Evening star., 1895-10-12
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Conclusion of the Ordered Rifle Prac-
tice at 0rdWay.
HARDNESS A PREDOMINANT EVIL
Gossip Of the Company Quarters
and the Drill Hall.
N OTES OF INIT RES T


National Guard on the outdoor range for
1895 is at an end But comparatively
small portion of the brigade faced the tar
gets, and while this is regretted, it could
not be prevented, solely because Of the in
ability of a great majority of officers and
men to find the time necessary to fire the
prescribed number cf shots.
Until Congress provides for the payment
of the organized militia of the District
when ordered out for service, the same
drawbacks will ever be present. 1t so hap
pened that the outdoor practice was ar
ranged for "a period when employees of bus
mess firms found it utterly impossible to
secure leave of absence for one day, while
the opening of the fall business in the va
rious trades furnished employment for
many working men who had of necessity
been idle all summer. and the latter, Of
course, under the circumstances, could not
give the time for an all-day trip to Ord
way.
The average number of men paraded by
the several battalons for rifle practice was
less than % per cent of the enrolled mem
bership, although one or two companies
showed up in a creditable manner. one
discouraging feature was the tardiness OF
from five to fifteen minutes of almost every
command in reporting at the railroad de-
pot. This matter was promptly reported
by the inspector general of rifle practice to
the adjutant general, and result bat
talon and company commanders generally
are endeavorirg to explain the cause of the
dilatory arrivals.
Tnrdiness IL Predominant Evil.
Ore battalion commander in his report
after stating that the staff and commission
ed officers of the line of his command were
promptly on hand and that it was the en-
listed neil who were late, took occasion to
Gov ,f
tury tardiness has been a predominant evil
in the National Guard throughout the coun-
try and that correction of the same has
been found almost impossible. Therefore,
this major SAID, he did not think that battal-
ion and company commanders should be
called to account for the tardiness in uues-
tion, as they had issued the necessary or
ders and did all in their power to secure
promptness.
The next feature of interest in National
Guard circles will be the annual rife contests
of the brigade at Ordway about the end Of
this month.
To Purchase New Uniforms.
Company A, third battalion, will, in a few
days, place an order for forty-five distinctive
company fatigue uniforms, to be made of
black material, with the letters M. c."
embroidered in gold the blouse collar.
This company has decided to give series
of three dances during the season at Ma
t.OHdl RiHeS Hail on the following dates:
Friday, November %; Friday, January 3, and
the third Friday in April. A committee has
been busy during the week issuing certifi-
Gates, of handsome design, to it's honorary
members. Capt. Shilling is devoting each
evening in increasing the proficiency of a
squad of sixteen men in the manual of arms,
with a view of carrying off the prize IN the
competitive drill at the coming military fete
of the Corcoran Cadet Corps.
Third battalion Happenings.
Capt. Clarence B. Sayer. company c, third
leave of absence from October Z, because of
illness.
An election of second lieutenant of COM
pany B. third battalion. has been ordred
for October 81. The choice of the company
for the vacancy is divided between First
Sergeant F. A. Dony and Sergt. G. Il.
Squires
Sergeant Major H. Leroy Mark, at his
own request has been transferred to COM
pany A, third battalion, as private.
The members of company d, third bat
talon, will assemble Tuesday evening, Oc-
toher 22, for the purpose of electing first
ard second lieutenant.
Application for honorable discharge has
been made by Private Samuel r. Haney,
company C, third battalion; Private Eu-
gustus F. Specht, company A, third bat
TALON, and Private Ferdinand E. Molkow,
company A, third battalion.
Second Lieutenant Charles NJ. Robinson,
jr., of company A, third battalion is at his
home extremely ill. and fears are enter
taired that death may ensue at any mo-
ment.
Solomon Carr jr., has been elected first
lieutenant, and Quartermaster Sergeant
William H. Gibson of the third battalion,
second lieutenant of company c, third bat
talon.