The Washington times., 1903-12-06
ORDERS NOW ISSUED
FOR THE NEXT YEAR
Oyster Roast TO Officers of
Second Cavalry-Return
of Col. Henry May---II-
Illustrated Lecture on
Wounds"

officers I'm the District militia in regard
to rifle practice in the gallery and on
the outdoor range has been brought
10 the attention of headquarters. and
some sharp reprimands viii be admin
istered
The first annual report Of the rife
practice of the Guard. which was hand
ed TO Major Gilfoyle at the War De-
partment a week or two ago. tended to
show the inefficiency of the National
Guard with regard TO handling the rife,
as wei as the figure Of merit" which
all authorities say was far below what
il should have been.
In Major Bell report he showed the
figure OF merit Of the local brigade to
be less thar 80 per cent. The Second
Regiment outclassed the First Regi-
ment, with about 2S per cent to % or
less.
In some o. the companies. for in
stance. Company A First Regiment
commanded by Capt. Harry COOpe. the
per cent was as low as So per cent,
while Company ], Second Regiment. IN
Ger command OF Capt. Alexander Sum
n.ers. had figure Of merit above Sc
per cent. Company I. First Regiment,
commanded by Captain TAFT, was cred
tied with more than g per cent Even
the association cadets, from the Y. NJ.
{. A, and known in military circles as
Company X. Second Regiment. had a
much higher per cent than nine-tenths
of the commands in the brigade One
of the officials who examined the re-
port in detail noticed the fact that
in one company there were ffty-One
men who failed to qualify even as third
class marksmen. because Of their in
ability TO nandle the rife
Officers Are Blamed.
All this has caused a great deal of
unfavorable comment. and the officers
are held responsible for the unusually
poor showing made by the brigade The
officers have beer scored on the charge
OF falling TO set a proper example for
the men to emulate That half or more
than half Of the officers do not know how |
TO shoot the rifle with any degree Of ae-
euracy or proficiency. has been conceded 4
long ago. They are not armed with /
the rifle. and their lack Of knowledge \
Of It is in a manner excusable. They b
are, however, expected TO drill and in 4
atruct the enlisted men In rife practice /
and 10 urge them to grasp every oppOr-
tUnsty 10 improve themselves IN this /
respect Il Is said the officers have
gone at the matter in a half-hearted
manner and have not used the proper
means to get the men TO report for
gallery and outdoor practice. Last win
ter General Harries called up number
OF officers Tor their laxity, and il is not
Improbable that this viii be done again
before the 1903-lg0i schedule for indoor
practice is begun.
Elaborate preparations have been made
for the oyster roast which will be given
the officers Of the Second Cavalry. sta
toned at Fort Myer. and now under
orders 10 proceed 10 the Philippines. at
1000 Seventh Street southwest, tomorrow
evening at $50 o'clock, by General Har-
ries and the c1dcers OF the National
Guard OF the District Of Columbia \
large number Of invitations have been /
sent out and the citizen-soldiers will (
make the evening as jolly and pleasing I
as possible for the men who are TO 60 1
10 the archipelago. Major J.. II. Neu- /
meyer Of the Commissary Department /
OF the Guard. Is chairman of the COM
mittee having charge Of the arrange /
ments.
Col Henry Mays Return
Col Henry MAY OF the First Reei- /
fnrnt, although he has not been at its /
head fer more than half a year has re- (
turned 10 Washington after an extended /
tour in Europe That the First Reg
those OF Lieut. Col Burton r. Ross /
who served as colonel throughout Col I
cnel Mays absence, has long since been /.
proven and IL Is believed by friends OF T
lieutenant Colonel Ross and the NATIONAL
Guard chat he would make the best
commander the First Regiment ever mad /
Colonel May was not IL Is said. In com
Inand Of the First Regiment AT Camp
Ordway. at Leesburg, Va, throughout
the major part OF the 1902 encampment
Lieutenant Colonel Ross was instructed
by General Harries 10 take charge OF the /
organization. and handled It most add
mirably. and was commended on many
occasions. Fearing, II is said, that Lieu
tenant Colonel Ross would receive SINH /
t2f Instructions Cor che 1903 encamp-
,aent Colonel NAV applied for leave OF /
absence Of sly months. covering the 1903 i
ehcampment The leave was granted. /
and he was also allowed 10 leave the /
United States. becauge the regiment was /
safe 30 the hands Of Colonel Ross. His I
lefvc expired some time in November.
and he is now ia command
An illustrated lecture. the subject oil 4
which will be- Wounds" Is 20 be de-
iivered in the rife practice gallery az
National Guard ArmOry. az 9 elOcA /
next Tuesday evening by Major In,
Garde. Of the United States Hospital
Corps. Pictures II wounds inflicted BY
balls. bullets and shells through the
civt war and the spanish-AInerican wan \
VIII be exhibited and explained by Major 4
LaGarde. who e. said 10 be a learned sur n
geon. and good lecturer. Members OF
tho National Guard and the general pub
lies4re cordially invited 10 attend this
lecture.
Lectures on Other Topics.
u is purposed 10 give a series Of lee
lures on other subjects besides
Wounds in the course Of the present
season. Major Bells interesting lee
lures on rife practice would be most