The morning times., 1896-06-07
DISTRICT SOLDIER BOYS
One W ek's News and Gossip
Around Laea! Arm1ries.
UMMER PLANS DISCUSSED
Warm Days Cause the Armory to
Lose Some of Its Liveliness-Wor
terest From the Various Comnian nds.
Personal Mentions

The failure of Congress to place the
nlintary Item in the generat deficiency hill
has ia ken The range at Ordway entirely ont
OF the h hands OF the National Guard.
Hereafter the range will be under the
control OF the National Rifle Association,
and the Guard Will lease [ from that body.
From a sentimental standpoint there are
OBJECTIONS, but otherwise 1t seems that
it VIII be for the best interests of the
Guard.
\ corporation is now being formed TO take
entire charge of the affairs or the range.
The capital stock will be placed at 50 800,
and Il number OF the business men OF the
city are already Interested i'll the matter.
Quite number have taken stock, and there
are no grounds to think that the whole
amount Will not be taken. The new man
agenent will take charge July l.
Business men We're secured on the hepromIse
that Ma jor Harries, inspector general of
rifle practice, would assume direct control
of the rifle assocat ton. On his promise
20 do so the necessary capital was secured.
Capt kink, Inspector OF rifle practice OF
the First Regiment, will be the superin-
tendent of the range. He will move out
10 Landover, and thus he able to devote
all his time to the affairs of the association.
OF course, the Guard will still do its shoot
ing at the range but that Is all 1t Will have
have to do. II will be retrieved of all re
sponSihility. except that OF furnishing tar
gets. 1t will have its days for shooting
just the same as last year, but it will no
longer be shooting on it's own ground. The
assignment of days Will not come until
after July.
A NATIONAL, RANGE.
One of the greatest. advantages OF the
new arrangement Will be that the range
can be made national one. 1t will only
fp
trict guard going to Sea Girt to show the
country how to shoot, the country VIII be
coming to Washington, one of the obJec-
tionS to Sea Girt has always been that
national range could not be made there.
The District of Columeias belongs to the
United States, and its rahge can be the
national range of the eountry. In a few
years there Will be nd trouble in getting
up series of cash prizes here which will
bring marksmen from all parts OF the Union.
This is now one of the aims of the Rifle AS
Sociation.
1t is possible that some extra induce
ments may be offered this season to the
guardsmen. They are just becoming ac-
quainted with the advantages of Ordway,
and little urging will make it one of she
most popular resortsof the city. The Guard
can keep its eyes open for surprise in this
line.
Maj Harries has some interesting ideas
on the subject OF skirmsh runs which he
hopes TO be able to put into execution this
summer. AS he will be relieved of all re-
sponSihlity of the financial running OF the
range, he will have more opportunity to
look after matters of this kind. His ideas
will prove a boon to men w hose weight tells
on them in run, and will please even such
lovers OF skirmish run as Lieuts. Hutterly
and Graham, of the Engineers. As meas
ure Of their fondncSs for this sport, it is
said they prefer 1t to good meal.
Major Harries intends, if he can arrange
it. to have movable targets, and have the
men fire at absolutely unknown distances.