The Washington times., 1901-09-07
GUARD AFFAIRS
Preparations to Welcome the Vic
tors at Sea Girt.
Reception and banquet Arranged by
the AIilitiamen-Praise for Major
Bell. Inspector of Rifle Practice
Plans for the Coming Winter.

Plans for the COming Winter.
While the crack rifiemen of the District
National Guard have been getting
taste of nearly all the glory in sight at
Sea Girt, military matters in Washington
have been comparatively quiet. The eyes
of 1850 Guardsmen have been turned
toward the ranges in the Mosquito State.
The only sentiment Of disappointment
that has been mixed in with that of su-
preme qualification, is the fact that the
Soldier of Marathon, the superb trophy
of the interstate match has been lost But
the capture of the famed Hilton trophy is
considered greater triumph.
Sometime next week the rifiemen will
be told just what the National Guards
men think of them. The formal reception
in their honor will be on Thursday night.
There will be red fire and a band. and all
the paraphernalia that goes to make up
the substance of a triumphal celebration.
But the best part of the whole affair will
be the recognition Of the achieve
ments of the citizen soldiers under the
eyes of the best shots of the world at Sea
Girt.
Major f. II. Neumeyer is planning a
banquet at the Washington Light Infan-
try Armory The affair will be similar to
that of last year. The capture of the
Soldier of Marathon was then sufficient
cause for tremendous demonstration.
Capt. F. Penrose Smith and Pay Clerk
Frank Sigourney are in charge of the Ma
tional Guard Headquarters this week dur
ing the absence of Capt. A p. Robbins
the acting adtutant general. at Sea Girt.
where he made a splendid record on the
Hilton and Interstate teams. Captain
Robbins tied for the second highest in
dividual honors in the former match with
Private c. McC. Taylor. Private r. l. Pile
was the highest with %. This was the
first year that Captain Robbins shot on
the team. His splendid showing was a
source of qualification to the entire bri-
gade. Captain Robbins has proven him
self one of the most efficient and popu-
lar adjutants the National Guard ever
possessed
There is one officer more than any other
who deserves credit for the showing of
the Washington riflernen. These who are
well informed concerning National Guard
affairs never fan TO mentally accord it
TO him. The man Is Major James T.. Bell.
Inspector General OF Rifle Practice, and
one of the best rife shots in the United
States. During the years he has filled
the position of inspector general the rife
teams have always been one of the strong
est branches of the District National
Guard. From the time that a victorious
team comes home from Sea Girt Major
Bell devotes a large part of his time to
coaching the men until they are ready
to go back again the next year to scoop
UP more honors. No one in the brigade
is more regular attendant at the ordway
Range in the spring and the fall.
To the fact that the Krag-Jorgensen
rife was this year used instead of the
regular army Springfield. should be, in
part, attributed the success of the Dis
trict teams Last year when. the Jersey
ties with difficulty won the Hilton match
after a desperate fight against the D-s-
trict rt1emen it was stated that the local
marksmen were handicapped by the use
of the Springfield. their opponents being
armed with the Krag. In spring prac-
tice on the ordway Range the Krag was
used, and a large increase In practice
scores was Immediately noted.
The story of how the District team won
the Hilton trophy in the final stages is
too well known to need repeating. While
the match was in progress there was the
keenest interest In Washington. The
rihemen had gone to Sea Girt resolved
to bring back the prize. The afternoon
papers came out at the usual time with
the statement that. the District troops
were too far behind to entertain any
hopes of winning. The hopes of Guards
men who read this fell. Doubly joyful
was the news later that the marksmen
from Washington had pulled together and
won out. 1t has been six years since
the Hilton match was won by District
of Columbia team. This year the record
made in 1895 was surpassed by the Dis
trict team.
The Hilton trophy is a huge silver
shield. on the surface Is the representa-
tion of a buffalo hunting scene. From 1t
hang pendent a number of silver scalps.
on these are engraved the names of the
teams which have captured 1t from year
to year. 1t will he brought to Washing
ton and placed in the trophy room at
National Guard Headquarters.
The bronze Soldier of Marathon. which |
has been there for the past year. viii be
taken away to grace the headquarters of
the National Guard of New Jersey. When |
the news came that New Jerseys team
had won the interstate match an eX-
preston frequently given by suardsmen
was, "Oh. well. I'd rather New Jersey |
would than they
good people The Jerseyites are in a |
sense the hosts Of The annual matches. |
Right royalty they have treated their /
too. The Sea Girt detail is con- |
sidered a most pleasant one. Members of |
the Guard are always anxious to be sent |
there. The Jersey rifiemen are experts at |
and have always been one of |
the toughest propositions at the Sea Girt |
matches.
With the advent of cooler weather 1t is |
that National Guard affairs will |
liven up considerably. One of the lessons |
of the annual encampment was the need |
of more drill in sentinel and outpost duty. |
1t is probable that this branch of tactics |
will be given more attention in the drill |
halls this fall and in the winter.
A number of the companies are plan
ming to make the social features of their |
orga MIA tions particularly strong during |
the coming season The Naval Battalion |
will probably continue the fortnlghtly |
smokers and informal receptions given
with such success last year aboard the
Fern.
The Best Prescription for Malaria
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