Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-23

| N@ OF news-there could be
:: :: !: ::
K, ANS~sA~ but little until the Presi-
| dent sends his message to
| proportion Of the National
Guard Of the country has been figuring on
| what it would do if war were declared. OF
| course the citizen soldiers would have to leave
the National Guard if they desired to volunteer
! for foreign service. The President can call
out the entire National Guard TO repel invasion,
and he may do almost the same thing to sup
press instruction i'll one of the states the only
exception being the troops of the disturbed
state, but when the service to be rendered is i'll
other lands then there would boa call for volun-
| teers. in which National Guardsmen would re-
ceive preference.
VALUE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD
SHOULD there be war with Chile or with any
| other power, said Gen. Ordway day or two
| since. 1.-THE value of the National Guard would
| at once be apparent. In round numbers there
are no. GOO mel, and at least so per cent of
these would volunteer for service abroad. This
would mean that an evolutionary force would
be composed largely of men who have received
| sufficient training to admit of their being put
III the field at once. But the National Guards
usefulness would byno means end at that point.
he demand for volunteers would bring to the
front a vast number of raw material, requiring
more than little work to put them IL shape
for duty. Camps Of rendezvous and instruc-
ton would have to be organized and one of
those camps would naturally be located in this
city. There are at least 300 men in this bri-
Sade who could be used as drill instruc
They would be the best men for such work"
As Gen. Ordway says, National Guard officers
would be the best men to use in instructing re-
cruts. They could do the work more thor
OuClIy and rapilly and sotj than of
GERS OF the regular army; they understand the
civilian temper and know how 10 handle it.
Army officers have no experience nowadays
With bodies OF green men. Recruits are sand
wlched between old soldiers and as they are
comparatively few they soon absorbed No
reasonable man desires war, but should there
be one the National Guard can be depended
upon to do its utmost.
CYCLISTS ARE BUSY.
The company Of mounted infantry which is
to move around on bicycles is an assured sue
cess. Its organization il complete and appli-
cations for membership are tumbling in with
gratifying rapidity. There are now twenty
four names on the company roll and
the proprietors of those names have
who may be associated with them 'The
Washington Military Cyclists" This. of
course, is the civil designation. As National
Guard organization they will be known as the
second separate company. This being the
first organized cycle company in the United
States there is a wide field before it, Suitable
evolutions have to be planned and problems
must be worked out without the assistance SO
readily obtainable by any other description
OF soldier. committee has been appointed
to confer with Adjutant General Long as to
the adoption OF the new cavalry tactics to the
wheel. Just how the company is working OH
the foot movements. Arms and equipments
Will be issued as soon as possible and by that
time 1t Is believed that the company will be In
shape to do a little maneuvering on wheels.
Several members of the company went out on
a trial trip the other day to Fort Myer. One
Of the cycles was equipped with carbine and
blanket--the frearm being held by clips along
the backbone, the blanket roll on the handle
bars The manner of application may be seen
In one OF Tappans windows Several of the
cyclists have awaited themselves of the privileges
Of the rifle gallery and in nearly every instance
did remarkably we'll The regular drill of the
company takes place on Thursday night. but
there is a voluntary drill on Monday night
which Is helping matters along considerably.
THE THIRD READY TO GO.
For some time past the sound Of war has been
swelling with good deal of righteousness
Nobody seems to know just what preparations
Chile has been making but it is safe to bet
that the South Americans have neither been more
active nor more earnest than some Of the
patriotic people who decorate the Districts
quota OF this mundane sphere. When rumors
of strife were most noisy Maj. Harrison, COM
manding the third battalion, proffered to the
government. through Gen. Ordway, the sery-
ices of himself and his battalion. The offer
has been filed, with other similar papers, in
the War Department, and should war become
necessary the third battalion. or its heirs or
assigns, will doubtless be called upon to make
good the promises contained in the MAJORS
document-not a very difficult piece of bust
ness.
RECRUIT FOR The GUARD.
The United States army and Ordnance Ser
geant r. E. Joyce are about to part company
after having been closely associated for thirty
years For the information of guardsmen who
have enlisted since the brigade last camped
| at Fort Washington 1t may be stated that Sergt.
Joyce has for several years been in charge OF the
fort and the government property therein and
| thereabout. Sergt. Joyce rctires with the pay
which your Uncle Samuel gives to the faithful.
The army loss will work all right for the Dis
trict National Guard, though for it is Gen.
Ordways intention to find some place in which
the veteran will have an opportunity to dis
burse information and make himself as useful
as he knows how. The new combination may
be pleasant one for the sergeant; it will be
profitable for the local soldiery.
RETURN MATCH
Members Of the guard who are interested in
Workmanship have not forgotten the match
between the Columbia Athletic Club team and
the sixth battalion team. 1t was friendly and
most satisfactory contest, in which the SPRING
fields came out ahead. Now the c. 4. G. '.sharps''
are anxious for a return match and within a
few days. Capt. James Z. Bell will make the
necessary arrangements. The competition
will, of course, take place in the gallery and
both teams will have to use the Springfield
guns. The club men are not accustomed to
the military arm, but they are willing to shoot
with it, even against the crack sixth.
RIFLE PRACTICE NEXT WEEK.
Gallery rifle practice has been very success
full this month. great crowd of enthusiasts
have taken advantage of the unlimited prac-
tice order and are rapidly developing into
material which ought to show up we'll on the
range. Tonight the gallery will be occupied by
company A, fourth battalion.
Next weeks program Is as follows:
Monday-COmpany d, fifth battalion.
Tuesday-Companies A and C, sixth bat
TALON.
Wednesday-Company B, fifth battalion.
Thursday-Companies and c, third bat
TALON.
Friday-Companies A and C, first separate
| battalion.
saturday-The general staff and the field and
staff officers and non-commissioned staff Of