Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-24
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
Brigade Preparing for the
Inaugural Parade.
CHANGES IN BATTERY
ADJT. GEN. BRETT SELECTED TO
MAKE ANNUAL INSPECTION.
Dates and Places Officially Announced
by Commanding General of the
Atlantic Division.
CHANGES IN BATTERY

vote their energies almost exclusively to
| perfecting their respective organizat ions In
| the new infantry drill regulations IN prep
| aration for the inaugural parade March 4
| next. 1t Is believed that the local brigade
| will be the only National Guard organiza-
| ton In the column that will march in the
parade In accordance with the revised reg
ulat1ons. and that the citizen soldiery of
| the national capital viii compare very IA
| vorably with the regulars AS the commits
sions of the officers of the District National
| Guard bear the signature of the President
| Of the United States, the guard will be as
signed to the division with the regulars,
| being the only National Guard organiza-
ton in the country accorded that honor
The final assembly of officers for instruc-
| ton In the latest drill regula tons occurred
last wednesday evening. Captain Muir of
the war Department general staff was not
present, so Adjutant General Brett and
Lieut. Col. Burton r. Ross 1st Regiment
acted as instructors. The majorty of the
| omcers In attendance, armed with rifles
were formed as a company, and maneuv-
cred about the drill hall for nearly two
Tours, the results being most beneficial
They will impart the information thus de-
rived to their companies during January
and February, so that by the 4th of March
every company of the brigade should be
Wen drilled and prepared to make cred
| itapie appearance in the big procession
serving as escort to the newly inaugurated
ch1ef executive of the nation
The commissioned officers of the 18th and
oth Battalions have been directed to be
present at the battalion drills of the 4th
Battallon on January 3 and February Z; the
o1ncers OF the 4th and 9th Battalions to he
present at the battalion drills of the 5tb
battalion January and February 10. and
the officers of the 4th and 9Th Battalions
a. g. pS present at the battalion drills of the
OH 6attaIlon January IS and February l.
Possible Changes in Battery.
The gun carriages and other portions of
the equipment of the 1st Battery Field
Artillery, will be painted prior to the in
acgural turnout. In this connection there
| Is well-deined rumor in circulation that
the Districts artillery organization is to be
freshened in other ways than by the appli-
cation of a coat of paint to parts of its
equipment. Not the least important asser-
ton is that Capt Marion will soon tender
his resignation or be given another COM
mission, and that he will be succeeded as
the battery commander by an officer who
now wears on his trousers the white stripes
of the infantry.
The declared intention is to infuse new
Ire and enthusiasm into the 1st Battery of
Field Artillery, National Guard of the Dis
trlct or Columbia, to the end that 1t may
be the equal in efficiency of any volunteer
artillery command in the United States.
Col. Brett to Make Inspections.
Lieut.. Col. Lloyd NJ Brett, adiutant gem
eral. District of Columbia militia has been
selected by the commanding general of the
Atlantic division, to make the annual in
spection, In his capacity as captain. eth
United States Cavalry, of the organized
militia of the District Of Columbia under
the provision of section IA of the militia
law. Dates and places for the Inspections,
as follows, have been officially announced
by the major general commanding the At
iantic division:
General staff and general non-commis-
stoned staff of the militia, at headquarters
Evening Star building. at o'clock p m
Monday, February 6, 1905.
Field and staff, LIST Regiment, at s o'clock
p. m, Thursday. February 2.
LIST Battalion. LIST Regiment, at Center
Market Armory, at o'clock p m, Tues
day, February Z.
"a Battalion, LIST Regiment. at its ar
mory, at S:15 O'Clock p. M, Thursday, Feb
ruary 2.
Sd Battalion. 1st Regiment, at it's armory,
at o'clock p. m, Wednesday, February s.
February A. at o'clock p m.
1st Battalion, I'd Regiment. Tuesday,
February IA, at SIS o'clock p m.
I'd Battalion. I'd Regiment, Monday,
February 13, at o'clock pm.
I'd Battalion, I'd Regiment, Wednesday,
February 10, at s o'clock pm.
list Separate Battalion, at Center Market
Armory, Fflday, FEBRUARY -, at o:Io
Naval Battalion, on board U. S. S. Puri-
tan at O'Clock pm, Thursday, February
LIST Battery, Field Artillery and Signal
Corps, at Center Market Armory, Friday,
February TO- at o'clock p m.
Ambulance Corps, Band and Corps Of
Field Music, at Center Market Armory,
Thursday, February 16, at o'clock p. m.
Military Instruction Abroad.
The national board for the promotion Of
rifle practice is collecting information from
various governments as to what is being
done in the same direction in other coun-
tries An interesting description of what
the italian government is doing for the
promotion of rifle practice has been re-
ceived.
In 1882 the Italian government organized
an association for the purpose of teaching
all citizens how to properly handle the
military rifle. Ehis organization is under
the supervision of the secretary of war,
who has his headquarters at Rome As
soon as there are 100 members affiliated in
any community branch is formed. Every
citizen above sixteen years OF age, making
an application with bona fide certificate, on
the payment or W Genus year, becomes a
member.
Total or partial exemption from military
duty is given. to members who have profit
ably taken shooting lessons for two years
before the call to arms. A student annot
get his diploma or attend any university
unless he presents the shooting booklet,
proving that he has attended the shooting
EXERCISES of his society.
AS soon as a branch society is formed 1t
takes the name of the National Rifle Assoc
ciation-society of the city or town where
it is located. The members meet and elect
an executive board, which holds Office for
two years. This board is composed of three
men for every 100 members, five for 200,
seven for 500 and nine for 1000 or more
members. The Italian government also ap-
points commissioned officer over each So
ciety who has the same authority the
other members of the executive board
In the vicinity of each branch society. by
the order of the executive board and under
the supervision of military engineer.
is built a shooting ground If the society
cannot pay the expense of making and
maintaining it such expense will be paid.
one-third by the city, one-third by the