Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-21
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Quiet Prevails in Local Mill
tary Circles.
REVOLVER CONTEST
CREDITABLE APPEARANCE Of
THE PROVISIONAL BATTALION.
Militia Force OF England-CSnditisns
Across the Water-Eeparated
From the Service.
REVOLVER CONTEST

the ordinary. however, is transpiring The
Washington Light Infantry Corps is to hold
its annual celebration this evening at its
armery, beginning at 9 o'clock Com
pany A, I'd Battalion-the Corcoran Cadet
Corps-wi'l celebrate the twentieth anniver-
sary of the date of its organization by Civ
ing banquet next Monday evening at the
Hotel Barton. The members of Company
b, LIST Separate Battalion, entertained their
friends at smoker at the % Street Arm
DRY last evening.
The numerical strength of the provisional
battalion that paraded last Monday after
noon escort of honor at the
funeral Of Col. Robert Boyd was an
evidence of the dependability of the
citizen soldiery of the National Capital.
The orders for the turnout Were not issued
until late the preceding Saturday. Notwith-
standing the short period of time that in
tervened and the fact that Monday was
business day and. furthermore. was dis
agreeaby Indictment. a battalion made up
of four full companies of trained guards
men. properly ofacered and equipped, re-
ported to Major Richard D. Sinms. who
had been DESIGNATED by militia headquar-
tiers to command the battalion. The guards
men fired three volleys over the grave of
Col Boyd. The turnout was most cred
liable to the local brigade. The 4th Battal-
two companies to the provisional battalion.
Revolver Match With Canadians.
Lieut.. Farrow has received notification
that the Montreal Amateur Athletic Aaso-
citation Of Montreal, Canada, has accepted
the challenge OF the Washington Revolver
Association for friendly competition with
pistols. The Montreal association suggests
that the standard American target be used,
that some experienced shot be selected as
umpire, that the teams consist OF ten men
each, each man to fire twenty shots. with
time limit of I'VE minutes for ten shots, and
that any revolver. with a maximum caliber
of 80, and any ammunition be used. The
targets and score sheets will be exchanged
by mail, and kilograms announcing the
team totals win be sent at the completion
of the firing. The match will be shot the
2Sth instant.
urer Of the United States Revolver Associa-
ton Of New York, has replied to Lieut..
Farrow's recent letter seeking Information
IN regard to handicapping the .32-caliber
Colts new police revolver with reference to
the .3S-ca1fber military revolver. by dis
lance.
II do not have at hand any rulings or
precedent In regard to this. and the only
way It can be done approximately Is by
trial. says Mr.. Himmelwright. AT the
first opportunity will have two or three Of
with both guns. and viii then be able TO
determine the proper handicap
Scores of Company Matches.
The company team match at 800 yards
shot last Monday and Tuesday evenings
resulted in victory for Company B. LIST
Battalion. The team totals follow:
Company B. LIST Battalion, go: Company
A. Sd Battalion. 211: Company c. LIST Bat
talon, 218; Company A. 9Th Battalion. 212;
Company A, 4th Battalion, 205: Company
D, I'd Battalion. 202: Company B. I'd Bat
Talon, 201: Company A, list Separate Bat
talon, 100; Company B, 4th Battalion, 1873;
\, Dat a1iN fNr,rr,yr amy
D, 9Th Battalion $50; Company c, 4th Bat
talon, 40; Company B. Asst Separate Bat
talon. 179; Company D. LIST Battalion, 11S;
Company A, LIST Battalion, 17S: Company
A, I'd Battalion, 172; Company d, LIST Sep
arate Battalion. 1e7; Company c. 9Th Bat
talon, 15S.
The Militia Of England.
In his report. Just made public. on the
reserve and auxiliary forces Of England
and the militia Of Switzerland, Col. William
Cary Sanger. assistant secretary of war.
makes the following interesting statement
regarding the militia Of England. force.
he says. whose beginnings go back to the
earliest periods of English history:
Between 1915 and 1852 nothing was done
toward keeping up the general militia be-
yend maintaining an effete permanent staff.
In 1852 the regular militia IN England was
reorganized. and since then 1t has been en-
couraged and developed until it is now
very important part Of the English armed
forces.
It's theory is conscriptfon. but enlistment
in It is entirely by voluntary engagement,
the ballot. or what we call draft, being sus-
pended annually.
The militia is governed by the militia reg
ulations. which are approved by the royal
warrant.
These are revised from time to time and
contain all the regulations concerning the
organization = discipline. pay, equipment,
clothing, barracks and SO forth-of the
force.
The militia in the united kingdom is d.
yided into infantry. artillery. engineers and
medical STAN corps: under the territorial
system the several arms Of the service are
affiliated to the corresponding branches OF
the regular army.
work Of the militia force was conducted by
special officers, but since that date 1T has
been administered by the same staff as the
regular army. A stan officer Of high rank
called the deputy adjutant general for the
militia, ye0manry and volunteers. watches
over the interests Of the force.
Training Of the Battaliens
There Is no militia cavalry. The training
of the militia battaiions is now carried out
under one Of four systems and last from
twenty-one to twenty-eight days.
First-Under canvas at the headquarters
OF regimental districts or in training bar
| racks.
Second-1n camp at some locality selected
with regard to the convenience and wishes
Of the officers and men. where II camps
usually without any other military forces
Third-1n camp or in vacant huts or bar
racks at some station with other militia
| battalions or with other troops. or with
both.
Fourth-In camp or huts with the other
units Of the militia brigade to which the
| unit is detailed for home defense.
| This last method was first introduced in
| 1882 and Is generally considered an excel
| lent plan.
| The militia artillery is sent from time to
| time to the fortresses to which 1t is told OF
for defense, and is there taught It's proper
duties.
The militia medical st afr corps is trained
1 at the army medical corps staff depot at
| Ai6ershot
| The regulations for the militia provide
\ that the command Of the militia win In all
cases be SO exercised that the respective
units shall be led by their own officers, and
| that the officers appointed to inspect them
or to command them in brigades shall not
| be junior In rank to any officer Of the force
| so commanded and inspected
The inspection OF militia artillery and OF
| infantry battalion is annually made by the
officer commanding the militia and rolun-
teer artillery OF the district. and By the col
onel commanding the regimentai district.
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