Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-26
w RIFLES FOR THE DISTRICT

An Interesting Exhibition in New
York Of Signaling.
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
The encampment of the National Guard
of the District of Columbia, to be held at
Fort Washington during the early part Of
next June, will be unusually interesting
in many respects, and particularly SO be-
cause of the presence and participation of
q detachment Of troops from the regular
army. Unless things go Unexpectedly
amiss between now and early summer
General Schofield will probably order into
camp with the National Guard two or
three troops Of the sixth cavalry, sta
tiored at Fort Myer, four batteries of the
fourth artillery, acting as infantry, and
one battery of light artillery, quartered at
the Washington barracks. Colonel Hey
wood, commanding the United States ma
rine corps, will probably DO the same with
two companies of marines, located at the
perhaps two, companies of marines
from Norfolk may be ordered to f ort
Washington, the marine corps thus having
a battalion present. Although joint en-
campment of troops OF the regular army
and the National Guard is a novelty in
this locality the practice has developed
into an annual custom in almost every
other section of the United States. espe-
6ially so in New York, Ohio, Illinois, Wis
ccrsin, Minnesota and California; and in
every instance has proved beneficial and
successful
The officer in comm and at Fort Myer is
Colonel David s. Gordon, the batteries at
the Washington barracks are under Col
Cnel Henry w. Closson, and the marines
at the marine barracks are commanded
l'y Colonel Charles Haywood. If the Off
GERS named personally attend the encamp-
ment at Fort Washington and do not send
a junior in charge of their attachments.
the army officer Of highest rank present
will be a colonel, and therefore General
OrdWay, by reason of his rank as briga-
der general viii act post commander.
The army officers would, however. be
placed in command temporarily and thus
will have practice in maneuvering q COM
paratively large body of troops an oppor-
tunity which is not often available.
The duties to be performed by the regu-
lars and the guardsmen will be identical,
and though all were in the paid service
of the United States. The troops Will drill
side by side and in like manner appear for
guard mount and other ceremonies. In
such company General, Ordway's men must
he spry and unusually agile
AS far possible the details Of the en-
campment have already been considered.
The grounds are in fairly good condition
and may be put in proper shape with but
little work. Each battalion will control its
own commlssary department, and for that
purpose is to be supplied with a field oven
and accessories.
The encampment will undoubtedly sur
pass anything of the kind ever attempted
by the District National Guard and is
result needed improve
ment in every branch Of the brigade.
New Rifles for the District.
The National Guard of the District Of
Columbia, or portion of it at least, will
certainly be armed with the new Spring
field, model 1892, or, as it is known to
many, the Krag-Jorgenson rife before the
close of the coming summer The distribu-
ton of the rifle to the army is progressing
finely, and there is no doubt in the minds
Of ordnance officials that all the infantry
regiments will have received it by May 1.
The last of these pieces to be issued was
on January 3, when they were sent to the
fourteenth. eighteenth and nineteenth reg
imcnts. There are ten regiments yet to be
supplied. The ordnance department Of the
army has approved the sample of carbine
submitted, and the work of assembling
this arm is now in progress at the Spring
field armory, and by May 1 it is expected
that sufficient number will be on hand to
begin the issue. There is no departure in
this from that supplied to the in
fantry, nor is there any decrease in the
size Of the bore or of the magazine. The
ordnance department has received reports
on the several styles of intrenching tools
which have just been tested. The reports
are volumnous and are now being con-
sidered by the ordnance officials The tools
tested comprise those of the ZalinSki Bah
cock and other types.
The rifles are being manufactured at the
rate of about eighty per day, which
o1,,nn n hntUaan
yearly So far as the National Guard of
the several states is concerned, it is
thought that the supply Of arms, after the
army has beer equipped, will more than
eqral the demand. There is annual
appropriation of 100000 for the National
Guard of the country, and supplies to that
amount may be drawn from the War De-
partment. OF this annual appropriation
the District of Columbia National Guard
is allowed about $4,000, and the brigade
during the coming summer will be allowed
as many of the new rifles as its credit at
the War Department will permit.
Discharges of Various Sorts.
The following named enlisted men have
been discharged from the National Guard
on their own applications: James E.Thomp-
son, private, company B, engineer bat
talon; I. S. Goldsmith. private company B,
tt ird battalion; William w. Maxwell, pri-
vate, company d. third battalion, and Q. II.
Tracy, private, company ID, third battalion
Because of removal from the District,
John A. Wolf, private, company D, fifth
battalion, has been granted a discharge.
Charles B. Green, private company A, first
battalion, and James. r. Ford Thomas u.
Kirk, Orson F. Putnam, Stephen d. Rollins
and Charles w. Tenley, all privates in the
third separate company, have been dis
charged in the interest of the service, and
Robert P. Barker, private company \,
fifth battalion, has been dishonorably dis
charged.
Engineers Now Being Rcorgnnized.
AS predicted in The Star on Monday last.
company B Of the engineer battalion is now
being reorganized. Capt. Ireland has ten
dered his resignation. and Lieut.. Drury, the
senior lieutenant, is in command. Major
Thompson is personally attending to the
details Of such changes in the membership
as may be required, and particularly the
recruiting Of suitable men possessing quail
fications essential to an engineer soldier.
Aside from those who are specially skilled
in construction there will he an opportunity
for bright men to enlist in this organiza-