
| on the colored side Of the question:
but those most deeply Interested will not
claim for themselves that which Mr.. Evans in
to claim for them. That the two battalions
in question have, all things considered, done
| fairly well will be conceded, but that ''they
have always exhibited far greater evidence Of
proficiency than any other battalion in the
brigade" is absurdly untrue.
To great many residents Of Washington it
must be matter for cpngratulation that this
situation has brought 70 the front modern
Wellington, an organizer OF the most marked
! ability, readjuster of military matters who
| can dispose of troublesome details with
word and cause descriptive Influences
to vanish at nod To him, undoubtedly ac-
cnstomed to the maneuverihg Of large bodies
Of troops, the removal of q couple Of regiments
from one armory and the scattering abroad Of
their companies is a trivial affair
to be done with one hand
while the other adjusts complicated financial
difficulties In less time than most men could
count the money involved. Not one of his sug-
sestions Is sensibly practical, and no one, ex-
Where would the fifteen companies in
Center Market armory Che says there
are but ten) move to in care
the market company refused to accept de-
creased rent? How could he put the light bat
terry in the market house? Does this military
and out of quarters with the assistance
of d8ricks? Out of the sprofundity
of his warlike knowledge can he not
fish up the fact that battery of artillery takes
up as much room as couple of battalions Of
infantry? Where did he secure the alleged in.
formation which places the total strength
of the artillery, ambulance corps and the first
separate company at seventy-fve! How did he
md out the comparative standing of the vari-
Gus commands: Did his informant know any
more about the matter than he does? Why does
he insist on doing for him self that which Dog
berry had another man do for him?
No one knows better than Mr. Evans that
his proposition to mix white and colored
troops In the two regimental organizations is
not possible of application, and the only reason
for suggesting such combination is a desire
to cause trouble and foment disturbance
And now word as to the rifle gallery, which
Mr.. Evans proposes to Obliterate. He SAYS
.'such rifle practice is OF little practical USE
The true test of craftsmanship Is the outdoor
range. contending with variable winds. with
full charge of powder in your cartridge. No
l5o or 2OO-foot range in shooting gallery will
train man for craftsmanship at 200. 800 or
800 yards range In the open field" Did Mr..
Evans commence to eat meat on the day Of his
birth? Did he crawl before he walked? Does he
remove his clothes before taking u bath! In
short, does he know what he is talking about?
In that rifle gallery more thorough pre-
parstory work has been done thau
Of Position, aiming, sighting, trigger
pull, all are taught. It is unfortunate that
Mr.; Evans should have withheld his censure on
gallery work for so long a period. The
United States army and all the more advanced
commands III the National Guard have been
making excellent use OF the gallery system for
years. Had his views on the subject been made
public twenty years ago the general govern
ment and several states might have he-itated
before they appropriated much money for an
ornamental nothing.
Mr.. Evans is of opinion that no great mis-
fortune would befall the District were the
National Guard organization wiped out. Per-
haps he Is correct, but what does he
Offer siors In place of that which he is SO
military companies. Military" is
misnomer in that connection They are
simply social clubs that have decided to wear a
certain style of clothing on certain occasions
What are their services worth in military
sense! They are unframed and know nothing
OF maneuvers which would be necessary
were they called into the field with
a consolidated body of soldiers. Mr.
Evans thoughtlessly. as in other
matters under discussion. refers to the Ma
tlonal Guard as a tinseled aggregation. Ii the
National Guard, which wears the undenfably
plain uniform of the regular army, wore the
brilliant clothing in which Mr.. Evans OCCASION
ally disports himself. then they would be proper
subjects for such criticism as Mr.. Evans makes.
The National Guard is school of instruc-
ton and nothing else. 1t is training thousands
of young men to defend their country should
such defense ever be necessary. 1t stands be-
tween the reputable community and the rioter
II will grow and prosper and be an honor to
the land in spite Of Mr.. Evans an d his malice.
GEO. H.. HARRIEs,
First Lieut.. and Inspector of Rifle Practice.
Saean1 battalion n n