Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-14
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Corcoran Cadets Will Cele-
brate Anniversary.
MANY SOCIAL EVENTS
REVOLVER EXPERTS TO ENGAGE
IN INTERNATIONAL MATCH.
Workmanship in Schools and Colleges
Carrying the New Militia
Law Into Effect.

The regular military duties of the Ma
tional Guardsmen of the District of Column
bia being interspersed to some extent
with social functions. Company A, I'd Bat
talion-the Corcoran Cadet Corps-will cele-
brate the twentieth anniversary of the date
of its organization the evening of Monday,
February %. by banquet at Barton's The
guests of honor will be Representative
Charles Dick of Ohio, the father of the
new militia law; General George H. Harries,
commanding the d. c. militia, and Colonel
| Henry May, commanding the 1st Regiment,
D. C. N c. Captain Eugene C. Edwards
will act POSTMASTER. Valuable souvenirs
of the occasion are to be provided. The
arrangements for the anniversary celebra-
ton being made by a committee con-
sisting of Captain Edwards. First Lieuten-
ant c. A. Meyer Second Lieutenant Logan
Prosise, Sergeant Collins. Sergeant Lock-
head, Corporal Downing and Private Hunter
Company 3, list Separate Battalion, Cap
tain Samuel L.. F. Piper commanding, will
give its annual smoker at the armory, 7OS
o street, the evening of Friday, February
% The intention is to make the affair the
most successful in the history of the
ganization.
The members of Company B, 4th Bat
talon, were the hosts at enjoyable
smoker last Thursday evening in the quar-
tiers of the company, Center Market Ar
mory. The program included piano solo
by Mr.. Heidenheimer, wrestling bout by
Messrs Phillips and jackson, selections by
the Alexandria quartet. boxing bout by
Messrs. Daley and Miller, a wrestling bout
by Messrs Kane and Craddock, clog dancing
by Mr.. Harry Wright, a boxing bout by
Messrs. Mcqueen and Payne and comic
songs by Corporal May. During the even
ing refreshments were served.
Rifle and Revolver Shooting.
The local revolver club has forwarded
challenge to a Canadian club to shoot an
International revolver match. The distance
is to be twenty yards, the teams to consist
of ten men each Military >revolvers and
service ammunition will be used. A silver
trophy is to be provided for the winner.
The local revolver club has instructed its
shooting master, Lieutenant w. NJ Farrow,
to ascertain from the United States Re
volver Association of New York city the
proper handicap in distance to be allowed
the revolvers used by the police force of
this city in connection with those with
which the guardSmen shoot.
The company team match for February
will be shot in the rife gallery of the Cen
ter Market Armory next Monday and Tues
day evenings. Lieutenant w. w. Cookson,
inspector of rifle practice, 9th Battalion,
will be in charge Monday evening, and
Lieutenant F. J. Cardozo, inspector of rifle
practice, LIST Separate Battalion, Tuesday
evening Next Wednesday and Thursday
evenings have been assigned for pra ctice
for commissioned officers A revolver match
will be shot next Saturday evening.
To Compete With Britishers
At the annual meeting of the National
Rifle Association of America, held last
| Tuesday evening in New York city, General
Harries was elected vice president. Pre-
liminaries were arranged In regard to send
ing an All-American rifle team to England
during the coming summer to endeavor to
win back the Palma trophy captured in
Canada last fall by a team of Britshers.
1t is expected that several District Ma
tional Guardsmen will be on the All-Ameri-
can team.
On motion of Mai. James E. Bell Of this
city the National Rifle Association, at the
| meeting referred to, determined to take ac-
ton looking to the utilization of colleges and
schools, as such is deemed a step in the
direction of educating the young men of
the country in the matter of experiences
with the rifle, upon the broad and patriotic
principle that the citizen who is a marks
man is more valuable than the one who is
ignorant of the use of the firearm, the for
mer being in a position to render the coun-
try substantial aid in case of necessity.
1t is argued that in the near future the
question of instructing the youth of the
United States in the matter of rifle prac
tice must be taken up in the colleges and
schools, as is done in other countries. The
National Rife Association of Great Britain
approaching the Importance of such in
struction, encourages the art by offering
valuable prizes to be contested for annually
by the pupils of the public schools. On the
day of the shooting more than l 900 contes-
tants appear at Bisley to strive for these
prizes.
Workmanship in the Schools.
According to Major Bell, there is no bet
f;zII
this country, and there are but few
| branches outside of routine school work
| he says, which might be introduced with
better results than the training of the pu-
! pits in the use of the rifle. The initial step
| in this direction is the establishment of
| rife galleries and instruction in the ele-
| mentary principles of craftsmanship. Many
| of our schools and colleges are provided
with the Springfield caliber 40 rifle, and
some are equipped with rifle galleries, but,
( il is said, there seems to be a lack of inter
est in their use, due largely to the fact that
| no systematic training has been attempted
| Major James Parker of the adjutant gen
erals department. e. 5. A, in report to
| the Secretary of War made the statement
| that not II per cent of the volunteers during
the Spanish war were familiar with the use
| of the rifle with which they were armed
| Should the United States be called upon
| suddenly to defend itself and present such
| condition to the well-trained and skilled
| paltdllOllS OF IL IuTtlssN roe, IL is remarked
| that ignorant ri1emen would prove sorry
| prop on which to rest the stability of this
| government. With such a possibility star
| ing the country in the face national pride
! according to those interested should assert
| itself and the fathers of the rising genera
| ton should come to the rescue and demand
| that general instruction in the use of the
rife be given.
Execution of Militia Law.
| The Secretary OF War. as heretofore an
| nounced in The Star, is authority for the
| statement that the army general staff. If
| created, will be charged with the execution
! of the new militia law. But pending the
| enactment of the general staff bill all the
| correspondence in regard to the organiza-
| ton of the militia will be recorded in the
| office of the -adjutant general, with Major
| James Parker, assistant adjutant general.
| u. s. A. in immediate charge, and Major
F. T. Wilson, chief clerk of the miscelia-
| neous division, War Department, formerly
| major of the Sd Battalion, d. c. ~ g. as
| his chief assistant.
1 1t is explained that there is no disposition
| at the War Department to put the execu-
| ton of the militia Law into the hands of a
National Guardsman, a. has been proposed