Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-30
More System Required in Target
Practice.
THE HIS RILL

surely happen-or, as a major suggested 1t
will soon be necessary to call out the police
to quiet the militia.
Seldom do the electric burners throughout
the building take on hue of more in
tensity than a faint cherry glow. Only
when the overworked engineer, who also
acts as fireman, stoker messenger and gen.
eral utility man, at intervals throws on the
fire shovelful of fuel does the alleged IL
Elimination for a few moments illuminate.
1t is conceded to be fact that as the light
increases the heat decreases. During the
recent cold spell the engineer would ever
and anon leave his engine in Convention
Hall and plod through the snow to the
armory building. Meeting a guardsman, he
would ask:
"How's the light?"
Awful; I just had to make use of a
candle In order to safely cross the hall to
our locker ROOM"
RObbing Peter to Pay Paul.
The well-meaning engineer then fastened
away and turned on more power for the
lights. The reckless extravaganza, how
ever. resulted in a sudden and noticeable
diminution of the heat. AS soon as the
ambitious engineer regained his breath
after the unusual exertion he would again
journey to the armory and inquire this
time about the heat.
Three of our men have had their feet
minutes, he was answered by an indi-
vidual wrapped in government blankets.
To relieve this condition Of affairs more
heat would be turned on, to the great detri-
ment or the light. Thus the situation Is at
the structure for which the government is
paying big rental to house the volunteers
who devote valuable time in training and
keeping in condition to uphold the law
should occasion so demand. 1t is stated
that the manager of the hall early in the
week employed man to shovel coal and
relieve the engineer Of one of his multi
farious duties. but soon as the owner
heard of this action the new man was dis
charged.
To sum up. the light is poor, the heat is
nearly always somewhere else and appar-
emily no effort has been or is being made to
Improve the state of affairs. The main
hope of relief Is the return of the COM
handing general from Europe It is ex-
cur.
An Interesting Shoot Coming.
The department of rifle practice met dur
ing the past week and considered several
matters of more than passing interest AS
n result of the coming together of the in
spector general Of rifle practice and his
subordinates, 1t is announced that a match
will be shot Friday. April 26,by teams from
the engineer battalion and from company
b. sixth battalion. The distance will be
two hundred yards. and each team will be
made up OF twenty members. This Is the
first time that so many men have been
numbered on a team. Tuesday, April 80
the NTH battalion company matches occur;
and on the same evening a team from the
fifth battalion will compete with another
team not yet selected.
A strong effort is to be made to discon-
tinue the use Of the rifle gallery for squad
drills on certain evenings. This has proved
to be a serious Inconvenience as 1t inter-
feres greatly with voluntary practice. The
gallery has been shamefully misused by
the squads, the floor being disdgured with
tice have been notified by the inspector
general Of rifle practice to cause the i'm
mediate expulsion from the gallery Of any
smoking or chewing therein.
Pistol Practice to Begin.
AS soon as Gen. Ordway returns ar
rangements will be completed for beginning
pistol practice. There is a manifest de-
ficiency among the recruits as regards
aiming and sighting the rife, and this
should not be. A general order issued
about three years ago directed that fifteen
minutes of every company drill should, be
devoted to instruction in aiming and sight
ing. A meeting Of officers will be called
during the coming week, when the mat
ter Will be discussed and steps taken to
better the situation.
1t will undoubtedly be surprise to many
% learn that the first battalion will be or
at the L street building, instead of on the
indoor range Of the battalion. Although this
step Is not yet settled, it Is understood that
it Is to be ordered. Since its large in
crease In membership, the first battalion
has not performed its quota of work at rifle
practice, and its facilities for so doing at
its range are not such as to accommodate
the four enlarged companies.
Troop A Explains.
AS stated in The Star last week, troop
A has been called upon by the adjutant
general to explain why it did not report
for regular ordered practice several weeks
ago. The explanation has been made, and
it is to the effect that the clothing and
equipment of the organization was packed
up, consequent upon moving. and the men
were therefore unable to shoot. According
to parties conversant with the matter, the
excuse has the appearance of being some
what thin, but nevertheless it was ac-
cepted.
Light battery A must now detail in {:
satisfactory manner why it fails to prac-
tice at 200 and 800 yards, according to
General Orders, No. 3, series of 1894. 1t
the battery that this practice was volun-
tary. On the other hand. it is obligatory.
Following in the steps of the department
of rifle practice, the quartermaster gen.
eral, the surgeon and the adjutant general
mean to organize their respective depart
ments for the purpose Of securing unaninl-
ity of action.
Preparing for the Memphis Drill. :
Col. I. F. Peters, general manager of the
Memphis interstate drill passed through
the city yesterday on his way to the west
In speaking to Star reporter Col. Peters
declared that the success of the drill is as
sured beyond doubt, and, he added, at least
125 visiting organizations will be in camp
at Memphis during the event. The local
companies intending to compete at Mem
phs are far from idle. The National Fenci-
bles have rented Convention Hall for the
evenings it Is not at the disposal of the
National Guard, and during the past week
put in a great deal of hard work. A large
number of recruits must necessarily be
drilled into shape for the team that is to
defend the championship of the United
States, as many of the old men will be un-
able to take the trip. However, the boys
have no fear, in spite of the handicap as to
being at the head of the list when the
award of prizes is made.
The Morton Cadets are already putting
up creditable exhibition. notwithstanding
the fact that the company is forced to
make use OF the streets for drill purposes.
Efforts are also being strenuously made
to have the big benefit of the company at