Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-27
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Practice May Begin on the New
Range Next Week.
CANDIDATES EbRE THE BRIGADE TEAM
A Competitive Drill in the Manual
ipf. fArms.
AS TO MILITIA PATRIOTISM

ahHoylHS delays, Tor WHICH 10 oiie eah PoS-
sibly be held to responsibility. Everybody
on the grornds, from Lieut.. I. s. King,
who is In change of construction. down to
the last addition to the laboring force, has
done everything that could reasonably be
expected OF him, while a notable few have
dcne mere than any reasonable person
would have asked them to do. At this
time the ofTice building and the sinks are
complete the we'll is almost ready for the
pump, the 200 and 300-yards pits are in
condition to receive the targets, the 500
yards pit will be in as good shape by Mon
day evening, while the 6OO-yards pit ought,
if there is no interference by wet weather,
to be about done by Tuesday evening, or
Wednesday at latest. The telephone poles
and wires are up, and the instruments can
be put in just as soon as the targets-noW
on the grass in rear of each ptt-are set
up. Only the things essential have been at
tended to: the limited amount OF money
available has vetoed many plans that must
materialize before the range will be any
thing like perfect. If the targets are IN po-
sitton by Wednesday, then there will be
nothing to prevent the opening or the
range for voluntary practice Thursday, but
the probab lites are that it may be Satur-
day or even the following Monday before
rifle practice will commence. When the
lack of sufficient funds and all the attend
ant circumstances ara taken into consider
alton, 1t is really remarkable that the
range mas progressed SO lar III LIE peiiou
of time that has elapsed since operations
were commenced at Ordway.
The Special Military Ticket.
1t may not be generally understood
throughout the brigade that the special
military ticket-sold for % cents by the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company-can only
be had by those persons who have in their
possession permit cards Issued by the in
spector general of rifle practice. These
cards will not be issued to individuals I'M
der any ctrcumstar ces, says the inspector
general, but will reach the members of
each command through the regimental or
battalion inspectors. The trains upon
which guardsmen will be most likely to
go to the range are those leaving the 9th
street depot at 1:50 am, POI pm. and
Abs pm: the 201 train will stop only
upon notification to the conductor by hold
ers of the special military ticket. Trains
returning to the city stop near the range
upon being tagged" the evening favorites
are due Whereabouts at sos and III.
Candidates for the Brigade Team.
Inspectors Of rifle practice are making
the rounds in their various commands for
the men who viii participate in the pre-
liminary competitions which will provide
candidates for the brigade team. Already
there is considerable enthnsia and it
Isl reasonably expected that a large num-
Der of guardsmen will go out to the range
the first possible opportunity. 80. as to get
into shape for the struggle that is now
near at hand. ..--
Interesting Prize Competitions.
Although drills have been suspended gen.
orally throughout the brigade many of
the infantry commands are discussing with
interest certain, prize competitions to be
held in connection with an enterprise as
yet unnamed, but in the nature of a fair Of
armory in the fall. The event of chief in
terest will be a contest In the manual OF
arms. teams to consist of probably three
sets of fours, double rank, with two guides
and one commissioned officer, for costly
cup or handsome flag. The other features
will be prize exhibitions of baton swing
ing by the drum majors Of the local
Juvenile musical organiZa tons and cake
walk The lady assistants at the fair will
be attired in material representing the
colors Of the company-blue, white and
gold. .F-.-A'. 90 -'-.
The commissioned officers of this COM
pany were rendered a reception on an
elaborate scale by the members Wednes-
day evening last at the armory in appre-
citation of their services in placing the
command on its present sound basis.
the presence of an unlimited quantity of
refreshments were the features of the
evening
Photographs of the Nicely zouaves of
of Dayton, Ohio, have been received by
Captain Edwards company, forming an
appreciate addition to the art collection
of the organization.
Dissatisfied With It's Quarters.
First Sergt. Thomas McAnally of COM
pany A, fourth battalion, the winner of the
Individual drill at the Little Rock inter-
state competition in July, 1894, has been re-
duced to lower sergeantcy at his own
request. Sergt. E. ]. Liston, formerly
first sergeant, has been restored to his
former position, vacated by McAnally.
Company A, fourth battalion, will here
after be governed by board of ten d.
rectors, this change being decided on at
meeting of the commend last evening. The
company is very much dissatisfied with it's
quarters in the new armory building. Sew
eral months ago a communication was for
warded to the commanding general re
questing additional room for the reason
that a large quantity of company property
must be cared for. While awaiting a reply
no attempt has been made to furnish the
quarters, and in consequence the members
have displayed but little eagerness to visit
the armory. If the additional room is not
forthcoming, it is said, quarters are to be
secured outside and those now assigned
the company in the armory building used
only as store rooms for government prop
erty.
Patriotism of the National Guard.
Legislatures OIL a nuInDeT OF states III the
Union have been showing their Indifference
or worse to the interests of the National
Guard by cutting down appropriations for
its maintenance and equipment, says the
Chicago Post Members thereof have in
many instances justified this line Of con-
duct by speaking in disparaging terms of
the organization and OF its usefulness to
the state. These sighting remarks have
called out a reply from General George
W. Wingate, president of the National
Guard Association Of the United States.
General Wingate is of the opinion that
very few people, except those who have
had an active connection with the Nation
al Guard of the different states, have any
idea of the pa triotism and self-sacrifice
which constitute its moving spirit. Still
fewer. he holds, have any conception of
the great service it has been not only to
the Union, but to the different states gen.
erally, in the preservation of law and or
der.
At the outbreak of the civil war Wash
ington would have been lost to the north
had II not been for the service of the Ma
tional Guard. The militia was then much
less effective than now, yet the regiments
of massachusetts, and New York started
instantly to that city with full ranks, and
orrivad in time to prevent the national