Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-07
How the Annual Inspections Are
Proceeding.
BY INSPECTING OFFICERS
So Many Of the Old Errors Again
Reappear.
THE CHAMPIONS WILL DRILL

Columbia National Guard has been the
chief topic Of interest during the past week.
| Below is published the official statement of
| the Inspecting officers in regard to the sew
! eral commands that have passed before
| them thus far:
Second acknowledgements field and
| staff; one man without letters on coat col
| lar.
| Fourth battalion-General appearance ex-
cellent. Soldierly bearing; very good; stead
iress in ranks very good; officers through
out the battalion, with few exceptions. show
a lack of ability In handling their swords
| Commissioned staff-None Of the officers.
after being inspected. returned sword cor
rectly.
Non-commissioned stafr-One man seen
chewing during inspection.
Company A, fourth battalion-This COM
pany presented a fine appearance. and with
two exceptions showed marked steadiness
| in ranks. No non-commissioned officers ap-
| peared in line of file closers as left guide of
| first platoon or right guide of second pla-
| toon. The two lieutenants, during inspec-
| ton of company. took position Of parade
rest instead of lat ease with swords at
| an order" Several men needed instruc-
| ton in manual of arms" Captain had no
| whistle visible. One corporal was without
| chevrons or stripes. Three rifles had bro
| ken hammer screws. One man had improp-
| erly buckled his belt. One man grasped
| piece with both hands when receiving 1t
| from inspector. Six men failed to port arms
| before closing chamber. Three men failed
! to port arms after lowering hammer. One
man opened chamber with first finger. Three
men full cooked piece on inspection OF arms
Two men had hammers down when at or
der. One man had hammer half cooked
when at the order. One man had coat part
| ly unbuttoned.
Company b, -four tn neutrality-suspicious.
| good. Captain failed to give command IN
spection arms and attention to muster"
| Second lieutenant remained at order
sword when inspected. instead of being at
| carry" Lieuter ents did not remain at
ease" with swords at an order" during
| inspection of company. Several men grasped
| their pieces incorrectly when at a right
| shoulder and failed to take correct posi-
| ton when at the order" Instruction Is
| needed in manual Of arms. There was con-
siderable unsteadiness in ranks. Captain
had no whistle visible, and back sling or
belt out of place. Eight men failed TO port
arms after lowering hammer. Two men,
| caps on back of head. One man. shoes very
dirty or dusty. One man. watch chain visible.
Two men, feet in improper position. -Four
Il
order. One man failed to port arms before
closing chamber. One man executed or
der arms" from port arms" improperly.
Company C. fourth battalion-This COM
pany looked well, and were steady in ranks.
The officers went through the inspection and
muster correctly, with the exception that
the second lieutenant did not hold his sword
correctly at an 'order." and both leuten-
ants failed to remain "at ease with swords
at an order" during inspection. Several
men grasped their pieces Incorrectly when
at right shoulder" Men require instruc-
ton In manual of arms. One officers back
sling, of belt out OF place. Six men fingers
rLde sling piece when at the order. Sew
eral men unsteady during inspection. Two
men failed to port arms" before and after
closing chamber. One man hit man on his
left after receiving his piece from inspector
One man came TO order" improperly after
inspection Of piece Three men had ham,
mers of pieces down after returning to the
order. This company is a comparatively
new organization.
Company D. fourth battalion.-The ap-
pearapce presented by this company was
especially creditable, and the steadiness of
the men In ranks was particularly notice
able and commendable. The first lieulen-
ant faced to the front before the inspection
of the rear rank and file closers had been
completed. -Four men took the position Of
order arms incorrectly. Such movements
of the manual of arms as were executed by
the company were done with a snap and
precision which was refreshing. The sec
ond sergeant was placed, contrary TO drill
regulations, on the left of the company,
and Junior sergeant was placed on the
right. apparently on account of their height.
Two men had dirty gloves. One officers
back sling of belt was out of place. One
officer held sword improperly at the order
Ten men failed to port arms after lowering
hammer. Two men failed to port arms
before closing chamber. Two men lowered
hammer before closing chamber. Two men
held fingers under sling. piece at the order
One man, hammer half-cocked. and one
man, hammer down. piece at the order.
Sixth battalion.
General appearance. good There were
only four officers on duty with the three
companies.
Commissioned staff.-One officer without
sword knot. With the exception of the act
ing adjutant, none of the stan officers re-
| turned sword correctly.
Non-commissloned staff.-Sergeant major
requires instruction in position of order
sword" The quartermaster sergeant fell
| in late Neither OF them returned sword
correctly.
pany presented a good appearance, which
| was, however. marred by unsteadiness sew
eral men turning their heads and looking
| around in ranks, and the fact that the rear
| rank was not formed correctly in second
| and third set of tours from the left. There
was no right guide for the second platoon.
| Several men at command inspection arms"
executed right dress" The opening of
cartridge boxes was slow and irregular
Number one man in second set of fours
from the right In rear rank was particularly
unsteady. One man closed cartridge box
with left hand. The company requires ''set-
ting up" drill and instruction in manual of
arms. Few of the men came from right
shoulder to order arms correctly, and a
number of them stood Incorrectly at the
! order" Quite a number of men were
without figure on shield of helmet One
man had piece at half-cock at the order"
One man had coat partly unbuttoned Eight
men held piece with first and second fingers
under sling at the order" Seven men
failed to port arms after lowering ham,
mer. Three men took piece from inspector
with both hands. One man had empty
shell in cartridge box. Three men had
hammers down at the order One man
| lowered piece from port arms without
closing chamber. One man had piece al
full cock at the order" One man opened
chamber with first finger. One man lowered
hammer before closing chamber. One man
partly lowered piece without closing cham
| Der or lowering hammer. One man chew
| ing In ranks In many instances pieces
were held awkwardly at right shoulder
Company Is, sixth battalion-The appear
| ance presented by this company was very
| good. The lieutenant took position of parade
| rest" during inspection of company, instead
| of lat ease" with sword at an "order"
| Only two men in the front rank and five
| in the rear rank took the proper position of
| order arms" The first two fingers of the