Evening star., 1896-11-07
THE NATIONAL GUARD
The Brigade May Not Be Represented
at Sea Girt.
REASONS FOR TIE PROPOSED CHANGE
Additional List of Those Entitled to
Rif|ePsctice Decorations.
EFFIC IENCY PRIZE S

Perhaps the most interesting bit Of
| news for months past in National Guard
| circles is the strong possibility that here
after the local brigade will not be rep
| resented by brigade team in the annual
rifle matches of the New Jersey State Rife
Association at Sea Girt. N. j. In view Of
| the fact that the visits to Sea Girt every
twelve months have grown to be regarded
| as firmly established custom of the local
| guardsmen, the statement that the prac-
| tice is to be discontinued may be consid-
| cred as news second only in Importance
| to declaration that the organized militia
| Of the District might be disbanded. 1t will
| certainly be deep disappointment to the
| crack marksmen Of the guard, as well as
| OF the New Jersey State Rifle Associa-
| tion
Beginning with 1890, the District Nation
| al Guard has been yearly training and
| sending forth a brigade team to do battle
with all comers for glory and prizes. First
| at Creedmore and later at Sea Girt, the
| District has established and mainl aimed
| records of the most enviable sort In COM
petltlon with the crack -rihemen of the
| National Guard organizations Of the lead
| ing states. Several times has the Hilton
| trophy, carrying with it the champion
| ship title, been brought to Washington by
the little band of sharpshooters, and it is
| stated by the local soldiery, with the ut
| most pride, that the worlds record in the
| Hilton trophy match is now held by the
District of Columbia National Guard.
| Not only a brigade team, but regimen
lal teams as well, have been sent to Creed
| more and Sea Girt, and they have done
| their part most satisfactorily. national
| reputation for the District has been
| attained. Locally, interest in the Sea
| GIrt competitions reached the climax last
fall, when the detachment from the Dis
| trlct in camp on the Jersey range was by far
| the largest in numbers in the history of
| the annual visits. Several company organi-
| Zatlons dispatched teams and a large num-
| Der of individuals attended the meet at
| their own expense. To such a high point
ana the enthusiasm aroused by the visit
| III september reach that already active steps
| are IN progress for the expected trip next
year. Particularly interested in this line
| are the "a Separate Company, the 1st Sep
arate Company, Company c, 1st Battalion
| the 9th Battalion, and several other Or
| ganizatons.
No Longer Go to Sea Girt.
In view or the condition of affairs de-
scr1bed, 1t Is rather surprising. to say the
| least, to learn that the District will prob
ably step down ard out, SO far as partici-
| patton in the Sea Girt matches by brigade
and regimentalr representation, is concern
| ed 1t ls known, however, that for some
| time past Major George H. Harries, the
! DISTRICTS inspector general Of rifle prac-
| tlce, who has been the brigade team cap
! tain ana the most earnest Of the Sea Girt
enthusiasts, has devoted earnest thought to
f~the matter. Further it Is understood that
| as soon as Gen. fOrdway returns to the city
MAJOR Harries will recommend thar the
annual Sea Girt visits be abolished so far
as the District Is concerned An effort will
De made to, dispose Of the after as earIy
as possibiesin order that the situation may
be thoroughly understood prior to the usual
Time Tor beginning practice y. a~--0. e..
While the brigade team policy has se-
cured for the District a desira Bile national
reputation and has tended to promote in
aeies. IN rtne shooting throughout the
guard II mas also entailed large expendi-
ture or money each year. The annual visits
10 Sea Girt each require the output of fully
$!,ooo from the meager appropriation for
tne guard, and the question has arisen are
the low-grade men. that is, the rank and
nle or the guard, generally, receiving less
IN the way OF rifle practice than would be
tne case II the sum mentioned should be
distributed Tor the instruction Of all and
not to cover the expenses of a select few?
Major Harres Is inclined to think that
the best interests Of all will be subseryed
py discontinuing the trips and he will un-
doubtedly recommend to the commanding
general that such a course be followed
Then again, 1t Is a certainty that q brigade
encampment will be held during June NEXT
After spending ten days in camp, it is hard
work Tor the men to secure additional leave
Of absence from their places of employ
ment, and this is stated as an argument
against the continued existence of the brig
ade team as Sea Girt factor
OF course, the proposed move will not in
terfere with the visits of teams or indi-
viduals to Sea Girt, if they cover the ex-
pense attached thereto. Then, too, ample
opportunity to indulge in matches will he
afforded at the annual meetings of the Ma
tional Rifle Association at Ordway which
| are expected to rapidly expand in import
ance and prove sufficiently attractive to in
sure the attendance of the noted rifiemen
of the country.
1t may be definitely stated that the
proposition to reward men who qualify In
rifle practice with cash prizes will not be
adopted. The chief objection to the scheme
Is that it would be unwise to pay guards
men for performing their sworn duty.
For Individual Prizes.
In the event that the brigade team is
abolished, the expert rif1emen of the Dis
trict will have an opportunity to capture
some big cash prizes at Scheutzen meet
ing an extensive scale, to be held in
Chicago in June. The total amount to be
offered is $1,000. mostly in individual prizes,
and movement has been made to organize
club of District guardsmen to visit Chi
cago and give the westerners an idea or
two in regard to hitting the bulls eye.
The plan, which originated with Private
William NJ. Farrow, Company A, Engineer
Corps, aided and abetted by Lieut.. A. B.
Hutterly of the same company, is for the
members to secure special rifles, and prac-
tice regularly all winter on the range. Ap-
plication will be made to the National
Rifle Association for the use of target at
Ordway, and If the response Is favorable
the target will be inclosed, and likewise
the firing points, to protect the marksmen
from the weather.
Those who have been invited to join
forces with the club include the majority
of the brigade team members, and are
Messrs. Graham, Holt Young, Appleby, S.
l. Scott. Alberto. Hutterly, Farrow, Gheen,
Laird, Shaw, Cook, Bell and Cookson
Rife Practice Decorations.
No time has yet been set for the distri-
button of rife practice decorations in either
the LIST or the I'd Regiments. Neither have
the arrangements for the presentation of
prizes won at the meeting of the National
Rifle Association been completed, but an
nouncements setting forth the details of
the ceremony may be looked for in the
near futures il
Those emitted to decorations, exclusive
Of the 1st Regiment, who were named last
week, are as fellows:
General non-commissioned staff sharp
shooters bar for 1S93-A- A-95-Color Seret E.
s. Wilcox.
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