Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-26
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Interest Centering in Approaching
Inaugural Occasion.
UNIFORMITY oF DRESS IN PARADE
Discussionof Events for Next Meet
at Sea Grit.
RSTA T E D r I L L S

With the majority of the pay rolls COM
pleted the attention of the officers and men
of the District of Columbia National Guard
now turns to the approaching inaugural
parade. In connection herewith a move
ment has been started to secure, If possible,
a ruling that the local brigade shall appear
the 4th of March, weather permitting, in
full dress uniform. On the occasion OF the
first inauguration of President Mckinley,
four years ago, the troops of the regular
army wore the dress uniform. Directly In
their rear appeared the District of Column
bia National Guard The fact that the citi-
zen soldiery of the national capital were
clad in the field uniform, with campaign
hats and leggins, formed the basis of a
criticism that spread throughout the entire
country. Newspaper correspondents devot-
ed much space to contrasting the appear
ance of the Guard with that of the regu-
lars, and the comments were by no means
favorable to the Guard
1T is all very well to say that the day
of the tin soldier has passed. remarked
one of the best posted officers of the Dis
trict National Guard to a Star reporter
yesterday, but the day of the wel-dressed
soldier will never pass, no more than will
the day of the well-dressed citizen. To don
the field dress and appear 'busineSs-like' is
entirely proper when the occasion presen. s
itself, but the 4th of March is strictly a
day for display. 1t WOULD be difficult to
imagine anything more Wearisome than to
review a division of the Pennsylvania Ma
tional Guard for instance, the entire COM
mand wearing the undress uniform, dark,
sOmber and unattractive. The District Ma
tional Guard can look and be business like,
as was attested when 1t sent Il regiment to
war and as it does on the occasions Of the
annual encampmen.S.
Il submit that the coming inaugural pa
rade should be as bright and as SNOWY as it
may be possible to make it, so by all means
have the troops of the District of Columbia
National Guard wear their pretty clothes
for once. l had the honor of viewing the
parade in connection with the queens iubi-
lee celebration in England, in 1897. The
troops wore their best. and the sight was
truly magnificent. Those same soldiers are
now in South Africa, in khaki, and, in
some instances perhaps, IN rags. There is
no more reason why soldier should wear
the field dress on an occasion of pomp and
ceremony, like the inaugural parade than
that citizen should wear his working
clothes to an evening reception.
Pay of Troops.
With the exception of the rolls of one or
ganization that have been returned for cor
rection, the pay statements for the entire
brigade are now in the hand Of the acting
paymaster general. They have been check
ed and summed up by him, and the only de-
tails now remaining to be attended to COM
prise the approving of the rolls by the COM
manding general, the drawing Of the money
required from the treasury and the issuing
OF the order designating the time and place
for the paying Of the troops.
Discharges, Honorable and Otherwise.
Private James A. Hickey, Engineer Corps;
Private Fred L. Whitacre, Company c, 9Th
Battalion and Private Samuel Murdoch,
Company D, 9th Battalion, have been hon
orab.y discharged on their own applications.
On surgeons certificate of disability Pri-
vate George L. Jeffrey has been honorably
discharged.
Honorable discharges have been granted
Private Bismarck C. Jones, Company c,
9Th Battalion Private William r. Lusby,
Company d, 9th Battalion, and Private
William r. Noebe, Company d, 9th Battal-
ion, by reason of removal from the District
of Columbia
Private G. H. d. Young, Company c, 1st
Battalion, has been discharged in the inter-
est of the service.
BY reason of expulsion from Company A,
LIST Battalion, Private j. Winnie Shoots has
been dishonorably discharged.
Next Sen Girt Meet.
Every effort is being expended to make
the international rifle shooting competition
at Sea Grit, next September. the greatest
meeting of the kind ever known. The Ma
tonal Rifle Association Of America recently
decided to hold this event, and that the CEN
tennial trophy Palma be again put up
Tor competition, along with such other
prizes as the committee Of arrangements
may decide In accordance with this action
invitations have been sent to the National
Rifle Association of Great Britain, Domin-
ION 10 hite Association Of Canada. Scottish
Rifle Association, Irish Rifle Association,
National Rifle Association Of New South
Wales. Union des Societies de tir de France,
Unione del Tiratori Italiani. Landsskytter-
styret OF Norway and the Trio Federal Of
oil oil riff
lions controlling the sport in their own
countries.
Invitations have also been sent to the fol-
lowing countries through their ambas sadors
or ministers in this country: Germany,
Austrla,Hungary. Belgium. Denmark,
Switzerland. Holland, Japan, Mexico and
Brazil.
Visiting teams will be supplied without
cost by the military authorities of the state
OF New Jersey with tentage, blankets and
camp equ:page.
Open to Teams of the World.
The matches, to be open togthe teams OF
the world. are as follows:
The Centennial Trophy Palma match
Value of trophy, 81 500: for the champion
ship OF the world. The conditions are:
Teams of eight men: fifteen shots each at
500, 300 and LOCO yards.
me Hilton Trophy match-yalue Of tro-
ply. $1,000. The conditions are: Teams OF
twelve men: seven shots each at 200. 500
and 600 yards.
In addition to the foregoing are matches
for reg.mental. battalion and company
teams with the rife and for troop and
squadron teams with the carbine and re-
volver, as Well as matches for club teams
shooting with sporting rifles.
There will also be special prizes for best
average and high scores in the worlds
championship match
Rifles and ammunitien-AlI teams must
shoot with the national military arm OF the
country which they represent, without any
alteration of any kind
The ammunition must be standard. in
original packages. as issued by the govern
ment for troops in the field.
Positions allowed are: At 200 yards,
standing; 300 yards, knesling Or sitting;
500 and 600 yards. prone. with head toward
the target;. 800. 800 and 1000 yards. any
position.
Interstate Competitions.
The Spanish-American war succeeded in
eliminating from the consideration of Ma
ional Guardsmen. .for several years. all
thought Of interstate competitive drills.
Such events had been an annual feature of
the citizen soldiery up to the year 1898.