Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-12
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Local Soldiery Are Combining Duty
and Pleasure.
4 BRIGADE ENCAMPMENf NEEDED.
How the Third Battalion Did Its
Work at Marshall Hall.
THE TEAMS ARE HOPEFUL.

THE TEAMS ARE HOPEFUL.
A large proportion of the District Nation
al Guard either has been, Is or soon will
be. In camp. Unfortunately the various
subdivisions OF the brigade have been COM
PEELED to go out on their own lines and at
their own expense. for Congress failed as
usual to appropriate the small amount
necessary to defray the cost of q brigade
camp of inStruction-so much needed by
the local soldiery. OF course there Is a
great deal OF good work done in the bat
talon and company encampments, but the
results achieved can hardly be compared
TO those secured when the entire brigade
assemblies at one time and place to ac-
quaint itself with the duties of soldier
In the field. During this and the coming
regular session of Congress renewed Ell
forts will be made to 50 present the needs
OF the District National Guard to the ap-
preparations committee of the House and
Senate as to bring about a brigade encamp-
ment next summer.
There Is in existence congressman
promise. a very plain promise. made more
man swo years ago ana thus Sn ene to make
good. There is really no opposition IN
either Of the committees: simply hstiess-
such interest as should exist and although
no one knows exactly what any congress
sional committee will do there Is more
probability than at any time for the past
few years that Congress will authorize Ihe
expenditure Of the very small amount
NEEDED to keep the or is e,ciniiv Of For,
Washington. The District National Guard
COSTS less money per capita and Is more
efficient comparatively than any IKE COM
mand in the United States. and that Is say
ing a great deal WashingtonianS generally
appreciate its excellence but Washington
lar h.u n
appropriations. SO il Is to Congress alone
that national guardsmen must look for the
camp of instruction which has been so
urgently needed ever since the new drill
regulations were adopted
The Third Battalion Did Nobly.
Nothing but the most kindly commenda-
ton has been heard as to the third battal-
ion camp at Marshall Hall. From begin
ming to end 1t was a well Instructed and
soldierly camp. The men had every OPP
pOrtunity for enjoyment and yet there was
not at any time any neglect OF military
duty. Maj. Suess, who is thoroughly and
deservedly popular, insisted in his agree
able but effectUal way upon the entire en-
campment living up to regulations and in
this he seems TO have had the heartiest
support of ninety-nine out Of every hun
dred men Company A of the sixth bat
TALON, which accompanied the third bat
talon, did excellently and deserves well
willingness. Everybody in camp seemed
intent upon doing that which was his ,lIi-
y and the result was all that could have
been expected even Dy the most critical
AS a rule there is more or less of a break
down in the arrangements of all camps
but the third had no such experience: each
quartermaster work was thoroughly at
tended TO. the commissary did not seem
to have neglected anything and the other
branches received a full share of attention
from officers who We're intelligent
they We're active.
Other Camps Are Prospecting.
From other camps-principally company
affairs-comes Information of a satisfact Try
nature. OF course there Is a good deal of
fun in the seaside holiday which the boys
are having at their own expense. but there
IS also good deal of duty done. This.
however. cuts but a small figure in the
news printed of encampments from day
To day; IL is only natural that more atten-
lion should be given to the light and frolic
some happenings of every day. But there
especially in extended order" and that
is what every member of the guard needs.
Finishing Up the scores.
Voluntary rifle practice has not been
fourishing TO any considerable extent du.-
ing the past week 1t was expected that
the rush would set in about now and con-
ttnue until practice closes al the end of
the month. Next week and the week fol-
lowing will afford altogether six days of
opportunity for those who desire to either
complete or better their scores, and to
calling upon men to uniform themselves
before appearing on the range has been
suspended. so that those who want to
shoot may go down on any Monday, We'd
nesday or Saturday between 100 and re-
treat and shoot without having to Journey
TO the armory for military clothing. This
VIII give every man chance and IL is
hardly probable that anyone will attempt
10 excuse himself for fnattention to the
Those who are wise will go down early
because experience shows that the last
day or two finds more men on the range
tnan can possibly be accommodated with
targets Every effort will be made to help
those who so far have not shot as well or
as frequently as they wanted 10 and IL is
some very fine shooting will have been
done.
soon to Work on the New Range.
The proposition to build and equip a new
rife range down the river has not been for
gotten or abandoned. 1t will be taken up
Immediately after the return OF ;he brigade.
regimenta! and battalion teams from Sea
Girt. and there Is probability of a good deal
OF the work of construction being completed
before winter sets in. With this range COM
pleted and available for practice the Dis
trtct National Guard should qualify three
times AZ many sharpshooters and marks
men as IL now has. With eight or ten tar
gets at each range regiment could do all
members desire inside of one day and that
II the desirable thing for which Cen Ord
way anu several OF MS Off1cerS now
striving.
Something M to the Brigade Tenn.
For a week to come the interest of local
military men and of a great many who
are thoroughly in sympathy with the Dis
trfct National Guard will be conferred on
the brigade and regimenta1 rife teams that
today left this city for Sea Grit In every
respect those teams are believed to be in
better condition than they ever were be-
fore. Especially does this appear to be
true OF the brigade team. Careful selec-
ton Of what seems to be first-class mate
rial and a steady system of practice has
resulted In team work such as the District
OF Columbia has not heretofore known
How the aggregation will size up when
from other states cannot. of course be
predicted. but il Is quite possible that the
District Of Columbia viii have no reason
10 be ashamed of its representatives on
the rifle range. They may not win, at
least not all they start out TO win. but
they viii certainly put up creditable scores
and Will succumb only TO the prowess of
men who are in every respect more expert
with the rifle.
Pennsylvania now holds both the Hilton
and the National Rifle Association inter
state trophies and these are the two thin gs
which the local brigade team has set its
eyes upon There has been but one draw
pack TO the team practice. and that was
the weather. There have been days when
the wind was extremely annoying and
very tricky. and there have been DAYS
when the heat was in renSe. but IL hap