The morning times., 1896-12-06
.lR0uAD the lRM0Rl
Gossip Of the Week Among District
Soldier Boys.

GERS who are keeping up with the times.
| VI course, the members are still kicking;
some people would kick k-even in football
game The kicking has seemingly done NO
good, for the troubles OF the men are as far
OH from settlement as ever.
Az headquarters the suggestion Is made
that now Is the time for the officers in
Command to show their fertility. 1t is
hard to keep up interest in any National
Guard even II there are drill halls and all
| the other convenlences The officer makes
tie best commander who Is able to keep
his men interested despite all unIriendly
surroundings. With no drill hall at hand
the capabilities of officers can De tested
as under no other circumstances.
| PROGRESSIVE INSTRUCTION.
Capt simmonson, Company A, sixth Bat
talon, Is one OF the commanders who is
rising equal to the occasion. He has Just
issued an order that shows that he intends
to go ahead Notwithstanding the trouble
| over the drill hall He means to get his
men In shape, and once in shape, TO keep
| them there.
By his order the men are to assemble
every Tuesday evening in their company
room. He notifies his men that he has
Instituted progressive school OF instruc-
| tion So that at each drill some new feature
may be presented This makes 1t essential
that every man should be there.
| The suggestion is made that the soldier
can very easily be instructed i'll guard
| mounting just now. Camp is To be held
| In June, and instructions Of this kind now
will put the brigak just SO much ahead.
| All the setting up movements can be prac
| ticed in the halls, and the manual of arms
| can be learned. Everything, in fact, ex-
| cept foot movements can he carried on
There lis nothing more exhilarating these
! cool evenings than a drill in the streets. A
half hours exercise puts the men in
| glow and they soon learn to like it.
| These are some of the things headquarters
would like to see tried. When the uppor-
| tunity comes to have the drill hall again
| the men will have found that nothing has
been lost.
| Lieut.. Mellach,. of Company A, Fifth
| battalion, has been practicing these sug
| gestions all summer. Last Monday night
when the cold snap was at its height he
had his company out and gave them a
snappy drill on K street. The men
| enjoyed IL first rate. The lieutenant has
been keeping his command at it right along.
As "A result the monthly report Of the com
pany during November shows an average
| attendance at drill of 36.s. There We're
six drills in this month and the showing
Is most creditable, indeed. For December
Lieut.. Meliach promises to do better.
RIFLE PRACTICE PROGRAM.
In the Second Regiment the reports Of
tice are in and the First Regiment is not
far behind. This is SO unusual as to be
worthy OF special mention. The depart
ment has also prepared its plans for work
in the rifle gallery this winter and gen
eral orders No. 10 have just been issued
from headquarters. They read:
"Small- arms practice for the ensuing
year will be conducted under the regula-
tons prescribed by general orders NJ. 81,
series or 1889, and paragraphs ) and 6,
general orders No. 3, series OF 1894.
The following schedule for gallery prac
tlce will be observed FOR the months OF
January, February, March and April, 1897,
during which period the prescribed prac-
tlce will be completed. The First Bat
talon Will practice in the gallery at its
armory. under /, schedule to be prepared
by the battalion commander; Second Bat
tdiion, first ana tiIru AIonuays Vi each
month, Third Battalion, first and third
Saturdays OF each month; Fourth Battalion,
first and third Tuesdays OF each month;
Fifth Battalion, second and fourth Mon
days OF each month; Sixth Battalion,
second and fourth Tuesdays of each month;
First Separate Battalion, first and third
Wednesdays ofeach month; Engineer Corps
First Separate Company and Second Sep
arate Company, second and fourth Satur-
days of each month. The general staff,
the field and staff officers and nun-coui-
n.lssioned staff and regiments, and bat
talon inspectors OF rifle prac tice, the
fourth Wednesday OF each month.
vOLLEY FIRING.
" olley firing will follow the individual
practice at each range, three volleys being
fired 10y each company, kneeling. a proper
record OF the results. to be entered in the
company target record book, will be certi-
fled by the Inspector of rifle practice.
Companies will he reported at the rifle
gallery promptly at S O'Clock p. m, in
undress uniform, armed and equipped.
Tine rifle gallery VIII be opened every
day, except Sunday, from to 6 p. M,
for voluntary practice. Ammunition will
be furnished on the payment of l cent for
each round. An inspector of rifle practice
Will be i'll attendance, and, on request, will
certify scores To the captains of COMPANIES,
to be credited as part of the required
practice.
The following rifle matches iprelim-
mary to the regular series are announced
and will be shot in the gallery on dates
hereafter to be specified:
Company Match-TeamS of five enlisted
men; ten shots per man, at 200 yards, to be
fired in two stages OF five shots each.
Battalion Match-Teams of ten enlisted
men; ten shots per man. at 200 yards, to be
fired in two stages OF five shots each.
"Regimental Match Teams of ten enlisted
men; ten shots per man, at 200 yards, to be
fired in two stages of five shots each
Reguations-All organizations desiring to
do SO may compete. Each company team
will be commanded By company officer
The cleaning of rifles between stages will
not be permitted. Teams from the First
and Second Separate Companies will use
the carbine; five per cent will be added to
the total
PRESENTATION OF PRIZES.
THE brigade, regimental, battalion, and
company teams and individual competitors
VINO We're winners III the authorized rifle |
matches held in the gallery aud on the |
range during the practice season of 1896 |
Will assemble in the drill hall at $50 |
O'Clock p. m, Monday, December Z, in
field dress and equipment, to receive the |
trophies and prizes.
The commanding officers of the First |
and Second Regiments will each cause
to be made up, by detail, from the regi- |
ment at large, full company to act as |
escort to the successful competitors from |
his command. The escort will be paraded |
in full dress uniform"
The presentation of prizes tomorrow |
night promises to be an event OF consider |
able ceremony. Lieut.. Col. Urell in COM |
mand OF the Second Regiment has issued |
orders for the escort to be formed as fol- |
lows: Fourth Battalion, twenty privates, |
two sergeants, and four corporals; Fifth |
BattalOn, twenty prlVates, one 11rSt
sergeant, two corporals; Sixth Battalion, |
sixteen privates, two sergeants, cor
porals; Capt. j. NJ Williams, Conn any d, |
Fourth Battalion, will command the escort |
company, and Lieut.. D. B. Macleod,
Company A, Sixth Battalion, and Lieut. |
Duncan L. Richmond, Company d, Fourth
Battalion, will act as first and second |
lieutenants respectively. First Lieut.
and Adjt. R. d. Silnms, Sixth Battalion,
will act as adjutant.
The Second Regiment Band will report to