Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-05
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Rifle Practice is Being Sighted by
Many.
IMPROVEMENT LOOKED FOR NEXT WEEK
News and Gossip Around the
Armories.
ESTING n TIE S

INTERESTING NOTE
Rifle practice has been the principal fea-
ture of National Guard work during the
week, and will be during the week to come.
The number Of those who have done duty
at tie range has been much smaller than
some of the hopeful inspectors supposed 1t
would be, but 1t Is expected that the second
regiment, the first separate battalion, the
engineer corps and the battery will do
great deal to push the average upward
Things have moved along about as smoothly
as was possible all the circumstances duly
considered OF course, there has been more
or less of kicking, but that was not at all
surprising, for it is currently rumored
around the armores that several officers
and enlisted men in the brigade would be
extremely unhappy were all the excuses for
kicking removed. The practice has so far
developed the existence of what some of the
critical arc inclined to term ignorance on
the part of company officers. OF course
some of them know enough about rifle prac-
tice to attend to their duties in thoroughly
satisfactory fashion; others know all about
it," and as a consequence their companies
cut a very poor figure both on the range
and in the company target practice Some
of the officers of the department of rifle
practice are reported as saying that there
is great need of school of instruction for
officers and there is probability that such a
school will come Into existence during the
winter. The first step in the direction of
seeing to it that officers know as much about
rifle practice they do about drill has al
ready been taken in the appointment of
Capt James E. Bell inspector of rifle prac-
tice for the second regiment as member
Of the brigade board of examination.
To Organize n Rifle Team.
Capt. Shilling has determined that his
company "a of the third shall become as
proficient in rifle shooting as constant prac-
tice can make it. 1t is also proposed to
organize this evening team of ten men to
| represent the company in the October
matches at Ordway. A drill team is prac
tic.ng twice each week for the competitions
to be held in connection with the military
fete of the Corcoran Cadet Corps, and about
October 10 the team will begin drilling
every night. The first dance of the season
of the Memphis prize winners will be held
at an early date in National Rifles Hail.
Discharges Ordered.
The following have been honorably dis
charged on their own applications: Private
Henry A. Lawson, company c, first bat
talon; Private Charles r. Nixon, company
D, first battalion; Private Frank c. Potts
company D, first battalion; Private Henry
H Sheetz. jr., company A, third battalion;
Private j. Frazier SheetZ, company A, third
battalion; Private James E. Nyman, COM
pany B, third battalion, and Private James
F. Norton, company d. fifth battalion.
In the interest of the service the follow
ing have been discharged: Privates Karl
Freeland. Orrin w. Nixon, Robert H. Noyes
and Luther B. Rhodes, all of company d,
third battalion.
An Echo From Ncmuhis.
1t will be learned with interest in local
National Guard circles that the Fletcher
Zouaves Of Little Rock, Ark, have entered
suit against the management of the Mem
phis interstate drill for the second prize
| money in the zouave class, which the
Fletchers did not get. The Fletchers claim
that while there were only two contestants
in the class mentioned, they are fairly en-
titled to second money because they were
assured that two prizes would be given.
even though not more than two companies
drilled. The drill materialized and the
Neelys Of Memphis were awarded the first
prize. but when Captain Mitchell of the
Fletchers claimed second prize money it
was not given him. The captain protested
but to no avail. and finally the Fletchers
took the case into court. The Commercial
Appeal, in closing an account of the case,
says:
when viewed in connection with the ac-
ton of the Morton Cadets of Washington,
the claim of the Fletchers for second money
In the zouave class looks thinner still. In
the third class infantry there were only two
entries, the cadets being one. The Mortons
were beaten for first place, and so got no
money, for, according to the rule which
has been mentioned, no second prize was
awarded. Unlike the Fletchers, however
the Morton Cadets have not sued the drill
management, claiming prize which they
did not win by defeating any company
Notes.
Private George E. Frech has been trans
ferred from company c, engineer corps, to
the second separate company.
Corporals Burdine and James, company
B, first battalion, and Corporals Dix and
Miller company D, first battalion, have been
promoted to sergeants.
Several members of the sixth battalion
were unable to complete their scores at
rifle practice in the gallery Thursday even
ing because of lack Of ammunition. AS the
shooting, they will be permitted to fire On
| the outdoor range Tuesday next and finish
| the gallery work later.
Captain Oyster of company B. second bat
| talon, has announced that he will fill all
vacancies Of non-commissionad officers in
his command by appointment early next
week. The complete National Guard equip
| be issued during the week. 1t is possible
that quarters in the National Guard armcry
will be assigned Captain Oyster for storing
the government property for which ne is
responsible.
Harry Douglas King has been appointed
| acting captain of company ID, third battal-
ion, pending the report of the brigade board
as to the examination of the appon1ee held
last evening. Lieut.. Smith Of the sixth bat
talon and Private L. c. Steward. company
A, third battalion, also appeared before the