The morning times., 1895-08-04
DISTRICT SOLDIER BOYS
One Weeks News and Gossip
Around Local ArmOrieS

The range at Ordway is completed To-
morrow practice for the selection OF a team
for Sea Girt viii begin The National
Guard now has the finest range in the
country.
1t is at OIdway near Magruder station,
on the Pennsylvania railroad 1t lies 400
yards up the railroad track from Magruder
and when the 1.O0O-yaId range is to be
used the line is al MagIuder.
1t is nice little tramp from the station
to oIdway proper. Some of these days the
Trains may stop at the bridge leading across
the little creek to the office The office
itself is a neat ne-stoIy building with plenty
of windows and a most pleasant porch.
On the tight of the main entrance one-half
of the side is shut off by railway and
this will be the headquaI ters of the superin-
tendent. The other half is shut off into
neat little loom and this is the private Of
flee of the inspector of rifle practice The
remainder OF the building will be used for
storage purposes.
In front is the flag staff and from this
fine banner is to float a few feet farther
to the front is the firing line, extending
clear across the meadow. Away in the dis
tance stretch the 200, 800, 500 and 600
yard ranges. They are to one side of each
other SO all can be shot at one time.
THE NEW RANGE.
Each range has ten targets. Onthe firing
line are built plats of earth 7x9 feet and
two feet high. On these the marksTneD
| stand. These plats put him oD a level with
the center of the target.
Iufront Of the 200 and 300 ardrangesare
! built cribs for the protection of the marks
1t was the intention to dig rifle pits but
water was reached too soon. At the 800
! and 600-yard ranges, though, pits are
| dug. The cribs are thick enough to stop
! any bullet going.
The ,oO0-yard range will be built
| on the side of the hill and to the right of
! the 500-yard range. 1t is really on a line
between the 3O0-yard and the 800 yard
| range. 1t Will mostly be used by the dis
| tinguished marksmen of the District and it
| viii be some time yet before it is in
shape.
The inspector general of rifle practice,
| Major Harries, is to be complimented on
| the result. The range viii do away with
many OF the complaints of former years.
| The men can be accommodated when
they go out there to shoot aud will not
have to waste an afternoon as used to be
the case. Ordway is a credit to the Ma
tional Guard and there will be no excuse
now for the boys not bringing back from
Sea Girt everything in sig ht.
THE BRIGADE TEAM.
Circular No. has just been issued from
| headquarters, and is in reference to select
ing the brigade rifle team" To-mor-
row, Tuesday and Wednesday the range
will be open at 2:15 O'Clock for voluntary
practice, and on Thursday, Friday and Sat
urday the range will be open for competi.
tive practice. Thursday the inspector gen
eral of rifle practice will reduce the mum.
ber of candidates to thirty, and after Satur-
day he will still further reduce this mum
Der to a total OF twenty, who shall con
tinue to practice on such a schedule as ma J
be presented ,and from whom shall be
finally selected a brigade team of twelve
principals and four alternates to repre-
sent the brigade in any competition thai
may be entered into during the season.
Each candidate will be required to fire
| q score of seven shots at 200, 500 and coo
yards. Sighting shots will be permitted
only on pool targets. The range will bt
closed each day at 6:45 p IN. All member
of the brigade team will be provided witt
transportation and subsistence while absen
from the city engaging in any centest. Th'
inspector general of rifle practice may a
any time relieve any man from duty as g
candidate or as a member of the team with
out assigning any reason therefor, and
if he deems 1t desirable, select men to fill
vacancies.
During the month of August the rang,
| will be open from 2:15 till 6:45 o'clocl
p. M every Monday, Wednesday, and Fri
day for voluntary practice. An inspecto
of rifle practice will be in attendance, and
on request, will certify scores, to be cred
tied as part of the required practice
Trains for the range leave the Penusyl
vania Railroad station at 11:50 a. On.
2:O1 and 4:36 p. m. Trains for the cit.
stop at Magruder on signal at 5:29 ant
I'll p. m.
COURTs-MARTIAL OVER
The courts-martial to try all absentee
: from camp have all been finished and tn
results forwarded to headquarters. A
result there has been q general weedin
out. and the various commands are nov
filled by men who mean to attend t
their business. The Investigations hav
shown that most of the men had reason
able excuses for being absent from camI
Some, though, will be reprimanded b