Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-17

accepted without any modification on our
part and the contest took place in ac-
cordance with the rules and conditions
named by you in that challenge, and the
match seems to have been fairly and hon
crably conducted, your team good-naturedly
acknowledging their defeat. AS this con-
test was won by such large margin-23
| points-and as battalion and company
| teams from my battalion have defeated
like teams from your battalion four times
during the past six months-twice on the
range and twice in the gallery-it occurs
| TO me that my battalion should defer en-
tering another contest for the present and
| thus give other organizations a chance
for matches.
I concede your proposition that these
competitions at rifle practice are beneficial
| to the National Guard, but as many of my
men have not the time or funds for con-
| tinuous practice feel that it would be an
| imposition at this time to call upon them
to prepare for another contest so soon.
In view of the above facts l respectfully
decline this challenge.
Respectfully yours.
GEORGE A. BARTLETT,
Major Sixth Battalion.
Moving Upward.
Promotions and appointments have re-
suited in another batch of commissions,
which may be looked for daily. First among
them is the Ole which belongs to Capt.
Edwin II. Neumeyer. who, when he gets
the signed and sealed document will be-
come major and chief of ordnance popu-
lar and well-earned reward for service
honestly rendered.
Then Mr.. Henry May has been appointed
captain and aid-de-camp on the general
staff, which fills up the hole caused by
Capt. Neumeyer's advancement.
Sergt Major W. H. Meyer took q big step
and will soon wear laurels TO which he is
really entitled; he is to be captain and ad-
jutant of the second regiment; his excel
lence as a rifieman-he holds the District
championship-and his fidelity while hand
ling the regimental papers commended him
to Col, Clay, who invariably knows good
thing when he sees IL. end only wants an
Sg' to show his appreciation there
Col. Moore has taken unto himself and
the first regiment a new quartermaster.
but an old soldier-Capt. Matthew God
dard: his commission is on its way. through
the War Department and White House
mill along with the Others and so are the
commissions Of Andre Louis Bagger. to be
first lieutenant and inspector of rifle prac-
tice. third battalion: Clarence A. Weaver.
to be first lieutenant and surgeon. third
battalion; First Lieut.. Guy e. Jenkins. TO
y,
orally declared to be a splendid selection),
and Irby w. Reid, to be second lieutenant
company C. fifth battalion.
A Gunboat for Pittsburg's sailors.
| While a bill is pending in Congress which
authorizes the Secretary Of the Navy to
| furnish to the naval militia of any state a
spare vessel for drill purposes, the Pitts
| burg battalion is. says the New York Sun,
| taking means to supply its own needs in
| that particular This bit of enterprise is
the more noteworthy. not only as the first
| of it's kind, but because the Pittsburg or
ganization, known as division a, second
] battalion, of the Pennsylvania naval mill
J tia was only organized a few months ago
| The zeal with which it undertakes to pro-
| vide itself with a modern gunboat. at an
| estimated cost of $4,000 is, accordingly,
| promising for it's future, besides furnishing
| a fresh evidence of the hold which the ma
| val reserve organizations have upon popu-
| lar interest. 1t is expected that the state
Will furnish part OF the money for build
| ing and equipping the vessel since, after
| all, it is practically a floating armory for
local force; and the federal government is
likely enough to loan at least a part of the
! armament. But this does not detract from
| the merits of the project as one Of private
| initiation; and, in fact, 1t is said that about
one-third of the amount required for con-
structing the gunboat is already In the
hands of the Pittsburg organization. The
| iron, steel and coal men of the place have
| also indicated a purpose to see the project
| carried through, and 1t is expected that the
vessel will be ready for actual use during
| the coming season. Meanwhile. weekly in
| fantry drills are held ashore. The proposed
| boat will be adapted, of course. for service
| in the shallow waters about Pittsburg and
| will, accordingly, be novel in character 1t
will necessarily be of very light draught,
with bottom almost fiat. and it will be a
stern-whecier. but with the wheel recessed
and protected. The length on load water
80 feet. the draught forward about feet
inches. and aft about feet inches
Perfect Papers.
Several of the quartermaster annual
turns, which should have been at brigade
headquarters long ago. are still missing.
The quality of those in however. is much
better than records for previous years. OF
those received, the very best is that of
Capt. Ourand. company c, first battalion.
while in the order of their merit are the
papers from light battery A, Capt. Fors-
berg; second battalion, made out by the
battalion surgeon, DR.. r. A. Foster; COM
ny A, first battalion, Capt. c. c. NJ. Loefr-
Ter, and company A, fourth battalion, Capt.
Harry Walsh.
New Military Implement.
The infantry and chasseur regiments of
the Austro-Hungarian army have just been
supplied with new implement which can
be used as a spade. shovel, hatchct and
saw 1t is about a foot and half in length,
weighs about two pounds, and is so arrang-
ed that 1t can be hung on the belt at the
left side near the bayonet. 1t will enable
the infantry to do all that is necessary in
laying out camp, fixing cooking places,
providing a water supply and throwing up
light earthworks. Exercises in the use of
this new weapon, which is intended TO
render infantry regiments independent of
their own pioneer companies. have also