Evening star., 1893-09-22
THIS is A BIG SCHEME
The Crack Drill Company, the Fenoibles,
Looking for European Laurels.
The Details of . Possible Tour
Through the Old Country Giving
Exhibition Drills.

Spurred on by the success that has al
ways attended them In all their lines of
effort, the members Of the National Fen
cibles, the popular drill organization Of
this city, are now considering a move that
goes beyond anything they have ever yet
attempted. The plan now under considera-
ton Is a no less ambitious one than a tour
through several Of the principal European
countries under arms and in uniform.
The idea was mooted some time ago. but
1t Is only recently that 1t has begun to seem
as though 1t was feasible one. II the plan
Is put into effect. and there seems to be no
reason why 1t should not be. the National
Fencibles. with not less than fifty or sixty
members In the command. will sail for
europe In a body some time next spring.
London. Paris and Berlin are already down
on the program to be visited, and 1t Is pos-
sible that the trip will be extended as far
south as Rome. The trip will oe q. novel
one IN many ways and should prove to be
1ha vo, Uo,, uengntiui experience in the lives Of
ihe Idea Is said to have had its birth in
tne mind of Maj. Fred Bracket of this
Slty, VINO mas always shown the deepest
interest In this flourishing organization
and has attended them on MANY of their
outings. He was abroad last year In the
interests or the worlds fair and conceived
the loea that crack drill organization
nke the Fencibles would probably receive
warm reception on the other side. The
proposition was well received by the BOYS
themselves from the first and the matter
mas been taken up by them with a yigor
ana enthusiasm that should overcome all
present time.
ConsfderinK the Details.
No definite arrangements have as vet
been made. such as engaging steamship
accommodations or laying out q definite
itinerary, but a committee has been ap-
pointed to consider the ways and means,
as well as the feasibility of the scheme.
Lieut.. Mosher Is the chairman Of the COM
mittee. and they have been in communica-
t1on with Maj. Bracket, who Is now in
chicago, with reference to the prelimi-
naries Tne first thing that must receive a
great deal OF attention at their hands is
the question Of finances. This is an all i'm
portant matter, and upon this may be said
10 depend the success or failure Of the
plan. II would be no small matter to trans
port company of this size on a European
trip. but there Is reason to believe that
even this difficulty can be overcome
In the first place the Fencibles have
rather tidy sum in their treasury, by no
means enough to defray the expenses, of
course. but still enough to make a good
start. The Fencibles ever since they enter
ed the ranks of drill companies have had
the most fattering success In all the con-
tests they have entered In Kansas City,
when they made their debut in 1880. they
carried OF two team prizes and the same
number of individual prizes. In Omaha
last year they won the first prize of IS. 900.
It is true they never received but $3.50 Of
this sum and the expenses of the trip were
about $1,000. but still 1t added to the good
side Of their bank account. Now they rank
among the best drilled companies in the
country, II. indeed, they are not the very
haof 10 h& 10 xyealr l~1lx ~
to make a creditable showing even before
the well-drilled companies of Europe. The
plan Is for them to go over about the time
the dfnerent European armies are holding
their Easter maneuvers. They will give a
number of exhibition drills, and this will
go far toward paying the expenses Of the
trip. 1t is possible. too, that some united
effort will be made this coming winter to
raise sum sufficient for the purpose. This
will probably be done in the form of big
fair or something OF this sort, though
nothing definite has been talked Of as yet.
A number Of steamship companies have al
ready made overtures to the Fencibles and
the matter of rates is now under discussion.
Another obstacle that now stands in the
way Is the length Of time the command
will have to be away from the city. Six
about, and 1t may be that some Of the men
who would like to go will have dificulty
in getting away from their places Of busi-
ness for so long a time. A number OF the
men are employees OF the government ana
1t is thought that they will have no great
difficulty In getting their usual leave of a
month extended fortnight without pay.
Another committee with fuller powers may
be appointed before long to consider the
actual details Of the proposed trip.
The National Fencibles were organised as
a military company in 1887. Mr.. Charles A.
Domer was elected captain, an office he
has held ever since, and it is to his I'm
tiring efforts that the success Of the COM
pany Is largely due.