Evening star., 1896-09-26
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Preparing for the Autumn Rifle
Practice at 0rdway.
RENEWED LIFE IN THE ARMORY
A Story About a Duel That Did
Not Come Off.
NOTES ABOUT GUARDSMEN

The parade of the troops of the National
Guard for rifle practice, beginning Mon
day rext, is the chief topic of interest just
at present for battalion and company com
1lar ders and enlisted men as well. Meet
ings of officers have been In order during
the past few days, and every effort is TO De
expended to secure as large an attendance
as is possible at Ordway on the days
scheduled.
For the benefit of all concerned the sched-
uIe as published in general orders, Is
given below: 1st Battalion, Monday, Sep
tember IS; ID Battalion, Tuesday, Septem-
Der 70; Sd Battalion. Wednesday, September
go; Ith Battalion, Thursday. October 1; 9TH
Battalion, Friday. October 2; 9th Battalion.
Saturday, October 3; list Separate Battalion,
Monday, October ); 1st and I'd Separate
Companies, Tuesday, October g. Engineer
Corps, Wednesday, October Z; general staff.
general non-commssioned staff and the
field and staf and Eon-commissioned staff
Of regiments and battalion inspectors of
rifle practice. Friday. October o.
Special attention is called to the para
graph directing organizations, excepting
the general staff and officers and non-com-
missicred officers required to shoot with It,
to report at the Pennsylvania railroad sta
tier promptly at $50 am. OF the dates
assigned for their annual practice. in un-
dress uniform. armed and equipped 1t was
the general rule last year for the COM
mands to reach the depot anywhere from
ten to twenty-five minutes behind the
sched eduled time, and, in consequence. bat
talon commanders found 1t necessary to
explain the tardineSS to the adjutant gen.
eral.
As to Duty as Markers.
Not little complaint has been uttered
regeIdng the provision of the order, as
follows:
Battalion commanders will detail twenty
men drlty na to no rkad in
Teliefs. Markers will report for instruction
in the rifle gallery at o'clock of the even
ing preceding the day on which their COM
mand is to parade"
Certain officers have expressed surprise
that the men should be required to do their
own marking. Very few of them have had
experience in such duties the claim is, and
1t has been urged that sufficient money
should be set apart from the appropriation
for rifle practice with which to secure the
services of the regular force of men here
end Of the practice. When the question
was asked Major George II. HarreS, in
spector general of rifle practice, his answer
ever to do with the case. Manipulating the
targets is as much the duty of a soldier as
the handling of a rifle. The members of
all the crack New York regiments serve
regularly as markers. and no reason exists
why the District National Guardsmen
should not do likewise. However. the priv
do no: care to look after the targets to
employ the services of outsiders as mark
erS.'
1t should be remembered that officers or
enlisted men not properly uniformed, or
who, being commissioned enlisted prior
to April 1. 1896. have failed to complete
the gallery practice prescribed, will not be
permitted to participate in the regular
practice.
The use of any ammunition other thar
that officially issued on the range is pro-
Anvil Iip1+ tong for t-inv, 70
pertinent with ammunition must be made
in writing to the Inspector general of rifle
practice
No person other than the range officer
or some one designated by him. shall
signal the markers or hold communication
with any person in any OF the pits.
ON days set apart for official practic.
sighting shots may only be fired on tar
gets set apart for pool shooting. Poo
tickets E-ay be purchased at the range
office.
Practice will be at 200, 300. 500 and 6Ot
yards. Two scores will be fired by eacl
man. and they will be recorded.
Governrnent employees will be given Ger
under the requirements of this order.
In the 5th Battalion.
An inspection of the quarters, arms. equip
nents and books and papers of the com
Tanies of the 5th Battalion was made by tn
staff officers of that organization Monda,
evening last. Similar Inspections are to oc
monthly hereafter, and the marking
will be recorded The figures will assist Il
determining what is to be known as tn
champion" company of the battalion.
Company ID, 18th Battalion. has appointe
committe to arrange for musical an
literary entertainment. to be held durn
october, feature of which is to be an in
Gividual competitive drill open to Nationa
Guardsmen. for gold medal. Company
is negotiating for the purchase of distinc
uniform, the style of which, it is expected
viii lbe similar to that of the fatigue uni
fern of the Morton Cadets and Nationa
Fencibles.
Capt George W. England Is away fror
The city business trip, and during hi
absence Lieut. F. Carroll Mattingly is i
command of the company.
Lieut.. Shaw Has Resigned.
The announcement that First L:eutenar
George c. Shaw, the popular and thorough
ly efficient inspector OF rife practice of til
18th Battalion. has rendered his resignatio,
will undoubtedly be received with mixtur
of surprise and regret. Lieut.. Shaw ha
been of the most valued officers Of tn
department of rifle practice and not onl
TIE 9TH Battalion, but the entire brgad
VIII no doubt feel the loss of his service
1t is understood that he has decided to su
render his commission because of lack
time to properly attend 10 the duties of III
office Lieutenant Shaw will probably enl
in the Engineer Corps, having formerl
been a member of that organization.
Bnyonets Not to Be Used.
Objection has been raised to the suppose
requirement that the men participating
the heavy marching order match at II
meet of the National Rifle Association mu
year bayonets- 1t is explained in this co
rection that the bayore;s that We're issu.
to the local brigade were recently turned
hy order. and the commands are thereto
Lot supplied with them at present.
Major Harries stated to Star report
that the official circular announcing Il
details of the several matches had not v
been prepared. AS bayonets are not nc
issued to the guard. he said, of cour
those participating in the heavy marchi
order match will not be required to appe
with such as part of the equipment.
Awakening of the Troop.
First Lieut.. Charles L. Beatty. comman
ing Troop A. has just published a circul
announcing that the regular weekly dri
of the from will no resumed Monday eve