Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-02

points in the state The whole force was
on active duty, and a number of organiza-
tons were several times called to the aid
OF the civil authorities. The celebrity Of
Its movements and the courage, patience
and fidelity evidenced in the discharge
of delicate, as well as hazardous duties
were the admiration Of all impartial OBJ
servers The troops, it is said, are thor
oughly proficient in drill and guard duty.
know how to pitch tents. cook food. pre-
serve their health and take care of them
selves in general. Ninety-four per cent of
the entire guard of the state responded
expenditure for subsistence did not exceed
~ cents per day per man, and no fault was
round with the quality or quantity Of the
food.
As to the New Rifle.
A test of the new magazine rifle was
made last week at Willets Point, I'M
der the direction of Capt. W. M. Black,
corps of engineers. In order to ascertain
the penetrative ability of the bullets pine
boards were fastened together until a
thickness of fifty inches was obtained, Two
nf the shots fired at this target at short
range went entirely through it, and none
or them penetrated less than three feet
into oak planks the penetration was thi--
ty-two inches, and iron plates two-thirds
of an inch were also pierced. A bullet fired
AZ thin iron plates an inch apart passed
melted.
Lieut.. H. @. Lyon, seventeenth United
States Infantry. claims that The new army
magazine rifle has six principal faults, with
perhaps more to follow.
These are: LIST. The twist should be
from right to left so as to avoid the blow
on the cheek given by the stock in firing,
and to make the drift Of the bullet toward
the left. so as to contract the natural
Lsbel rifle. of France. and most sporting
rifles have their twist from right TO left.
I'd. The rear sight Is too far from the eye,
Is not properly graduated for the gun. and
must be charged sIngly. by dropping in
dtvidual cartridges into 1t, entailing loss
OF time 18th. There is no apparent reason
for each man carrying d ramrod, as the
gun cleans itself, unless he can utilize 1t
with his shelter tent. Each non-commis-
stoned officer, however, should carry one,
and 1t should slide into place easily and
quickly, like the old Springfield, instead Of
should be bright steel or nickel plated, SO
as to be more readily observed by squad
and company commanders. 9th. There Is
danger in having cartridges liam" In the
chamber. especially If soldier confused
the two functions Of the gun as a maya
zine and single loader.
Notes.
The President has signed the commission
Of Logan Prosise. jr., as second lieutenant
of company A, second battalion, and that
of Joseph c. Hardie. as first lieutenant and
quartermaster of the third battalion.
Private Frank F. Van Ness of company
B. fourth battalion, has been transferred
to the first separate company, and Private
Frank 4. Lanhan of company B, sixth
battalion, has been transferred to COM
pany B, first battalion.
The following named have been discharg-
ed on their cwn applications: Private
Frank B. Deming, company B, engineer
corps; Corpl J. Hough, company D. fourth
battalion; Private Ashby q. Balm, company
D. sixth battalion, and Private Harvey B.
Dram, company D, sixth battalion. Be-
Sidney H. Davis, company B. first bat
talon, has been honorably discharged.
Private Andrew j. Brown of company q,
sixth battalion, has been appointed acting
first lieutenant of that company.
The first drill in Convention Hall will be
rext. Commands will be given by bugle.
An effort will be made to complete the
bridge leading from the armory building
to the hall by the time mentioned.
The first battalion is solely occupied at
present arranging for the Ice carnival to
be held in its armory within the next few
weeks.
Several members of the New Jersey team
of rifiemen spent a few days in this city
during the week, on their way home from
the recent competition in Georgia, where
they met defeat. Gen. Spencer's riflemen
expressed themselves as having had q
glorious time.