The times., 1901-05-25
NATIONAL GUARD AFFAIRS
The Annual Encampment Will
Probably BE Held in Virginia.
Selection of Site Nearly Settled
Harksmen PrncticinE at ordwh!
Range summer OutinE OF the
Naval BnttaIion-Some Discharges.

quiet in National Guard circles. The
members have all worked fairly hard in
preparation for the annual inspection and
muster. and now that the ordeal is over
with results evidently highly creditable to
the Guard. there is not much to do except
wait until the orders regarding the annual
encampment are issued.
1t is probable that the coming week
viii see definitely settled the location oi
the National Guard encampment, which
will take place between July IS and 81
4 number of officers Of the brigade have
made excursions into the country round
about Washington for the purpose of find
ing a suitable location. The one near
Laurel, which was inspected during the
past week. It is stated. did not impress
the officers oyerfavorably, and indications
point to the choosing of site in the
vicinity Of Smokers Gap, in Virginia, dis
tant little over forty miles from Wash
ington.
The Ordway Range has been open foI
the past week, and many of the guards
men have availed themselves of this first
opportunity Of the season to indulge in
outdoor practice. The forty-three men
picked to practice for places on the bri-
gade rife team which viii represent the
District National Guard at Sea Girt has
made excellent progress, and Major Bell.
Inspector General of Rife Practice, is
greatly pleased at the outlook. Thurs
day, Memorial Day, match viii be shot
at the range, which will result in picking
the twelve men making the best records
TO practice thereafter for places on the
brigade team.
The rifemen viii leave the city on a 9
o'clock train, and remain at the range
nearly ali day. In the morning they will
be given an opportunity 10 practice with
the new Krag-Jorgenson rifles, which
have recently been received. The match
viii be shot in the afternoon. Major Bel
has been engaged in testing these rifles
for the past week or so. He is loud in
his praise of their merits, and says they
are remarkably accurate guns. or the
forty received only two have not proven
highly satisfactory. If good records are
not made with the new arms, il will be
because the contestants do not shoot
straight, and not because of defects in
the rifles.
While the preliminary preparations and
practice for the Sea Girt matches are at
tracing the attention of the Guardsmen,
there is not a little thought devoted to
the match for the Palma trophy, which
Will be shot in September This is an
international contest between teams rep
resenting various European and American
nations. 1t is more than likely several
OF the crack shots OF the District National
Guard will be members of the American
team The following letter, recently re-
ceived from Gen. Bird W. Spencer, Presi-
dent of the National Rife Association of
America, explains the manner in which
the American team viii be made up, and
the conditions under which the match is
TO be shot;
The time has now arrived when the
American military ridemen must begin
serious work If they hope TO make good
showing in the international contest Tor
the Palma trophy next summer. The
conditions Of the match are: Fifteen
shots at each ranSt, so, 900, and LV5J
wards National Rife Association target;
36 inches in diameter, four ring,
& inches in diameter. Rife, United States
Army magazine.
THE members OF the American team
vii! be selected from those making the
best average in preliminary practice and
The preliminary practice
NAV be done on home ranges when the
above distances are obtainable. The
scores must be kept on official score CARDS
issued from this Office, which are num-
beTed and recorded. The practice must
be done under the supervision OF, and
certified TO, by a commissioned officer.
Those competitors making the best
general average Will be selected 10 com
pete at the final competitions, which will
bs held al the Sea Girt range during Au-
gust. The official score cards, with scores
properly certified must be returned 10
This Office by July IS. The Sea Glrt range
Will be opened for practice on Saturday,
May IS and every Saturday thereafter
during the season for practice.
The proposed trip of several companies
Of the Guard to the Pan-American EX-
position in Buffalo is not yet settled
matter The question Of railroad rates
S the stumbling block which just now ap-
pears to hinder completion OF the project
number of members Of the Corcoran
Cadet Corps, the Morton Cadets, ana the
Capron Cadets have expressed desire
10 90. and the idea is to have these three
for the visit to Buffalo most desired is
he first week in September IN Greer tnat
he Guardsmen may be there at the cele-
lration Of District Day
Can't c +. Edwards, Of the Corcoran
Cadets. is corresponding with the mana
gers Of the railroads regarding rates Ihe
owest vet received IS, however generally
considered too high II Is not as low as
Falls and Buffalo last year when there
gas no such large attraction as the eX-
position
rs from a benefit performance Of the La
'ayette Stock Company at the Lafayette
Theatre on the evening of June 10 Mana
ger Fred Berger has pronered the services
IF the stock company and uchetS VIII De
llaced for sale in the hands of the MEM
bers Of the Cadet Corps. 1t has not yet
been decided what play will be produced
At the time by the stock company, but in
all probability IL will be Diplomacy or
Because She Loved Him So Giliette's
'uccessful comedy. Edwin Arden, the
eading man Of the stock company this
summer played the principal role in the
after play when it was first produced and
scored a great success. The benefit per-
Iormance win be quite a social event.
IL is not question OF where, but rather
Naval Battalion in regard TO their sum
ner outing as soldiers. Preparations viii
soon begin for the annual cruise, which
promises 10 be more complete and better
attended than any in the history OF this
branch OF the District Militia. Both the
Fern and the Oneida are al the disposal
n the Naval Battalion, and il is possible
that both vessels viii be used in the
.ruise. This depends, however, upon how
many express an inclination to go.
The sailors probably VIII not leave until
after the Guardsmen have returned from
heir camp, about the last week in August.
In a week OF so there will he a revival of
he over-Sunday trips on the Fern down
he river, which were a source Of so
much pleasure and instruction last year
rhe Fern has been completely renovated
Ind is popular rendezvous for the blue
jackets now Every other Friday evening
here is an informal social aboard and the
sailors come in large numbers, accom-
lanied by their wives and sWeethearts.
This social feature makes the men better
acquainted and also helps 10 sustain in
erest in nautical matters through the
ong season when there is little opportun-
~ for practice drill.
Prlvates Albert G. Burgess and Lyndan
]. Gilbert have been ordered transferred
rom Company D. Fifth Battalion, TO
Company 3. Second Battalion. On ac-
'ount OF removal from the District OF Co
umbia, Hospital Steward George d. Ke-
Zoe. Of the Fourth Battalion, has been or
Tered honorably discharged In the inter-
81 OF the service PriVates Samuel s. Ed
nonston, u. u. Hazleton Robert W