Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-17
OFFICERS NOT In 1T.
The Order for the Annual shoot of the
National Guard Prohibits Them From
Participating-Man Changes and Poor
Shooting the Probable Result.

National Guard Prohibits Them From
Participating-Many Changes and Poor
Shooting the Probable Result.
The order for the annual matches OF the
National Guard has just been issued
1t makes a radical change in the
custom that has heretofore prevailed
in the Guard, in that the teams representing
the various organizations are to be enlisted
mems teams no commissioned officers being
allowed to compete.
h The order provides that the matches shall
b.. shot on the state range at Mt. Gretna in
the week beginning August 81. Each regi-
ment or battalion of infantry shall be en-
titled to one team of four men and one re-
serve: the three troops of cavalry to one
team Of the same number and the three bat
teries of artillery to one team of the same
number, the teams TO be selected
by the reEimcntal commanders and
the ranking officers of the cavalry and
artillery. No commissioned officers shall be
eligible to membership on these teams or
any one who served as such at this years
eucampmcnt. Teams will go into camp on
Monday, August 81, and the range will be
open for practice on Tuesday, September l.
No extra men will be brought by any team.
Regimental Inspectors of Rifle Practice will
attend with their teams
The regimental match will be shot on
Thursday, September 3, and the brigade
=
mental team will consist of four men and
one reserve, who must have been in good
standing and continuous service since Feb
Tuary l. 1891: the brigade team will consist
OF y men and three reserves, under similar
regulations. The usual conditions as to
arms ammunition, distance, etc, will pre-
vail If the money is donated cash prizes
will be awarded in addition to the cup and
trophy.
The order will make a material change in
the scores OF the different teams, ms there is
not one but has one or more officers on the
team. many of them comprising some of the
best shots in the state. Probably the main
reason for the order is to reuuce the ex-
pense OF the shoot. Officers receive
SO So a day to SO. while the pay of
enlisted men ranges from 81 80 to SO, and in
some cases where extra service pay is al
lowed it reaches So 80 day. Heretofore
there have been as many officers as men at
the shoot. There is no doubt that the scores
Will fail away below those made last year,
rs fully one-half of the teams this year will
be new men, many of whom have never
shot IN a match. 1t is calculated to throw a
damper of the contest for place on the
teams. for the reason that officers, not being
allowed to compete, will not take the same
interest as formerly.
The home regiments (the Fourteenth and
EiChteenth) will lose some of their best
shots by the order, while the Thirteenth, OF
Scranton, which has carried off the palm
every year, will have decided disadvan-
tage in the makeup of the team. The Six
teenth regiment, if it has the same team as
last year. with the exception of two officers,
will probably have the strongest team in
the division, as several of its finest shots are
enlisted men and have pushed the Thir-
teenth's team, on several occasions, for first
place.