Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-29

most harm to an enemy. his usefulness as
a soldier amounts to nothing.
Il trust by dnt Of renewed application
your team will next year regain its lost
laurels. Any company falling to qualify
its entire membership as at least first
class Shots, unless satisfactory reasons are
shown for such failure, should be consid-
ereG SO deficient In discipline as to war
rant Its disarmament. Officers sh ouid
be proficient in the use Of the rife and
should personally oversee the conduct of
the men on the range. No man should be
permitted to fire on the range without first
being made familiar with tho rifle and GO
ing through a careful course of instruc-
ton In aiming and pointing In the rifle
gallery. 1t seems to me II company off,
GERS will only exert themselves and give
rifle practice and his assistants as they
have a right to do most excellent show
Ing will be the result.
Value Of the Annual Camp.
1.-THE National Guard Of the District is
to be congratulated on the fact that Con-
gress has appropriated a sufficient sum
to allow the brigade to have an encamp-
ment next summer. If remember Alright,
no such appropriation has been made since
1880. and the guard has suffered in conse-
Quence. The men look forward to this
outing with great pleasure, and more good
practical results are obtained from an en-
campment of the whole brigade for eight
years work in the drill hall. Individual
encampments Of companies or battalions
are far from satisfactory. and, from my
own observations. do more harm than
good. The men generally look upon such
encampments. taken at their own personal
expense. as a holiday outing, and do not
exert themselves to conform to military
discipline. Such was not the case when
the brigade went into camp at Fort Wash
ington in 1889 and 1880. when l had the
pleasure OF being the guest of Gen. Ordway
and admired the discipline and excellent
work accomplished by this soldierly officer.
Regulations as to uniform to be worn
by tine men and all the details Of q mill
tary camp were carried out In a manner
which would have done credit to regulars.
and the guard returned to the city with a
much more thorough knowledge Of what
was required Of 1t az a military organiza-
ton. I am afraid the same cannot be
said of the results gained at Individual
encampments. 1t was my misfortune 20
visit Marshall Hall last summer when
such camp was IN progress. and the
lack Of discipline was very apparent, more
so. perhaps. because of. the presence of
several companies Of regulars 1 found on
making inquiry that although tho COM
manding officer had been careful In pub
listing orders as to discipline, &c, these
orders were not carried ont, with the result
that the men, especially when off duty,
did rot dress or act like soldiers.
Men could be seen around the grounds
on the wharf and on the steamer, wearing
campaign hats and uniform coats. the
latter, as a rule, being unbuttoned, while
one natty little fellow made himself
spicuously prominent by wearing a yacht
ing cap, uniform coat, white duck trousers
and the cape of an OvercOat thrown over
his shoulders. To a civilian 1t may seem
ridiculous to mention such trivial matters.
mate lack of discipline and disregard Of
orders"