Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-30
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Brigade Parade Announced
for the Fourth Of July.
SUMMER WORK IN FIELD
CAMP WILL BE ESTABLISHED
NEAR FORT HUNT, VA.
Findings Of Board of Officers Appoint
cd to Investigate the Shoot
ing at 0rdway.

| With brigade parade announced for the
4th Of July and the annual outing Of the
| troops scheduled to begin the 23d of that
| month the District Of Columbia National
| Guard has sufficient In view to prevent in
| terest from waning. The plan now is to
| order out all the local troops for partici-
patton In the Independence day celebra-
| ton. 1t Is desired, however. that the line
| Of march shall be short one and that
| the time the guardsmen are to be under
| arms be made as brief as possible.
AS regards the summer work In the field
| it Is definitely settled that the scene Of the
outing win be in the vicinity of Fort Hunt
Va. The usual camp will be established,
| in all probability at a point about one and
One-half miles in the rear of the army post.
Thursday morning. July D. The customary
camp duties will be in order for several
days, very likely until the following Mon
day The remainder Of the outing. 1t Is
thought will be devoted to maneuvers. In
which troops OF the regular army will join.
The report of the board of officers APP
pointed by Mai. Harvey to investigate the
shooting last Tuesday at the Ordway range
of Corporal George Dietz. Company d. 9th
Battalion. has been received at militia
headquarters. The board found that the
discharge of the rife was accidental. but it
expresses the opinion that Private Hoche
was guilty of gross carelessness. In view
of the report OF the board. the impression
some sort must be taken In the case of
Private Roche to the end that similar acts
of carelessness will not occur In the future
Growing Interest in Rifle Practice.
That interest in the matter of target
work Is growing was manifested by the
attendance at the Ordway range during the
period Of ordered practice just ended
There were nearly 30 per cent more
guardsmen before the targets than was
the case q year ago. and. furthermore, &C
cording to Major James e. Bell. inspector
general Of rifle practice, the scores were re-
markedly good
The range will be open next Monday and
Tuesday for the completion of scores in the
sharpshooter and expert classes. First
Lieut. George G. Dennison, inspector OF
rifle practice. 9th Battalion, will be on duty
Monday. and First Lieut.. w. w. Cookson.
inspector Of rifle practice, 9th Battalion, ON
duty Tuesday. to certify scores.
Steps in the direction Of organizing bri-
gade rifle team for the current season have
been suspended by Major Bell. pending in
structions from headquarters. The brigade
,, team this year Is to represent the District
of Columbia In the national trophy competi-
ton The understanding is that all the
other prospective competitors have been
hard at work for several weeks past.
Control of the Militia.
Judge Speer OF the United States district
court for the district of Georgia has cor
rected the impression that prevailed in
some quarters that the new militia law Is
designed to take the control Of the militia
out of the hands of the state authorities
and centralize it In the President. Accord
ing to Judge Speer the Presidents powers
with regard to the militia are defined by
the Constitution. that those powers have
not been enlarged by the new law. and that
the militia would be subject to federal con-
troll only in case of national emergency
fust as 1t has been hitherto.
It Is pointed out that the only real differ
ence between the old law and the new is
that the new law aims to give the militia
organizations Of the states degree of uni
formity and coherency in formation dis
cipline and equipment which they do not
now possess. and which they cannot ac-
quire except through closer contact with
and a more general application of the regu-
lar army system. In word, 1t Is added
the principal object of the new act is to
transform the members Of the militia into
practical. efficient soldiers who shall be
available for the second line Of defense in
time OF national peril.
ass Notes.
Private Ray r. Ross, Company b, ID Bat