Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-02
Preparations tor the National Rife
Association Annual Meeting.
Sea GRIT COMPETITORS NOT BARRED
Proposed Series Of Lectures by
Captain Herbert J. Slocum.
ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIP

About the only proceedings of interest
during the week so far as the District CT
Columbia National Guard is concerned
have been the preparations for the annual
rifle competitions, under the auspices Of the
National Rifle Association, that begin
Tuesday, October II, at the Ord%ay range,
With but very few exceptions all the COM
pany, battalion and regimental organiza-
lions will enter teams in the company. bat
TALON and regimental team matches The
selection and practice of the teams is &C.
cupying the greater part Of the available
time of all concerned
1t should be made plain at the outset
that the rife meets held at Sea Girt are
not in any sense national or international
competitions. District guardsmen who
have visited Sea Girt and engaged in the
contests there, it seems, have not under
stood the situation as well as they should.
The meetings at Sea Girt have merely been
the annual gatherings CT the members of
the New Jersey State Rifle Association and
invited guests. The point is raised BY sew
eral guardsmen who have been to Sea Girt.
They considered themselves barred from
the short range match and the short and
mfd-range matches. The conditions of
these matches are as follows:
The short-range match.-Open to enlisted
men of the District of Columbia National
tional or international competition either
as individuals or team members. Ten shots
each at 200 ami 300 yards. If there are
less than fifty entries the prize list will be
reduced. No prize will be awarded to any
competitor whose score is less than 80 per
cent of the possible. First prize, $40; sec
ond prize, SIS: three prizes of $40; ten
prizes of s.. Entrance fee, % cents.
The short and mid-range matcn.-Open to
commissioned officers and enlisted men of
the District of Columbia National Guard
who have never engaged in any national
or international competition either as indi-
vfduals or team members. Ten shots each
at 200 and 500 yards. If there are less than
fifty entries the prize list will be reduced.
No prize will be awarded TO any competi-
tor whose score is less than 80 per cent of
the possible. First prize, $40: second prize,
$15; three prizes of $40; ten prizes of s..
Entrance fee, % cents.
The reference national or international
competition" is not intended to bar any
member of the local brigade who has par
ticipated in the competitions at Sea Grt.
Orders will be issued during the next
few days providing for the presence OF all
inspectors of rifle practice and all officers
either as principals or alternates as
range officers at Ordway during the meet.
Visitors Are Invited.
Visitors are cordially invited to attend
the competitions at any time during the
meet. Such arrangements as are possible
will be made for their comfort, and the
proceedings are expected to be of such
nature as will interest all. The range will
be open each day at $50 o'clock, and trains
for Magruder Station, or Ordway, will
leave the Pennsylvania station at o am.
and 1850, POI and 1876 pm.
1t is urged by those in authority that all
guardsmen who expect to complete the
official practice ON the range will take an
earlier train than the one leaving this city
A. No tvnt, nnl,a nrIrr
49, and before q o'clock it is too dark to
fire shots with any degree of satisfaction.
1t is impossible to fire ten shots at each
range, the required number in the time
stated
During the past week Capt. McGoodrell
of the United States Marine Corps has been
testing on the range the shooting qualities
of the new Lee magazine rifle. now in the
hands of the Navy Department. 1t is I'M
derstood that the tests have shown the
new firearm to be far from satisfactory.
The Marine Corps, which has leased the
range for month after the close of the
National Rifle Association meeting, is plac-
ing in position battery of rapid-fire guns,
similar to the second battery on board ship,
but of sub-caliber. 1t is possible that Sc
lected squads of District National guards
men may be permitted to take advantage
of the presence Of the battery and indulge
in practice with the rapid-ire guns, CT
course, under proper instruction.
The executive officer of the National Rife
association who are in arrears will not be
permitted to compete in the association
matches.
Officers Who Have Resigned.
During the quarter just ended Captain
William Edward Horton, aid de camp;
Capt. Guy e. Jenkins, Company A, 5th
Battalion; Second Lieut.. Frelay L. Dod-
son. Company A, LIST Separate Battalion;
Second Lieut.. Thomas Marion, Battery A,
Light Artillery. and Second Lieut.. Will E.
Sorrells, Company c, 9TH Battalion, ten
dered their designations.
The resignation of Capt Horton particu-
larry, is considered loss of some imports
ance to the local brigade. He became iden-
tilted with the District National Guard
soon after its organization. and was for
some time captain Of the Ordway Rifles.
Gen. }Ordway appointed Capt. Horton a
member of the general staff, and for al
most ten years he performed yeoman serv-
ice. His removal to New. York city to ac-
cept the management of the law depart
nlent OF big corporation made the tender
of resignation necessary. 1t is believed
that Captain Horton will soon become iden-
titled with the National Guard of the state
of New York.
To Rank of Captain.
The vacancy in the office of captain and
quartermaster of the LIST Regiment, until
recently held by Captain Matthew God
Thomas Marion, formerly second lieuten-
ant of Light Battery A. Lieut.. Marion re-
signed his commission as an officer of the
Light Battery July 81 last, and he holds
rank as captain and quartermaster of the
LIST Regiment from September 20. The re-
lations of Col. Alexander and Capt. Marion
were very intimate when both were con-
nected with the Light Battery.
For the Association Championship.
Secretary Guista has been busy during
the past few days issuing membership
tickets on behalf of the Athletic Associa-
ton of the d. c. N. G. 1t is the desire of
the officers that all who have s;gnified their
intention of applying for membership will
come to the front without delay, in order
to secure the benefit of the primary in
struction with the classes. All guardsmen
are invited to affiliate themselves with the
association.
Arrangements are in progress for series
of games of basket ball and hand bail for
the association championship, enc game to
be played each month. The basket ball
competition will be between two teams to
be known as the Reds and the whites"
while all the members of the association