The Washington times., 1903-03-22
Mdyoz Bell IN FaUo1 of Turn
ing the Old Tds9efS Of the
National Guard OUer 10
fRe High School Cadets.
NaUoI BaffdlIon'S Recent
Cause Emmenffp Success
fuI and Likely TO Be Fol-
IoIoed by Ofhe1S.

the daily routine OF the Washington /
school boy has come UP once more for /
consideration, and IL is believed that
some definite action will be taken along 1
that line within the near future. Within 4
a few days, Major James E Bell. In
spector General of Rife Practice of the /
District of Columbia National Guard, |
who is greatly interested in. and is in |
stigating. the move. will make a recon- !
mendation TO Brig. Gen. George II. Har- |
ries, commander of the brigade of Dis |
trict militia. and the assistance OF the |
National Guard will Immediately be en- !
listed.
The targets which were used in the
National Guard Armory, over Center
Market, were recently replaced by others
new and up-to-date, and it is believed
Major Bell will advocate their transfer
to the regiment of High School Cadets
for their use. The plan OF the National
Rife Association is general in it's scope.
and provides for the introduction OF
rife practice into all of the public
schools of this country in order TO make
the rising generation familiar with. and
expert in, the handling of the rife but
II is said the practice will only be intro
duced into Washington's High Schools.
Don't Know How to Shoot.
The High School Cadets of this city
have been drilled with the rifle for
number OF years. and have been in
structed by Col Burton r. Ross. Of the
First Regiment, District OF Columbia
Volunteers. but they know next to moth
ing about discharging a rife OF hitting
a three-foot buIIs-eye at ten PAGES
49,
up the. subject and worked hard In order
10 have the plan adopted and the Dis
trict militia targets turned over TO the
High school lads.
The plan is by no means new, but
IL has lacked stimulus. and interest
has been tagging When it is officially
presented TO General Harries. II is be-
lieved 1t Will Immediately be furthered
to the utmost. General Harries is
member of the National Rife Associa-
ZION. and also belongs to the Board of
Education of this city. He is in a po-
sition to present the plan TO the board
in a proper light. 1t is believed il will
be only a question of a short time be-
fore rife practice is inaugurated in the
~ Washfn gtono High Schools. Although IT
would be too much to expect the plan
to materialize fully before next Sep
tember. IL is said that when the High
School boys return to the schools in the
fall some time on each OF three days Of
every week will be allowed them for
rife practice.
Physical Training at the Range.
1t is said Major Bell will inaugurate
new scheme at the spring opening Of
the Ordway range. Up to the present
time the District sharpshooters and
marksmen have merely striven to be-
come uaCeurate with the rife. Major
Bell intends to inaugurate a system of
physical culture and will make athletes
as well as marksmen OF the boys who
handle the rifle. because he believes
man, in order to do his best work with
the rife. should be in perfect physical
condition, and thorough course of ath-
letic training will be gone through
According TO present prospects. the
members of the District militia will be
compelled to wait some years before
they receive the new regulation uniform
which has been prescribed for the reg
ular army. This is a blow to the Dis
trict National Guard for the reason that
the local organization has always been
one Of the first TO receive everything
that was new or UP to date in the way
of arms. equipments. and uniforms. The
=, regulars will get their new uniforms
about July of the present year. The Of
fcers will be compelled TO purchase
their expensive uniforms and have them
ready for use by that time.
With the annual eneampment OF the
local Guard only few months off, and
uniforms in stock, the local citizen
soldiers feel anything but enthusiastic
over the outing. Almost every national
guard OF regular army organization
which takes an outing. is supplied at
least with khaki uniforms for use on
the swelterins hot days.
Naval Battalion's Cruise.
The twenty-four hour cruise OF the
District Naval Battalion, which occur
red last Saturday and Sunday was a
great success. and served in an admir-
able manner to show the efficiency Of
that important branch OF the Guard. It
is understood that on the strength of
the success OF the initial cruise of this
season. General Harries will order sew
eral more before the regular ten days
outing OF the Battalion this summer
Lieut.. Sherbourne C. Hopkins, who has
acted as commander OF the Battalion
since the resignation OF Captain Haines.
commanded the Oneida and Fern on the
Initial cruise and was heartily com
mended for the manner in which he
conducted the affairs during the twenty
four hours.
Some people who are up on naval bat.
TALON affairs say these practice cruises
may ultimately end in the retention OF
Sherbourne Hopkins as the commander
of the Battalion. This would please
every member of the Battalion. as Lien
tenant Hopkins is well liked by every
one under his command
on next Saturday night the fourth