Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-17
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Matters Around Headquarters Never
More Satisfactorily Active.
GREAT ENERGY MANIFESTED.
The Outlook for Successful Spring and Sum-
mer Campaigns in the Field of Military Ed
ucation Exceedingly Bright-Largs Attend
ance at the First Lecture-Notes.

paigns In the field Of military education Is ex-
ceedingly bright The activity is Of that
healthy sort that means life and energy and not
that which only too often in such organizations
signifies unrest and strife. In fact nothin &
could be more progressively quiet than the
tone Of affairs around the various armories
The newness Of the militia having worn off the
men are realizing the fact that to be a national
guardsman one has to confront a certain
amount of hard work as well as a good deal of
study. The reduction of war and its kindred
topics to an exact science Is no longer
problem for future solution, nor is
il altogether out Of the hands of what
has very unjustly been called amateur soldier
DOM" The attention of the authorities is be-
ing constantly directed to the rapid strides
made by the national guardsmen throughout
the country, and there is now apparent great
reyulsion of feeling on the part of the usually
unreasOninS public that Is showing the earnest
militiaman to the world in his true cOlors. This
result has been accomplished only through the
most determined efforts the part Of few
wise men who saw far enough into the future,
not very many years ago. that the time for Tin
soldiers had gone by and that CANDY uniforms
and fancy drills. semi-OccasiODal parades and
dancing parties must give way. to a certain ex-
tent, TO more solid aud beneficial sort of
work if the country was ever to have militia
worthy the name. Thus the change has been
wrought. from a state of inactivity. as far as
true military matters go, TO n condition where
every MAN is working hard for the general i'm
provement of the entire system of which he Is a
part.
MODEL ORGANIZATION.
In this respect the National Guard of the
District of Columbia is. without any exaggera-
ton. q model today for the rest of the conn
try and. indeed. for the world. There is every
reason why IL should be sO with all the facili-
ties here for the study of military problems.
with the constant aid of regular officers who
happen to be stationed here, with the financial
help of the War Department. the head of which
thinks that there is nothing so fine as the home
guard. and. finally. the generalship of the most
enthusiastic rs well as the ablest man in militia
matters to be found anywhere.
But of all this the results are better criter-
rions than any words that might ever be writ
Ten or said or printed on the subject. The
guard il certainly in most healthy state; its
machinery il moving with extraordinary
smoOthness, Its members are rapidly realizing
that the true sphere of the guardsman lies not
In what used TO be. but in a diligent study of
the tactics and also In certain quantity of
original thought. and there is a definite amount
of purpose that looks ahead of the present in
all that Is done that shows that the National
Guard of the District has not adopted for its
motto or its war cry the biblical remark that
sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"
But to get down to the news of the week.
THE FIRST LECTURE.
The first lecture at headquarters in the
course of instruction in field duties was deliv-
cred Monday evening by Lieut.. Chase second
Z. s. artillery. The attendance was so much
larger than anticipated that the room was too
small to accommodate all Lieut.. Chase is well
known 10 the officers of the National Guard
for his earnest interest in their efforts and for
the aid he has often given them in their work
The subjects Of the lecture embraced the
duties OF officers on receiving orders for serv-
Ice. the muster-in Of troops and embarkation
and travel by railway trains. The lecture was
thoroughly practical and highly appreciated
The second lecture will be given next Monday
evening by Lieut.. Baird, sixth cavalry, who
will take up the movement of the troops at the
point where Lieut.. Chase left them and lecture
on camps and camp cooking. Wednesday
evening the first lecture outside of the regular
course viii be delivered by Maj. Pollard on the
subject Of rifle practice
This course of instruction has excited con-
siderable interest in the National Guard
throughout the country. and Gen. Ordway has
received numerous letters urging that the lee
lures be printed, which he is now seriously con-
kdering. If any possible fund can be found TO
defray the expense he will certainly comply
with these requests, as by so doing he will
easily place the local guard in the lead of all
others. and secure for it q good reputation else
where as well as at home.
DRILLING By THE FHoSoaRAPH
An interesting experiment will be made at
the Washington Light Infantry armory on
Monday evening. after the conclusion of the
lecture, to determine whether it is not feasible
TO use the phonograph in armories for the
purpose Of giving music to the companies
while drilling. The experiment will be tried
BY the representative of Edison's photograph,
who IL quite confident that the music PLAYED
into the photograph by the Marine Band can be
reproduced loud enough to be heard distinct,
In the largest hall Gen. Ordway is much in
terested In the experiment., believing that ii
viii be invaluable in teaching men the correct
step and cadence.
The ohiecr NJ he 10 m 100000:
cal one only. 1t is impossible to use the band
a. often for the purpose Of instruction as would
be necessary to give the lessons all around,
sance the cost would be extremely heavy
one Should the phonograph music suffice
each guardsman can have all the music march
lns drills he needs at a very small expense to
the guard
PROMOTION OF ENLISTED MEN.
The plan introduced by Gen. Ordway Of al
lowing the enlisted men to appear before the
board Of examination as candidates for promo
ton has proven very popular and effective.
during the past year twenty-five men have
passed the board. At the last meeting of the
Board Sergeants Cromwell and Crist Of COM
pany {, second battalion; Corporal Swigert and
Priyates SmallwOod and Greenwood of COM
peny b. third battalion. and Sergeant Andrews
OF company ID, third battalion, passed exanlina-
tons, and are now entitled to wear the coveted
badges that are awarded to successful candi-
dates Sergeant Mcintosh of company A.
second battalion: Second Lleuts- Moore of COM
pany y, first battalion. and Burchfeld of COM
pany b, fourth battalion, have also passed their
examination for promotion. and their names
have been forwarded to the President for COM
missions
The upper floor Of headquarters building is
being fitted up as an armory for the engineer
corps. the members of which will receive their
Arms and equipments soon the quar- tiers
are completed
REPORTS OF RiYIE PRACTICE
Maj. Pollard is hard at work on the reports
Of rifle practice for the last year and will soon
have ready the list of men who will be entitled
TO receive sharpshooters and marksmen's
badges- The attendance at gallery practice
this month indicates that the interest Of the
whole command in rite practice has received .
great impetus from the success of its competing
teams, and Maj. Pollard is sarguine that this
years work will show u very great advance in
The general efficiency of the brigade.
The memorial services held by the Washing
ton Light Infantry at Aibaugh's Opera House
last Juesatay evening were exceedingly impress
sive and are highly spoken OF by the many who
attended The music by the National Guard
band was quite surprise to those who had no
idea OF the talent contained in the banl.
An election has been ordered TO be held in
company B, fourth battalion, for a first and
second lieutenant. on Wednesday, 2lst instant
Corp. Hutterly. company A, sixth battalion
has been transferred to the engineer corps. and
Sergt Edwards, company b, NTH battalion has
applied TO be transferred