Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-13

United States army. Members Of this class are
known as "distinguished marksmen." Maj.
Pollard's suggestion was to the effect that Dis
trict National Guardsmen whose record scores
for the year amounted to 80 per cent OF the
possible should become members OF this class.
The abstract idea was generally commended ~
every one who understood it This result
was perhaps unlocked for; Q crafty
ng condition of affairs, us will be
seen when the scope OF the proposltion IS
realized A distinguished marksman Is not
allowed to compete with any one other than
member Of the same class. except for place on
teams. unless the commanding general shall
deem il best to temporarily rule otherwise.
This means that none OF the distinguished
marksmen'' in the District forces can enter
any individual competition that may take place
under the auspices Of the local military author
tiles, with the exception Of such matches as
may be for distinguished marksmen only.
Apart from District National Guard matches
the distinguished marksman may compete with
whom he pleases. The advantages of this scheme
must be evident TO the younger sharpshooters,
for it vii remove some OF their most
dangerous councillors. The arrangement Is
not altogether Que sided. To be distinguished
marksman will be the biggest honor known to
the rihe-shootlng soldier. Gen. Ordway Is
firm believer in the idea. but he dlsasrees with
Maj. Pollard to the qualification. The gem
erai is always guided to considerable extent
by the law in tie case. He operates the Ma
tiona, Guard according to the rules lana uown
by the War Department authorities anu In this
matter he does not propose to depart from
Blunt's Small Arms Firing Regulations
That publication will some Of these days guide
the general to the issaiDg OF an order deeIar-
ing that officers or enlisted men VINO nave
three times been members OF the brigade team
will thereafter be designated distinguished
marksmen." An appropriate badge will be
presented each man who enters the new CLASS.
NEXT WEEKS SCHEDULE.
Gallery practice is now the most popular
feature Of local national guard work. Every
day finds number of men taking advantage
of the unlimited practice" order, and. as a re-
suit, the scores which have SO far become mat
tiers OF official record are In many instances
phenomenal The gallery will be occupied live
nights next week. those members OF the guard
who are deficient in soldierly qualities could do
much worse than look in on Monday evening
to see how troop A does it duty. There is no
injustice done any other company In the
brigade when 1t il said that troop is the
model.
For the remainder Of the week the program
is:
Tuesday-Company B, Arst separate bat
TALON.
acknowledgement and @, fifth bat
TALON.
Thursday-Company A, fourth battalion
FrIday-Engineer corps.
THE FIRsT's GALLERY IN OPERATION.
II the first battalion does not have the most
complete and satisfactory target record the
blame cannot be laid on the appliances, for
better indoor range cannot be found than the
one which has been fitted up in the southeast
corner of the big drill hall. There are three
targets always kept In the best condition
These are made available for night practice by
ten gas jets SO set and hinged that the entire
apparatus can be swung up to the
9 n
firing going on. The targets are protected,
when not IN use, by wooden covering securely
locked Lieut. Ebert Is extremely and justiti-
ably proud of the range. He anticipates and
way Of complete scores. Hundreds Of men
failed to make a decent showing in rifle prac
tice last year because they had one or two in
complete scores. The probabilities are against
any such thing happening again.
How MANY DISTRICT MEN WILL GET THERE.
1t is now reasonably certain that there will
be an international rifle competition in Chicago
during August or September, 1898. Gov. Fifer
of Illinois has moved in the matter by appoint
ing a beard of officers to make the necessary
The range will be a new one,
within easy reaching distance of the city. For
elSn countries are to be invited to send teams,
and these are to compete with a team from tine
army and a team from the National Guard.
just how this latter team is to be made up has
not yet been determined upon, but the contest
for places on it will be q battle Of the giants.
lengthy and mountaineering program of
individual matches Is also promised.
A RUSTIC FESTIVAL.
'The Rustic Festival of the Washington Light
Infantry Corps promises to be the most en-
joyably novel entertainments presented In this
city for some time. Just what it really is can
not yet be stated because the plans yet in
cOmnlete
tons with electricians and florists, which can
easily be regarded as indicative of something
decidedly attractive. With the unconscious aid
of hundreds Of electric lights and such an ag-
gregation Of evergreen and flowers is but
rarely seen the big armory is to be transformed.
The festival, which will open on March % and
close on April 2, Is in no sense to be fair.
There will be no soliciting Of votes or anything
of that sort. Committees composed of active
and honorary members Of the corps are hard
at work on preliminaries and in a lew days the
program Will be complete On Tuesday after
noon next. at 4 o clock. the ladies of the corps
who have been invited to assist in the manage
ment will meet in the officers room of the
armory for consultation with the male enthusi-
asia
NOTES.
Gen. Ordway and Maj. Pollard are both on
the sick list The generals indisposition has
been very persistent; Maj Pollard's attack of
grip has been really dangerous.
Color Sergt William T.. Kelly, third battal-
Ion. is transferred from the non-commissioned
staff to company A, as sergeant.
Beginning with Wednesday, February II,
the weekly drills Of company c, third battal-
ion. viii take place on Wednesday evenings, as
formerly.
Lieut.. H. Forsberg of the engineer corps
might be a aptain-commanding the light
battery-f he SO desired. The honor and re-
sponsibility were rendered him, but he de-
clined, preferring his lieutenancy Of engineers.
THE LONELY WIDOW.