Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-16
THE NATIONAL GUARD
The Supply Of Light and Heat in
the New Armory.
COMPANIES PREPARING FOR THE DRILL
The Representation From This City
at Memphis.
OF TEREST

Among the troops of the District Of Co.
lumbia National Guard quartered in the
new armory building the feeling Of discon-
tent has been steadily on the increase dur
ing the past week. Lack of heat and alb
sence of proper light Is the cause Of COM
plant, and the members Of the second,
third fourth, fifth, sixth and the engineer
batta1ions, the light battery, the cavalry
troop. and the second separate company.
are practically unanimous in complaining.
On several occasions the new and damp
building has been entirely without heat.
and the light supplied has been woefully
inadequate, in one company room at least
1t being necessary to press candles into
service.
The light is not turned on at the build
ing each day until 6:30 pm, so for a rather
lengthy period of twilight the armory is
unavailable for work of any nature or rifle
practice. Indeed, Notwithstanding that an
ideal gallery has been provided, voluntary
practice is almost at a standstill. as the
most convenient time for such shooting is
between pm. and pm, and that is the
period ct the day when the gallery is dark
est. The superintendent of the gallery,
Lieut.. T. S. King, will earnestly urge, upon
the return of Gen. Ordway, that a separate
plant be established for lighting the gal
lery. The dim light afforded in Conven-
ton Hall on drill nights is, to say the least,
trying to the eyes Of those who are forced
to spend an hour or more therein.
The bridge connecting the armory build
ing with Convention Hall lacks ratings,
and unit, the deficiency is remedied the
span is useless No effort has been made
to lay proper approaches to the main en-
trance of the building, and during rainy
weather a wide stretch of mud must be
he 10 nod
Wainscoting in the Railways Is now being
placed in position, neat signs have been
hung over the doorway of each room desig-
mating the occupants, and the rooms on the
ground floor are now carpeted with cocoa
mating.
Admission to the Armory.
By late order the colonel temporarily
in command of the brigade has directed
the superintendent of the armory to admit
no one but commissioned officers and per-
sons bearing a pass from Col. Clay before
4 pm. daily. After that hour none but
members of the brigade are to be allowed
within; thus guardsmen are not permitted
company rooms. To properly obey this
order, Capt. Walsh, the superintendent,
must be on duty at the main entrance con-
stantly, know personally every member of
the brigade and also keep track of the re-
cruiting of men.
Company c, second battalion, has direct
ed committee made up of its commits
stoned officers, to urge Gen. Ordway to
open the armory all day Sundays and holi-
days. According to a cablegram received
at headquarters Gen. Ordway will reach
this city on the Both instant.
To Compete for Prizes.
Three organizations of the brigade at
least, unless something unexpected turns
up to prevent. will represent the District
Guard at the interstate drill and encamp-
ment, to be held in Memphis May 8 to 81.
inclusive, next. The champion National
Fencibles have received a formal challenge
from the Branch Guards of St. Louis to
drill for the Galveston semi-centennial
championship cup at the drill which that
organization contemplates giving from
July 1 to I. The Fencibles, however. will
meet tomorrow afternoon and decide to go
to Memphis. Should the Branch Guards
claim the cup for their drill the adjutant
general of Texas will be called upon to
make decision in regard to the matter,
and. as heretofore stated, he will I'M
doubtedly rule in favor of Memphis, as that
city was the first in the field. Capt.
Domer, in recent communication to the
pertinent remarks regarding the require
ment that all companies must report to
the commandant not later than May S,
while the drill does not begin until May
IL. The Fencibles will drill every night
except Sundays in order to get into proper
shape to defend the cup.
The Morton Cadets, a company of young
sters. who have always borne an excellent
reputation, but who have not been heard
from to any great extent for several
months past, have contracted the drill
fever in its worst form. They declare they
are going to Memphis, and if enthusiasm
counts, the boys will certainly make a
showing to be proud Of in the Tennessee
city. AS stated in The Star Thursday, a
big benefit is being arranged to raise funds
to defray the expenses of the drill team
The affair is in the hands of a competent
committee of experienced newspaper men,
and is sure to be a gratifying success
Capt. Shilling next week will begin active
work, and the company Is sure it will re-
suit in glory and prizes on the drill field.
The third certainty at present, as far as
attendance at the drill Is concerned, is the /
Rifles, but which, until a few days ago.
was the Columbian Zouaves. This COM
pany comprises large number of the EN-
met Guard, which took first prize in the
Capt. J. NJ. Walsh has already begun work
with his team, and the progress made has
been entirely satisfactory. 1t is claimed
that the money question is all right, and
the Hibernian Rifles intend to do or die
section from the light battery is
possibility, but the Corcoran Cadet Corps
and the Ordway Rifles will not make the
trip. In letter to The Star General
Manager Peters states that a great many
companies have indicated that they will
visit Memphis Col. Peters has visited
number OF southern companies, and will be
in Washington about the 10Th instant.
What is Military Discipline.
In a prize essay on discipline. Capt.
Eugene A. Ellis. eighth United States cav
airy states that military discipline con-
sists in training the minds, bodies and
tempers of officers and men SO that each
unit of the army shall. in peace or war,
be of the greatest use and credit to the |
country. 'If we take the veriest novice in
military AFFAIRS" he says, land place him |
among strangers he will be able at once
to tell whether he be in the midst of an
orderly body of soldiers, or of a mob, even !
If the latter be in uniform. He will recog- |
nize the fact that something whose pres |
ence he can feel, and whose effects he can
perceive distinguishes the former from the |
latter.
HE may not be able to give this dis |
tinguishing quality its proper name, but |
he will be keenly alive to all that gives |
superiority to the one, inferiority to the |
other. He will see in the first, order, regu- |
larity, subordination, respect for law and |
regulations and devotion to established gov
Ito ;v,-t MI