Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-11

MHN VHfN HMM \ MAI. Seo. II. aAtrtce
AMIENXN inspector general OF
,NN<N rife practice. 1t is az
M follows:
HEADQUARTERS DIsraIcr OF COLUMBIA MILITIA,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. q, 1893.
Adjutant General ID. c. Militia:
Sir; have the honor to present herewith my
report FOR the year ending November 80, 1892.
The completion of the document has been I'M
duly delayed by three tardy reports those from
the field and staff of the first separate battalion
which came in on January IL; company ID,
first battalion which made its appearance on
February TO- and company c, second battalion,
which was received at these headquarters
February 10, OF the two latter reports l may
state that they are evidently incomplete and
that men who have qualified as sharpshooters
and marksmen in those commands are the
sufferers. With the exceptions mentioned there
was generally most commendable promptness
in the rendering Of returns. The two COM
panies referred to also failed to report for the
target season of 1891 until long after the an
nual report had been turned in, thus causing
much confusion and doing to their otherwise
soldierly regulations great deal Of unneces-
sary damage. A remedy for ine1cusable care
lessness will here find ample opportunity for
application
During the past year there were qualified SO
sharpshooters and 160 marksmen, an increase
records for the preceding season. and decided
advance upon the results Of 1880. when with
many more IN the command than in 1892 there
were but IS sharpshooters and IL marksmen.
The general staff has sharpshooter; the first
regiment has l6 sharpshooters and Al marks
men; the second regiment has 40 sharpshooters
and 80 marksmen; the first separate battalion.
3 marksmen; the first separate company. 1
sharpshooter and ID marksmen the second sep
arate company. 2 sharpshooters; platoon Of
the engineer corps. 19 sharpshooters and S
marksmen; other platoons of the same corps
voluntary practice) Z sharpshooters and 4
marksmen, and the light battery voluntary, 2
sharpshooters. In comparing the figures. how
ever. 1t must be remembered that one company
OF the first regiment-company A. third bat
TALON Composed exclusively OF war veterans
Is excused from target practice, and that COM
panies u and ID OF the second battalion were not
organized until after the close of the season: a
condition which is almost balanced by there
being but two battalions in the second regi-
ment
THE TRUE COMPARISON.
But to simplify the matter it is peter, for
comparative purposes, to take the number Of
men firing ard the results. The first regi-
ment had 472 men, of whom So qualified in the
two leading classes; the second regiment had
36G men on the range and qualified 1913. 1t is
not difficult 10 discover the causes which have
given the second regiment lis evident su-
prernacy in this line of duty. Col. Clay is an
enthusiastic rifeman of the most practical
sort and has by precept and example popu-
larized the work: Capt Bell, the regimental in
spector of rifle practice, has been tireess, leav-
ing nothing undone that would further
even the least perceptible Improvement Both
have been admirably supported by officers
of the staff and line and the whole
some influences permeated the entire
c,r,, and On hos -
plain that but few of the first regiment
officers have even a slight interest in rife prac-
tice. and with this wall of Indifference squarelv
in the way it is surprising that any progress was
made. The outlook for the present year is
much brighter. The organization Of what are
known as rifle committees has been completed
in the second regiment. where it originated
with Capt. Bell, but up to the present time the
idea has not taken root in the first regiment.
Capt. Cash has, however, been promised the
active assistance of several line officers who
have shared in the inexplicable regimental in
difference as to this most important essential of
the soldier With reasonably sympathetic re-
Spouse from the ranks there can hardly be fail
ure to bring out much excellent but now
dormant material.
or those who, by their scores, are in the first,
second and third classes a yerv large propor-
ton could with but little difficulty have quail
fled as marksmen. but inability to attend range
practice, personal carelessness and lack of
interest among officers gives the brigade record
an appearance of what might else where be
regarded As satisfactory efficiency, but which
falls far short of the mark that might easily
have been hit. Comparison is possible only
with those other subdivisions Of the National
Guard in which qualification ia on such high
plane here and where the facilities for
practice are as limited: States, as rule, are
satisfied to call men marksmen when they make
q total Of Is out Of possible so at 200 and 500
yar0G cal for 1aso
so shots and an aggregate Of 260 points before
the coveted buttons can be worn. Were our
terms of qualification similar to those
common in the National Guard it is but
a modest statement-supported BY the records
to aver that seven-tenths Of the men in the
brigade could honestly be regarded as marks
men or better. 1t might afford local enthu-
slssts pleasure to call attention to an extraor-
binary percentage Of such marksmen, but the
title would be empty and undeserved not worth
striving for and utterly valueless when achieved
The present standard is none too high. and
when our target practice facilities are COM
mensurate with the number of men and the
length of the program it should not be difficult
to qualify thrice as many as have succeeded in
doing their duty well during the year lust
closed.
SERIOUS OBSTRUCTION.
One Of the great hindrances to the aualiHca-
ton of many excellent rifemen was found in tho
distractions operated by departmental officials.
who neither love the District National Guard
nor regard the law under which it was organized
and now exists Men who have attended class
practice in spite Of the threatening difficulties
placed in their path have assured me that by
obeying military orders they have actually
run the serious risk Of losing their situations,
Any effort that may be made to bring about a
more just and harmonious condition OF affairs
will be labor well bestowed. Many private en-
DiOverS. q. n of
the National Guard and its work in its relation
to the business welfare Of the community. Here
is . broad field for missionary work
This difficulty about the non-attendance OF
men can, however, be largely disposed of by
increased range facilities, and these seem to be
within reach. A range which would permit
whole regiment to dispose of a season class
practice in a single day is the remedy, and, if
the plans do not misearry, 10 what the brigade
should have by MAY next. There should he at