Evening star., 1896-11-28
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Arrangements forSeries Of Matches
nthe Rife Gallery.
UNS0LVED PROBLEM OF DRILL HALL
Gossi p and Neus From Various
Company Quarters.
N o T E S OF NTE r E S T

arrangements have been completed to re-
| peat during January, February, March and
April next the series of matches in the
sahery between company, battalion and
resimental teams. In preparation therefor
anu 10 give the teams an opportunity
Ior practice preliminary matches are to be
shot durlng December. The preliminary
matcn Tor company teams is scheduled for
december IA and Is, the match for bat
taiion teams December IS and the matches
Tor regimental teams December %.
Inc distance for these preliminary
matches Is to be 200 yards, and theyare made
interesting by the offer Of ammunition
prizes. The winning team in the company
match will be given credit for 800 rounds
OF ammunition, and the team recording the
second highest score 200 rounds of ammu-
milton. In the battalion match the winning
team Will also be credited with 800 rounds
OF ammunition, and the team making the
second best showing 300 rounds Of ammu-
nltlon. But one prize, of course. IS offered
IN the regimental match, and that is 200
rounds OF ammunition to the winner.
me probabilities all point to an unpre-
cedented boom in individual work in
the gallery during December. To encour-
age th1s class Of practice prize Of 200
rounds OF ammunition will reward the In
or bulIs-eyes at voluntary practice be-
tween December l and December 81 both
inclusive. second prize of 100 rounds n
third prize of 90 rounds. and five additional
prizes OF ~ rounds each are to be at the
disposal Of competitors Distinguished
marksmen. be 1t understood. are excluded
from the voluntary practice competition.
The gallery will be open for preparatory
practice each day from 1O am. to p.m.,
and also In the evening. SO that every one
VIII be given an opportunity to face the
targets. An inspector Of rife practice will
be on duty at the gallery each week day
evening from December l to DecaAnbcr II,
for the purpose of directing the practice
and certifying scores. The assignment of
officers is as follows:
December l, Maj. George II. Harries:
December 2. First Lieut. Cardozo: Decem-
Der 3, First Lieut.. w. p. Vale; December
4. First Lieut.. Stewart; December ), First
Lieut.. G. B. Young; December I. Capt.
Sabin: December 8, First Lieut.. l.. H.
Reichelderfer; December 10. First Lieut..
George G Shaw; December IL. Capt:
Thomas S; King. and December II, First
Lieut.. j. Bruce Webb.
Not a little inquiry has been made OF
late concerning the whereabouts of the
suitable prizes announced for the gallery
matches last season! In reply 1t may Be
stated that these prizes will probably con-
sist of clocks and are to be awarded Mon
day next on the occasion of the presenta-
ton of prizes to winners of the matches
d Oh
Association.
Rife Association Prizes.
The lcng-looked for and anxiously
awaited presentation of prizes offered in
the matches that marked the first annual
meeting of the National Rife Association
at Ordway several weeks ago is scheduled
for Monday evening. December Z. Colonel
Clay is arranging for the ceremony under
the supposition that it will occur in Con-
vention Hall. but Whether or not such will
be the cass. is question. II intend to have
the use of the hall December T." Colonel
Clay Is quoted as saying. 'or know the
reason why" The presentation of prizes,
however, may possibly take place in the
rifle gallery.
The prizes are rapidly being collected
from the donors. and an interesting pro-
gram for the ceremony. has been mapped
out. Both the 1st and I'd Regiments will
furnish company as escort, to be officered
by the ranking captain, first lieutenant and
second lieutenant OF each regiment. The
ranking battalion adjutant will also be
present, as WILL of course, the winning
teams and individuals. They will be aligned
by Capt. James L. Mock. adjutant I'd Reg
iment. who will then report the formation
to Lieut.. Col. Walton of the 1st Regiment
Col Clay Is to award the prizes.
Convention Hall and the Guard.
AS Is by this time pretty generally known,
the greater portion Of the floor surface
of Convention Hall is an expanse of ice
artificial, to be sure, buS nevertheless ice
frigid and slippery. No announcement has
been made, as was the case toward the
close Of last season. that the hall will be at
the disposal Of the Guard even two even
ings each week. On the contrary, however,
the rink is advertised as open every even
ing, except Sunday, from 7:3O to 1890
o'clock.
1t Is strongly hinted by a member Of the
committee authorized at the meeting of
officers last week to formulate plan for in
creasing the efficiency Of the brigade, that
the committee will submit pertinent re-
port suggesting that substantial efforts be
made at once to secure suitable drill hall,
on the ground that such will be the only
salvation for the guard. An appeal to the
courts for an injunction to prevent the ice
rink management using the hall Saturday
Monday and Tuesday evenings is also said
to be prominently among the possibilities.
What May Happen.
Guardsmen who chance to be at the
armory this evening might find 1t of interest
to station themselves on the bridge and
see what they may see. 1t is understood
that the ice rink is.to be open for business.
and also that the troops entitled to the use
Of the hall will attempt to enter The pro-
ceeding quite likely will prove entertaining.
Since the opening of the rink the lighting
or the armOry mas Deen materially reduced
in power, and to such an extent that 9Th
Battalion officer felt impelled to remark:
1--WE have to light candles in order to learn
whether or not the incandescent lamps In
our quarters are burning
Troopers Will Celebrate.
Energy and activity are words that NAV
we'll be used in speaking of Troop A. At
the regular monthly meeting Monday
evening arrangements are to be COM
pleted for properly celebrating the eighth
anniversary of the organization of the
troop. which falls, on December n, A
feature of the occasion will be the pres
ence Of ladies', the troopers having decided
to depart from their customary stag
form Of entertainment. The quarters at
the armory will be-. tastefully decorated,
and every effort made to insure the com
plete success Of thes affair." Then. too. It
of the organization intend to spring
surprise on the sta1wart troopers. The
knowing ones. however, answer all in
Quiries As to the nature Of the surprise
with a wise wink.
An examination for non-commissioned
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