Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-06


the FencibIes from Camp Washington, and
in interviews or otherwise it has been in
sisted that the disarmament was the result
of non-attendance upon the most important
military duty Of the year. 1t Is perhaps
true that the Fencibles might have been
saved for a little while longer had they
made a good showing In camp, but the
CHANCES are. however, against even that
possibility; have been informed that Gen.
Ordway had made up his mind as to what
he would do with the company some time
before the brigade went into camp, but
definite action was not taken until the
report of the inspector general on all the
annual inspections was placed In his hands,
ar d this, it Is said, was not until last
Saturday"
May BE Prohibition of Competitive
Drills.
There ara rumors around headquarters
to the effect that an order will soon be
issued discouraging companies Of the Dis
trict National Guard from participation
in prize drill contests. This would be in
line with the regulations in all those states
where the National Guard is most efficient
in true soldierly sense. Companies of the
National Guard in Massachusetts, New
York and Pennsylvania are absolutely pro-
hibited from taking any part In drill COM
petitions. Local guardsmen, who are more
interested in the general excellence of the
paper reputation of any company, say they
would be very glad indeed to see stop
put to competitive drills, for the reason
that companies would then probably apply
themselves more closely to duties of the
practical sort that are frequently neglected.
Building the Range at Ord,vay.
Work on the rife range commenced
Thursday. Very little was done then, how
ever, for the long grass interfered consid-
erably with the operations OF the little sur
vey party. Yesterday rain put a stop to
the proceedings, but many of the details
at this end of the line were attended to,
and as a result II IS expected that a con-
siderable force will be busiy engaged
bright and early Monday morning,by which
time all the prelimnaries will be complete.
and everything in readiness for the plow
and the scraper and the pick and the
shovel. Just behind the 30O-yards firing
point are being laid the stills of the range
headquarters of the department of rifle
practice, modest frame structure 80 feet
long by 20 wide. with a porch in front and
with interior provision for the storing of
range supplies and the equipment of an
office. 1t is a big job to fit out a range.
but the force at work next week will, 1t is
said, be strong enough to make rapid prog
ress, so that in six or seven working days,
If the weather is anything like decent, the
range will take on businesslke appear
ance. Twenty-one targets will have to he
put in place, and this means that in addi-
ton to the excavating there will have to
be great deal of careful construction so
as to render practically impossible any
thing like accident to the markers. who viii
be on duty in the pits. This work will be
dono with due reference to the penetrating
powers of the new So-calher bullet, which
the District National Guard will probably
be getting ready to use year hence
Sharpshooters and those who desire to be
sharpshooters are displaying considerable
anxiety as to the completion of the range:
tn pat ia rnry and Tn,
view of the fact that there was no home
range during the whole of last year the
department of rifle practice does not seem
TO regard their anxiety as unreasonable
II everything goes well 1t is hoped that the
range will be ready for use by the 10th or
18th instant. There will not be any par
tcular ceremony at the opening unless IT
be the hosting of the colors The tract
upon which the range is has already been
chrstened. Its name Is Ordway. Camps
have been called Ordway, and in several
more CT less ephemeral ways the name of
the commanding general has been connect
ed with National Guard matters but his
cognomen has not been attached to any
thing of the permanently enduring sort I'M
I'll 1t was APPLY applied in the present in
stance. 1t Is interesting to know, too that
the general and other members of the
guard who read the National Guard chap
ter in The Star will make Simultaneous
discovery as to the christening for the
name selected was not publicly mentioned
until Yesterday, and no intimation of the
selection has, up to this time, been youch-
safed the ranges godfather.
Team Competitions Soon.
1t is hoped to start the competition for
places on the brigade team of 1885 some
time during the week after neXt-probably
about the 18th instant. While no definite
arrangements have as yet been made as to
the selection Of competitors, it seems prob
able that the old plan of calling for about
Nv Ia
close of the first days competition the num-
Der will be cut down to about thirty, and
at the close Of the second day there will
be further reduction of probably ten;
and then the brigade team will speedily be
organized and put to work. AS in years
past, two afternoons a week will be de-
voted to practice, and it Is expected that
when the first week of September arrives
Girt at least as good a team as any Of the
very good teams that have gone into rifle
shooting history.
Regimental teams, too, will undoubtedly
get a move on themselves as soon as the
range is opened, for the fight for the New
Jersey regimental trophy is this year going
to be especially interesting. In 1891 and 80
the first District OF Columbia infantry cap
tured the bronze horse. In 1893 and "a
the District Of Columbia engineers came
out ahead. The struggle will now be for
the third victory. for If either Of the two
organizations named succeed in landing the
prize this year the fine bronze will be per-
manently located at the national capital.
But while the first regiment and the en-
gineers are trying to take each others
measure both of those competitors had
better keep at least one eye on the second
regiment, which proposes to distinguish
Itself on the range before the present sea-
son comes to q close.
Gen. Spencer for Governor of Jersey.
District rifiemen and other members of
the guard who have any acquaintance with
Gen. B. w. Spencer, New Jerseys inspector
general Of rifle practice, will probably be
pleased to hear that at dinner which took
place in Passaic last Saturday night the
general was informally nominated as the
republican candidate for governor Of the
state. The dinner was complimentary
affair; a testimonial to Gen. Spencer on
the completion of twenty consecutive years
of service as mayor and councilman of
the city Of Passaic. A great many nice
things were said about the general and en-
crossed resolutions and such like things
were presented him with all the accom-
paniments of Jersey oratory. If Gen.
Spencer is elected governor he will do his
best to have every man, woman and child
In the state in the National Guard before
his term of service is half over; and most
of hon, will al; -l,, md