The morning times., 1895-12-29
DISTRICT SOLDIER BOYS
One Weeks News and Gossip
Around the Local ArnlOries.

having their patriotic blood stirred.
A few weeks ago DR.. Neely. one of the
jovial staff officers, resigned his position
as surgeon of the Fifth Battalion. The
doctor had been with the battalion for
years and was a great favorite.
For some time there wasn't an applicant
for the position; but the Presidents Vene-
Zrelan message had not more than been
read before applications began to roll In.
They came from all directions. They were
not satisfied with seeing the major COM
inanding the battalion, they have besieged
the surgeon-in-chief. DR.. Henderson hesi-
tates to give the number for fear he may
be accused of exaggeration.
With non-combatants turning up this
way there would be no difficulty in finding
fighters. The maximum strength OF the
District Guard is about $500 men, and
this number could be turned out in very
short time.
THE NUMBER OF GuARDSMEN.
At present the guard numbers about 1 500
men, well armed and equipped. The number
of these men who could be turned out for
duty outside the District would depend
largely on the length OF service. III the term
was u short one fewer men could go, be-
cause they would probably have to give
up their means of earning a livelihood. In
the case of a lengthy service. the number
would be large.
1t is estimated that the District could
put in tie field for 60 days service at least
1000 well-armed and well-drilled men.
This would include the three branches OF
the service, infantry, cavalry and artillery.
There are in the District hundreds OF young
men who have been drilled to a greater
or less extent. General Ordway has al
ways claimed that IL was better to have
men partially drilled than not at all. So
he has not objected TO the large number or
discharges.
Young men find they can come in the
guard and leave when they grow tired, en-
list when they otherwise would not. They
get years training and in case of an emer-
gency are more valuable than the green
men. Then they come back, usually, TO
company where they know the men. The
captain also knows them and that lis great
thing. 1t is for these reasons that General
Ordway was been so liberal in the matter
of discharges which are looked on with
q suspicious eye in some OF the States.
WANT DRILLED MEN.
But Ii is these drilled men who are needed
In time of war. Then The man who has
military knowledge goes TO the front. He
can do something right away. He does not
have to learn.
A story is told of the war which illustrates
this point and which is vouched for:
At a cer.ain post in or near Brooklyn,
when the war opened, was stationed an
artillery colonel. He was strict old
martinez. His wife had an elegant Irish
servant whom she had raised from girl.
The colonel and his wife were very careful
of her, and it wasn't every enlisted map
who could call on her.
But she had q beau. What pretty glrl
hasn't? He was q corporal. aud the fact
that he was her beau stands for his re-
spectability. His time was about eXpir-
ing, and lie had told his sweetheart that
he would not re-enlist unless the colonel
promised to appoint him sergeant major.
or course the girl told her mistress, and
she started in to have the appointment made
But the colonel hesitated. He thought
the man made first rate corporal, but
1t was a question whether he could fill the
important office of sergeant major. But
his wife Insisted, and at last the colonel
gave in. So one morning the mistress came
down to the kitchen with the joyful intel
IigeDce that the corporal would be sergeant
major il he would re-enlist.
1.-THE corporal is much obliged" said the
servant. "but 1t is too late now. He was
over at a meeting in Brooklyn where they
were raising a regiment last night and they
offered him the coioDelcy. He has &C
cepted. But he's much Obliged TO you,
ma'am."
colonel, and made a first rate one. His
career was not a brilliant one, but he com
maDded his brigade when the war closed.
So the drilled boys of the District would
stand a chance when the call was made.
HOW THEY ARE ARMED.
The District Guard is armed with the best
Springfield rifle. The regular army is
armed with the Erag -Jorgensen. One Is
nearly as good as the other. The krag-
Jorgensen is a Magazine rifle but the maga-
zine is never used except at the command of
the officer In charge and in an emergency
Smokeless powder is used and twice as
much ammunitioni is carried. Other wsethe
Springfie is as good. They could make
1T very interesting to an enemy.
The Guard could be called together at
very short notice. A concentration for
local duty of a short duration could cmade
within three hours. Not long ago, without
previous notice of any kind. a battalion was
assembled at its armory in one hour and
ten minutes, and with SO per cent of its
aggregate paper strength present III ranks.
II called for service, which required heavy
marching order, subsistence stores and ann
munition for service outside the District
twcnty-four hours would he required.
Twenty-four hours is very short time for Il
thousand trained soldiers to leave their Of
fices and homes and ma rch to the front. But
the District boys could do 1t.
THE BATTALION SHOOTS.
The battalion shoots Friday evening were
very interesting. The boys are getting
used to 1t and are making some good shots.
Some are finding that they can shoot, some
thing they didn't know before. The scores
made at the battalion match were as fol-
lows: Engineer Corps, Lieut.. 6. b. Young,
team captain, 407; First Battalion, Lieut..
G. W. SDeden, captain, $50; Second Bat
TALON. Lieut.. T. s. King, captain, 1888; Fifth
Battalion, Lieut.. G.. Shaw, captain, 363;
Third Battalion, Lieut.. F. E. Gibson, cap
tain, 341; Fourth Battalion. Lieut.. NJ. E.
Sabin, captain, 312; First Separate Bat
talon, Lieut.. F. ]. Cardozo, captain, 279;
Provisional Battalion, Lieut.. John a. Kirk,
captain, 222.
at the shoot, and thereby hangs tale.
Lieut.. Vail, inspector of rifle practice, nott-
fled sufficient number of men TO be
present, but they failed to appear.
In the company MATCHES Company A,
Sixth Battalion, made the highest score
but was not awarded the prize, because
one of the menrested against a stea IN heater
while lie shot. For this reason the score OF
the company was cut down. This made
Capt. Simmonson very angry and he threat
cDed to resign if the decision stood.
He places his claim on the ground that
the man was seen shooting in this position
by every rifle inspector present. He was
not notified that the position was wrong
until it was found that Company A was
ahead. Then there was a kick, which the
officers of the department Of rifle pra ctice
sustained. Capt. Simmonson holds that the
man should have been stopped at the first.
RUMoRS AFLOAT.
s.rts OF ,p,p,orc nra unyr nhrond