Evening star., 1895-03-09
THE NATIONAL GUARD
The Coming Interstate Drill Being
Discussed.
TEE COMPANIES THAT MAY ENTER
Proposed Rifle Matches of the Fifth
Battalion.
OF. INTEREST

N . T E s q + IN T E. r E s II
The interstate drill and encampment to
be held at Memphis, Tenn, May IL to p.
inclusive, has considerably agitated the
members of those companies of the District
guard whose inclinations are for try after
glory and cash. During the early part Of
the week the first official information, en-
bracing the list of prizes and the rules and
regulations governing the event, was re-
ceived In this city, and now the National
Fencibles, Columbian Zouaves, Corcoran
Cadet Corps Morton Cadets, Ordway Rifles
and the light battery are wide awake and
interested. -. ,r..
The contests of special interest to the
Washington companies are the free-for-au
infantry drill, the contest for infantry
companies that have never drilled in inter-
state drill and the artillery drill. In the
big drill the first prize is 5000, $500 more
than was awarded at Little Rock last July.
The company taking second place will re-
ceive $1,25O and the ono the third place,
$500. In the maiden drill $1,000 is offered
to the winning company and $500 to the
second best. Seven hundred dollars will
reward the best drilled section of artillery
and $500 the one scoring next highest mark.
The best disciplined company Is assured
$500, and the best drilled man s75. The
other contests provided not mentioned in
the foregoing, are for infantry companies
that have never won or been awarded a
prize in interstate drill, drills in Upton's,
Hardee's and Casey's tactics and a.zouave
contest. - = .
Difie nIties In the Way.
The path OF any Washington company
intending to engage in the Memphis drill
is by no means strewn with roses. All
contestants are required to report in the
Tennessee city not later than May s, and
remain until and including the 21st. The
| brigade encampment of the District Ma
tional Guard begins at Fort Washington
| not later than Monday, June 10, and pos
sibly Saturday, June 8. and it is a fact
beyond dispute that Gen. Ordnay will not
excuse any organization from attendance
at the same. Therefore, companies will not
be ordered to Memphis. but may be allowed
! to go with the understanding that they
| must show up with full ranks at camp.
Furthermore. the department OF rifle prac-
| tice states emphaticaliy thatit will enter
| serious objection to- any company leaving
the city before it has completed the regular
| indoor ordered praetice, and considerable
line Is now some weeks behind. Many
guardsmen will be u9aRle to get away from
business pursuits both p May and in June.
and that will prove, Serious hindrance to
| teams. h''H tSlis '.' q
| OF course, the champion National Fen
| cibles are expected to ,go to Memphis and
| bring back the Galveston semi-centennial
| championship cup for the third time, but
| Capt. Domers mnn are seriously handi-
capped. The financial side of the question
| Is all right, as the champions have several
| thousand dollars safely stored away, which
| can be made use Of only for drill purposes,
| and as the membership has passed the hun
dred mark, team may be easily selected.
| Many of the old men. however. will be un-
| able to take the TRIP. First Lieut.. Mosher
is engaged in business in New York. and
| will not be with the company. The death
| of Sergt Ton1lihson att Little Rock robbed
the company of an efficient officer
Some Probable Entries.
The time allowed for preparation is con-
sidered entirely too brief and then there is
no suitable drill ground available In this
| city. Several members of the Fencibles
| are opposed to participating in the drill,
| but it is almost certainty that Capt.
Dcmer and his team will appear on the
Memphis field. The matter is to be de-
| cided at a meeting Monday evening.
| The Emmet Guard, which took first place
In the maiden contest at Little Rock, will
| not make an effort to engage in the Mem
| phis competition, as the company has been
undergoing reorganization and Capt.
Walsh, as superintendent of the new arm
! CRY, Is too busfly occupied just at present
| to think of drill.
The Columbian Zouaves, however, will
visit Memphis, If such is possible, and while
they do not expect to win the champion
| ship of the United States. the members of
this young organization are hopeful of
| returning to Washington with a prize in
| the maiden drill, and possibly in the inter-
| state. 50
The Corcoran Cadet Corps Is CONSIDERING
the matter, and it would not be surprising
| if Captain Edwards company is repre-
| sented in the strife for glory. The Morton
| Cadets. who made such an excellent show
ing last fall at Alexander Island in a drill
| with the Emmett Guard, would like to try
conclusions with any other. maiden COM
| pany in the United States and If the mat
| ter or finances can be arranged the COM
rnand will certainly be heard from when
I shouts of victory are in order.
1t Is understood that the Ordway Rifles
| are talking of making the trip. but they
| are going about it very quietly, preferring
| not to make public their plans until they
past the light battery has been considering
| the proposition to send a section to Mem
phts, and Lieut. Griffith has had his eye
| on certain men to represent the organiza-
| ton. No action will be taken by the bat
| terry until Col. Peters, the general man.
ager, reaches this city, and makes known
| facts relating to the drill.
The Rules Criticised.
The rules and regulations relating to the
| drill and encampment have not met with
general approval here. Those who claim
to know declare that a company should
not be required to stay at an interstate
drill more than one week. The Memphis
management requires all commands to
reach that city May s, three days before
the commencement of the encampment,
and the reason for this is not plain to the
local soldiery. There are other points in
the rules which have not caused enthu-
siasm, and which, it is expected, will be
| changed or modified when General Man.
| ager Peters has listened to the elo-
| quence of certain members of some of the
| District companies. The proposition to
hold drills under Upton's. Hardees and
| Casey's tactics is considered absurd, as
| these systems are practically obsolete
and it will be a difficult matter to secure
the required number OF entries, judges to
prepare programs and do the marking and
spectators sufficiently familiar with such
| tactics to take interest in their interpreta-