Evening star., 1898-07-23
PRACTICE AT. RIFLE RANGE
Members of D. O. N. G. and Others Test
Skill at Target Shooting.
The Home Contingent Listless Since
Their ComradessLeft for Front
Not Many Interested.

New Jersey rife team and 'adjutant of the
1st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. sta
toned at Camp Afxer, accompanied by
Lieuta COL Brintnelf. Major and Surgeon
Aller and Chaplain Hare, visited Ordway
range Wednesday evening. on the invitation
OF Major Ben, to complete their qualifica-
tion scores as members of the New Jersey
National Guard. Major Aller and Captain
Graft made some fine scores, qualifying as
sharpshooters. while the colonel and chap
lain were only able to qualify as marks
men. These scores were certified by Major
Bell and will be forwarded to- General
Spencer for record.
The range is open each Wednesday and
Saturday afternoons. and as ammunition to
limited extent is furnished the guardsmen
free, quite a number are taking advantage
of the fact, and are finishing and improv
ing their records.
1t should be borne In mind that those
who could not report at the range with
their commands, under general orders NO.
IL, will be furnished transportation. on ap-
plication to the inspectors of their bat
talions, or the inspector general OF rifle
practice.
Captain Tomlinson of Company A, 9th
Battalion, has secured the of the gal
lery Wednesday and Saturday nights, and
the way the members of his company are
improving their scores gives promise of
larger figure of merit than the company
enjoyed last year, when every member on
the rolls qualified sharpshooter
Some Of the other commands Will doubtIess
emulate Company AS efforts. The gallery
be obtained for this purpose on appli-
cation.
Cards emitting members of the guard to
the reduced rate of transportation. to the
range may also be obtained on application
The only trains which stop at the platform
at the range, leave at 1858 and 2 o'clock
pm, respectively.
At the Armory.
A large gilt-lettered sign, I'd. c. Ma
tional Guard Armory,' is all that Indicates
from outward appearance what the upper
floors of Center Market are used for. The
balconies once filled with light-heaIted
boys in blue, are now deserted. Rarely
ever do the soldiers of the guard left be-
hind when the District regiment was form
ed journey to the armory. Efforts at re-
cruitment have been abandoned. er5 there
will be life in the organization until the
soldiers from the front return to the city
at the conclusion of hostilities. The home-
coming of the District regiment is prob
lematical and it is difficult to tell just
when the rcsperi.y that is prevailing in
business circles will strike the National
Guard ranks.
With the first months Of fall it is prob
able that aEother- effort will be made to re-
vive the guard and to fill up the largely
depleted ranks of the various company
those who are inclined to military duty
have either enlisted already in Uncle
Sans service Or are eagerly awaiting
CHARGE to serve their country. Tie
peaceful National Guard has little induce
ments 10 offer in times of war.
Only Acceptable Practice.
IF carry a gun 1t will be against the
Spaniards," said a young fellow the other
day, when approached, by one Of the Off
GERS of the home force. .I-
The officer argued that to be soldier
man should have some preliminary train
ing, such as would 4besgained by a mem
bership in one of the gnard companies.
"All the target practice l want" the
young man answered. lis to see 4 Spanish
head poi, up out of a, ditch Could / hit
him p Well, you! bet your life. l was in a.
shooting gallery the other day, and got
eleven cigars out of twelve shots, because,
l hit a purpet dressed in Spanish clothes
as many times. Show mefa real live Span.
lard, and II plug him at thousand"
The deserted condition of the armory is
due to the fact that the great body of
those who were not taken with the 1st
Regiment members of the Washington
Light Infantry Corps. which has an ar
mory of Its own at 18th and Z streets
which ii still uses, notwithstanding the APP
pointment of three receivers. Many, If not
all, of the other members of the guard
have enlisted in some of the volunteer or
ganizations that have been recruited IN
Washington.