The Washington times., 1901-08-03
NATIONAL GUARD AFFAIRS.
Attention at Present Riveted on the
Sea Girt Rife Matches.
The Usual IulI Following an En-
cnmpmcrt EnIivcned by Plans of
Ambitious Harksmen-Battie of
Fort Evans sim Much Discussed.

succeeds annual encampment has settled
down on National Guard affairs, and
seems all the duller in contrast with the
rush of events at Camp Ordway last
week. Even Centre Market Armory is
more or less deserted in the evenings.
When the Guardsmen left Leesburg they
were in splendid condition, and for the
| greater part anxious for more soldering.
But upon returning to the city military
affairs have been given the go-by and
the deadened interest will not waken be-
fore fall.
! Down at the Armory men are taking
account of the camp supplies as they are
! returned by freight from Camp Ordway.
So far there has been little loss reported
! At the adjutant generals office Captain
/ Robbins is busy examining and approv-
/ ing the large number of bills for sup
! plies of the Guardsmen during their out
! ing.
! good many of the boys are complain
/ ing of not feeling well since their return
! from camp. Several cases of illness have
resulted. These can hardly be attributed
to the effects of camp life, but rather to
the facilitating powers of humid Wash
ington climate. The change from the
breezes and the high dry air of Leesburg
to the sticky midsummer atmosphere of
hs4SitAiiSNpiI ~ IL al II lliS puc.
Now that little remains of Camp ord
way save reminisccnce and sunburn on
the faces and arms of Guardsmen, the
crack shots of the National Guard are
having their innings. The approaching
rifle matches at Sea Girt are attracting
general attention throughout the country.
! The marksmen of the District Guard are
hard at work nearly every day at the
| Ordway range, although the regular prac-
tice days are Tuesdays and Saturdays.
II forecasts CLEANED upon splendid prac-
uce records are of much account the Dis
trict brigade, regimental. and company
teams going TO take a larger slice of
glory away from the seaside this year
than they ever did before. And the
achievements of yore are not insignif-
cant, either. Four times has the 5000
Hilton trophy been captured by District
of Columbia National Guard teams. THE
Soldier of Marathon" the bronze trophy
of the interstate military match, now
graces the headquarters of the District
militia. Then in addition to that the
District rifiemen have won company and
regimental matches galore at various dis
tances. The Wimbledon Cup match has
been won several times by Washington
marksmen. Open to all citizens of the
yards are the conditions. Private c. II.
Laird captured the cup in 1899. w. Milebn
Farrow won it the following year, while
Private s l. Scott carried it away twice.
in 1893 and 1885
The past records of District of Column
bia marksmen are so good that when the
tents of the local Guardsmen are pitched
at the Sea Girt range the other marks
men gathered there to measure their
skill know that they will be strained
to the limit The matches open on Au-
gust 50. 1t has not yet been definitely de-
cided what day will mark the departure
of the teams. The brigade team VIII prob
ably have weeks preliminary practice
on the Sea Girt range, where the ocean
breeze makes no little difference in the
shooting. Tie rrsIfnental teams may fol-
low a little later.
In former years ii has been the Gus |
tom to take both quartermaster and an |
adjutant with the team. 1t is probable |
that one person will act in both capaci- |
ties this year. although the point has not !
vet been decided. All arrangements re- |
garding the teams are in the hands of /
Ma ior James r. Bell, Inspector General |
of Rife Practice. A large number OF !
Guardsmen who are not members of any |
OF the teams will go to Sea Girt to stay |
during the entire schedule OF matches.
others will run over for the big events, !
the Hilton and Soldier of Marathon |
matches. The international match for the
Palma trophy promises to be one of the |
most important events. 1t is possible
that one or two District marksmen will |
be on the team which represents the /
United States in this match, as well as
the team which will compete in the spe- |
cial Irish-Anriican match.
The new lllag-Jorgensen rifle with |
which the District teams will compete
have never given anything but absolute
satisfaction TO the riflemen. II is rather
difficult to WOO an experienced marks
man away from an old gun, but after
trial with the new rifles the members of |
the brigade team expressed themselves
highly pleased with the new arm.
The Guardsmen who are at present in
practice for the brigade team of twelve |
regulars and four alternates are:
mate l.. ". scott, Company a, Sixth
Battalion; Lieut.. W. NJ. Farrow, staff
Fourth Battalion; Lieut.; II. II. LeIzear.
staff Third Battalion; Private 5. 7. Scott,
Company A. Sixth Battalion; Lieut.. II. NJ.
Bell, staff Second Battalion; Private J.
NJ. Stewart, Company A, Sixth Battalion;
TALON: Major Glendie b. Young, Third
Battalion: Private Maurice Appleby, Com
pany a. Sixth Battalion; Private r; l.
Pile Company b. Fourth Battalion; Pri-
vate c. McC. Taylor. Company A, sixth
Eattafion; Private ". S. Cash, Company
c, Firth Battalion; Capt. a. +. Robbins.
general staff; Private G. w. Dickie, Com
pany \, Sixth Battalion; Sergt c. Il.
Groorne, Company g. Fourth Battalion;
Major William +. Harve-, Sixth Battal-
ion, and Capt. Sheridan Ferree, Company
ID. Sixth Battalion.
The Battle of Fort Evans is s;ill being
fought. In company quarters and wher-
ever Guardsmcn congreGate there is sure
to be q line Of conversation thrown ont
on the subject of the bloodless conflict
else in Camp ordway. The First
Regiment soldiers as a rule think they
were unfairly declared the losers. The
Second Regiment fighters. of course, en-
deaVor TO hold up their end of the con-
with the result that heated de-
bates are often precipitatcd.
In connection with the field maneuVrcs
comment has arisen regard
ing their true value from instructive
point of view Efficiency is nowadays the
key word of the National Guard service,
and all efforts are bent toward instruc-
ton of the troops in such manner that
they viii have working knowledge of
warfare and be well fitted to take the
field for active service without the long
term of camp service VII ch was neCes-
sary for so many volunteer regiments at
the outbreak of the Spanish-American
war. because, before that time, so little
attention had been given battle eXer-
rises.
The extended order drill. of which the
Guardsmen had more during the recent
.amp than ever before. is conceded to be
II the highest benefit. Much disappoint-
ment was caused by the fact that the
field maneuvres did not last longer, 60
that the soldiers would have had an op-
Dortunity To put into practice the tactics |
Of defence and offence which they were