The times., 1901-05-18
NATIONAL GUARD AFFAIRS
Former Officers of the District
Militia at Reception.
The Annual Inspection Abounds In
satisfactory ResuIts-The Location
of the Camp Not Yet Settlcd-The
Opening of the OrdIvay Range.

of the Camp Not Yet Settlcd-The
Opening of the OrdSvny Range.
Commissioned officers of the District
National Guard last night, at Militia
Headuuarters, welcomed the officers of
the Volunleer Army, former members OF
the Guard, who have recently returned
from active service in the Philippines,
The guests of honor were Captain
Graham, Lieut.. C. c. Shaw, and Lieut..
Joseph H. Grifiths, all Of the Twenty
seventh Volunteer Infantry; Lieut.. J. II.
Lewis of the Thirty-sixth Volunteer In
fantry, and Lieut.. J. NJ. Petty, OF the
Thirty fifth Volunteer Infantry.
The rooms at Militia Headquarters were
tastefully decorated for the occasion
Nearly all the members of the general
staff were present, as well as other OIL
GERS of all ranks, and Commissioner Mac
farand and others prominent n clVlllan
life. Many Of the officers had not met
| the returned officers since they came back
to Washington "reminiscences of expert
ences in the National Guard in camp, and
especially of the Cuban campaign, in
which the First District of Columbia Vol
unteers participated, were the order of
conversation until a brief programme of
speeches was inaugurated- In one of the
rooms a buffet lunch was served, under
/ direction Of Major Neumeyer, the COM
nissary of the brigade.
Now that the annual inspection and
muster is completed the Guardsmen are
/ once more settling down to the regular
rut of routine duty. There is prevalent
| a general feeling of satisfaction. Nearly
: everyone, from general staff officers down
to the traditional high private in the
/ rear rank is proud in the belief that
I the Guard has made an extremely cred
! liable showing. For several weeks before
- inGnRRflEn there
was great interest taken in the prepara-
tions.
Major c. II. Ourand, Inspector General
! of the District Guard, was assisted dur
/ ing the inspection by Captains Robinson
! and Riggs. AS yet there are no figures
I available, but there is little doubt that
/ the citizen SOldiery are now in better con-
/ dition than they have been for q number
( of years. :. the first place the uniforms,
/ which have much to do with the appear
| ance of any body of men, however sturdy
! and robust their physique. were all in
! good condition, bright, and clean. The
/ men take pride in-their appearance at all
times.
And speaking of uniforms the desira-
lhility for a dress uniform becomes more
apparent every day. AT present the men
/ have but one uniform. 1t is the regula
! tion fatigue garb, and is a neat appearing
! dress. But by the time il has made to do
| service in an Inaugural parade and on
/ other occasions when the Guard turns
/ out, and has been through week of
| rigorous camp life, il is little wonder that
/ 1t often loses the spick and span appear
ance it should always have. The idea in
{ limiting the Guardsmen to a single style
of uniform finds plenty OF support In the
assertion that the Guard is an organiza-
tion for service only. and not for show.
However, the Guard is also one Of the
most efficient bodies of militia in the
United States. Notwithstanding this fact
I its appearance suffers when compared
with other soldiers who come to the Ma
tional Capital at times of great celebra-
ton.
The most marked Improvement notice
able at the inspection just completed IS
in the attendance. Last yea the at
tendance was very poor. Seventy y-five per
cent is considered bad record, but there
were few companies which made bet
ter grade, while most of them fell below
the mark. The poor record last year may
be attributed to tie fact that inspection
was conducted in camp The announce
ment last year of the time and location
of the camp was not made until late IN
May. This left about six weeks for prep
aration. Such period Is suilclent for
the material preparations for the en-
campmeEt but many of the men who hold
business positions, and especially those in
Government service. are required to give
longtime notice for vacation. Six weeks
was hardly sufficient notice, and many
Were unable to obtain leave with pay at
the time Of the camp. Such a condition
of affairs may result this year.
While the site for the camp has not
yet been fixed, the problem of selection
is understood TO have narrowed down to
two points One is at what is generally
known as Smokers Gap, near Leesburg,
Va. and the other near Laurel, Md.
Final decision will probably be reached
next week. Officers of the general staff
will examine the sites on Monday or
Tuesday, and 1t is expected that the an
nouncement will be made shortly. The
Suckers Gap site is on the Round Hill
branch of the Southern Railway, about
eight miles beyond Leesburg. distant
about forty-hve miles from Washington.
1t is on high. dry land. and will, it is
thought, be highly satisfactory. The To-
cation near Laurel. Md, is said to he
the superior of any yet examined in that
State.
From this time on routine viii hinge
on the work to be done in camp. 1t will
consist mostly OF instruction to sentinels
and other teChnicalities which are in
volVed in camp service.
Regarding the proposed trip TO the
Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo by
several of the companies Of the National
Guard, including the Corcoran Cadets and
the Morton Cadets. everything is In the
air. Information 1as been gained regard
ing transportation, but it has not yet been
fully decided Thether the soldiers viii
II is 10 the Fourth Battalion that the
lot of participation in the Memorial Day
parade falls this year Orders were is
sued a day or so ago detailing the Fourth
Battalion for duty as escort IN the parade
of the Grand Army Of the Republic on
Memorial Day.
Ever since the gallery practice closed
by Lieut.. w. w. Cookson last week, there
has been a great deal Of gossip about the |
high grade Of craftsmanship displayed. !
Rifle practice is a point OF the service !
greatly neglected by the various States |
either through lack of ranges or lack of
interest. Consequently when ordered into |
active service they are not as efficient |
as they might otherwise be. II seems !
settled fact that the District of Columbia |
National Guard will never have draw |
back to its fighting prowess In this form. |
1t is doubtful if there are many Regular |
Army regiments where the standard o
craftsmanship is much higher than in |
New York State range the best marks |
men of the TWenty-third and since then |
of other New York regiments began their |
outdoor rife practice. The metropolitan |
papers spoke of the splendid showing" |
Ii is interesting to observe that there were |
at none of the stages many scores above |
45.
In the gallery competitions just closed |
here the District marksmen have aver |
aged much higher than they have in New |
York. In all the matches scores Of A to !
70 with an occasional possible have been |
Of common occurrence. Prospects for |
District Guard rihemen in the big matches |
at Sea Girt in September are indeed |
bright.
The OrdWay range was opened for prac- !
tice for the first time this year on Thurs |
day a number of rifiemen practiced there |
during the afternoon. II Will be opened |
for voluntary practice today also. The |
forty-three men who will soon be selected |
by Major Bell Inspector General of Rife |
Practice. Will engage in competitive prac- |
tice at 2:l5 o'clock on May g. %, and 2S. |
At the conclusion of the practice on the |
last-named date the number of candidates |
for the brigade team will be reduced to |
tyycnty-fpur including the members of !