Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-28
Official Rifle Practice to Open Up
Next Week.
TEE COMING COMPETITIVE DRILLS
A Model Company to Be Com
posed Of Experienced Men.
NEWS AROUND THE ARMORY

National Guardsmen are preparing for
the official rifle practice, which opens at
Ordway Tuesday morning. Comparatively
a small number have taken advantage of
the opportunities for voluntary practice,
and, as natural sequence, a large number
Of soldiers will be more or less disappoint-
ed in their scores, for only the phenomenon
she OTIS well without practice and the phe-
nonenon is a trifle scarce even in the Dis
trict of Columbia. The practice schedule
has already been printed in The Star. so
by this time every officer and enlisted man
in town knows the date on which he will
be expected to face the targets.
Coming Competitive Drills.
Interest in the competitive drills to be
held in connection with tie military fete OF
company A. second battalion CCorcoran
Cadet Corps, increases as the dates for the
contest approach. There will be squad
drill, an Individual drill, and a contest for
drum majors.
AS is natural, greatest attention Is being
paid to the squad drill. This Is open to
squads of sixteen men with one commits
stoned officer. 1t will consist of the manual
of arms, with the Springfield rifle of the
model now in use, and VIII include the load
ingS and nringS, and stacking with and
without bayonetS. Programs Will be handed
officers after the squad has
formed on the stage of National Rifles
Armory, and it must be returned to the
senior judge Immediately after the COM
pletion of the drill. Fifteen minutes from
the time of formation will be allowed for
the drill, and credit is to be given for time
saved. The drills in this contest will occur
Wednesday, November 6, and Thursday.
November Z.
The individual drill, which is booked for
Friday, November s. will be for the cham
pionship of the District of Columbia, and a
handsome conception in the way OF gold
medal as a prize. This drill will be in the
manual of arms according to the United
States drill regulations for the Springfield
rifle of the model now in use. Entries are
limited to two men from each company in
the National Guard.
The drum major competition will be held
October 80 and 81 and November 1, 5 and 6,
one corps appearing each evening. The
drill VIII be in accordance with the pro-
visions for drum majors in the United
States drill regulations. The contestants
will each be allowed a squad Of eight men
to be drilled in the movements prescribed
in the regulations, by proper signals, the
squad to be formed in column Of tours.
The prize is to be a costly baton.
The prize for the squad drill will be a
trophy to be known as the 'Corcoran Cadet
Corps Prize Cup" 1t will be fourteen inches
guardsD1an in full uniform. The name Of
the winning squad will also be engraved on
the cup.
The medal for the individual drill winner
consists of a Maltese cross with burst of
sun rays a background. A wreath of
green enameled gold is raised in relief with
a United States regulation blanket bag,
rolled and strapped, on top in colored
enamel An eagle is perched on the blanket
in the center of the cross. Above this is a
flying eagle, having in it's claws shield
with crossed rifles, the shield inscribed
1888" The whole is suspended from a
heavy gold bar bearing the words Com
petitive Drill in raised blue enameled block
letters.
Several squads have already commenced
drilling in preparation for the squad drill,
while 100 or more guardsmen are losing no
time getting into shape for the individual