Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-28

contributes . very interesting paper on that
organization to the United Seruice. He makes
mention OF several things that are generally
interesting.
The mechanics Of war;" says one writer
Quotes Lieut.. Sharpe), really consists In two
ducing physical power. To keep both IN per-
feet equilibrium is the science of war. 1t often
takes far more skill to produce force than to
use it" Whenever the repose OF camp Is
disturbed by nocturnal Iproar, Its health en-
dangered by decaying garbage or Its security
jeopardized in time Of war. 1t is evident that
the guard duty is not properly performed. and
some one should be held accountable for it.
1T Is not intended to convey the idea that
these troops we're exceptionally deficient in this
| regard Compared with other states the Iowa
sentinel is no better. worse; but there is vast
room for Improvement all along the line. II
guard duty is to be learned at all it must be
learned at home There is little time for ele-
mentary instruction after coming to camp.
The impedimenta which sometimes follows
the national guardsman to camp, consisting Of
bedsteads, banjos, lace curtains, umbrellas and
a Heterogeneous collection of other movabes,
has been reduced in the Iowa service to a very
uniform if not minimum basis. The cooking
was done mostly on field stoves; mess kits were
compact and serviceable and the bedding con-
sisted of light cot or bed sack with straw,
with the usual allowance Of blankets. Each
company has the usual complement Of hatchets,
shovels, axes and hand saws and very few boxes,
barrels or trunks were to be seem"
'IwoULD HURT II IT HIT YoU.
| F. Smith, late professor army veterinary
school, reports as to effects Of the Lee-Metford
bullet that when the shaft Of bone is struck
at any range from so up to 1000 yards the re-
suits appalling, the wound Of exit is often
large enough TO readily admit all the fingers of
one hand. He saws: II have known pieces of
| bone to be carried completely away when hit at
! 900 yards and dropped several feet behind the
target. In one case large piece was missing
from a fracture. and / have no doubt in my
mind that it was carried into the butt some
thirty feet to the rear. Up to 200 yards. no
matter where a bone is hit, it Is pulverized;
over 200 yards the pulveriZing Is limited to the
shaft of the bone. while its extremities are
bored. i doubted the existence OF this boring
power until it was proved experimentally. The
view have expressed of the pulverizing effect
of this bullet at short ranges is borne out by
the recent experience OF the French in Da-
honey. The graphic description given by the
French correspondent of the mass of human
Jelly is still fresh in our memories.
THIS Is THE ONLY COL. KUsER.
"Gov. Werts OF New Jersey (says the New York
Times has good staff. The honor of senior
ity goes to Col. A. r. Kuser, who was the first
member sworn in on Gov. Abbett's staff. He is
a Young man worth half a million. owns a brew
cry. an ice plant, farm and yacht, so he is in
fair position to make it pleasant for his fellow
warriors. He lives in Trenton and does the
local honors."
Col. Kuser has a great many firm friends in
the ID. C. \. q. He is one of the best and most
hospitable of the Jersey officers that have made
things pleasant for Washingtonians at Creed
moor and Sea Grit.
WILL AGAIN COMMAND THE FOURTH.
So Maj. f. T. Campbell is coming back to the
guard? He will be welcomed by everybody and
especially by the fourth battalion, which has,
since his resignation. been headless. The major
is good soldier and solid man. Occasionally
he used to imagine that il time for him to
retire, but he was wrong. His place is by the
colors so long as a rag remains on the staff.
THE CoLoRED SOLDIERS ARE DOING WELL.
Company A. first separate battalion, did very
well in the gallery last night. Hitherto the
colored companies have been considerably to
the rear in the matter OF rifle practice, but re-
cent scores seem to indicate determination to
wipe out past records. Here are the results Of
the firing:
Lieut.. Webster, A.; Lieut.. Dodson. 81; Sergt
Freeman. As; Sergt. Clements. 81; Sergt. Wells,
"a; Private Allen. 30; Private Brown, 36; Private
Bradley. Is; Private Gusts. "a; Private C. A.
Gibson IS; Private John Gibson, Is; Private H
l.. Gibson, "a; Private NJ. B. Gibson, 81; Private
Jefferson, 20; Private Jones. 81; Private Patter-
son. A; Private Ridgley. s; Private Tinney, 26;
Private H. p. White, %: Private Hogan. 10;
Private Beckett, O; Private Payne. IA; Private
McElroy, "a, and Private Smith, IS.
Number Of men firing, % total hits. 46; total
points. 1877; average per man, 9-10; company
percentage, $500.
Company b. sixth battalion. did especially
well in the gallery this week. OF the thirty
two officers and men who faced the targets if
teen made sharpshooters' scores, eleven ranked
as marksmen, thus leaving but six who did not
qualify.
After the individual rifle practice of Capt
Ourand's company. G of the first battalion, last
Tuesday evening. the scores Of which have al
ready been published in The STAR. the COM
pany was exercised for the first time in volley
firing. with unusually good results. G1 hits, con-
sisting of % bulls and 80 fours. being made
out of go shots fired. The individual average
was 1l-s7. 10 being the possible. The company
percentage was 1918, almost that of sharp
shooters.
Sergt. VIM. II. Mellach OF troop 4 has been
appointed first sergeant, while Privates j. II.
Lewis. ID. III. y. Brown and J. Warren Conard
have been exalted to the rank Of corporal
Battery "a gives dancing reception at the
National Rifles Hall Tuesday evening, February
IA. The battery promises to make the occasion
most enjoyable.
The National Fencibles Company c, second
battallion,) gave q most successful hop on
Thursday evening. 1t was q great social event.
Stealing q Million Acres From the Sea.
From the United Service
To any one who has entered the Helder in Q
ship and has realized the great expanse Of shall
low water to the eastward Of him, dotted by the
sails Of busy trading vessels, the work Of drain
ing the Zuyder Zee must appear appalling. Yet
the preliminary work already accomplished
seems to indicate that the task will be easier
than expected. The great dixie from the
northern extremity Of North Holland to the
coast OF Friesland, passing the island Of Wier-
inRen (which ID nine miles southeast Of the
Helder), is now in course Of construction. The
work is. OF course. one which takes time but II
Is said that the tides are unexpectedly and ma
terially assisting by the deposit Of sand and
mud both outside and inside the dixie. There 10
no doubt of the success Of the work which will
add near million Of acres to the area of Hol-
land, or about one-tenth Of the whole country.
The mouth of the Yssel, which empties into the
Zuyder Zee. and the mouth of the Amsterdam
canal are to be preserved. The estimated ex-
pense of the work is under 200 600 900 francs
we consider the value Of the Dutch polders for
grazing and agricultural purposes.
After the present scheme is complete another
one OF much more difficult attainment is in
serious contemplstion-the uniting Of the
II. l.. IT, Il