Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-27
Good Work of Riflemen.

Good Work of Riflemen.
Gen. Harries upon learning last Thurs
day morning that the brigade rifle team
had finished among the prize winners in
the national trophy match at Fort Riley
Kansas, FASTENED to send a telegram con-
Veying his congratulations to Maj Reich
elderfer, the team captain, and the sharp
shooters under him The news that the
Districts representatives had finished in
sixth place and had bested all the other
national Guard teams, with one excep-
tlon, was most agreeable surprise here.
BY reason of absolute lack of facilities
FOR practice it was feared that the Dis
trlct team would finish well down toward
the bottom of the list of competitors. But
the rihemen from the national capital
FOOLED everybody by taking the lead over
thirteen states, the majority of them be-
ing most formidable competitors New
YORK won the national trophy, while sec
ono third, fourth and fifth prizes went to
the United States navy, army and Marine
Corps. The Districts share of the spoils
includes $50 in cash and a medal for each
member of the team.
In all likelihood the same team sub
stantlally, will go to Sea Girt next week
ana endeavor to capture the Dryden tro-
phy IN Connection with the annual meeting
to be held on the Jersey range
Dignity of the Militia.
Inc Army and Navy Register, in an edi-
torial on "The Dignity of the Militia" paws
glowing tribute to the efficiency of the
National Guard of the District of Column
bia, as follows:
II Is time there was a change in the
habit of expression contracted bv MANY
newspapers in their reference to militiamen
ne current accounts of some of the Ma
tlonal Guard encampments make a prac-
ice or designating the members of the
guard as boys" OF course the term is
uyh 10 i
endearing sense, but it is apt to fasten in
the public mind the impression that the
militia Is made up of those of extreme
youth, capable of no very serious attention
TO their military duties and eng cd In such
only as a pastime. 1t would be more ac-
curate and more credita bic to the militia
men If they were considered of maturer es-
tate.
Time was when the National Guard was
an organization the occupation of which
bordered on diversion, not to say the frivo-
lous. Its encampments had all the fleeing
quality of annual picnics. 1t was largely
a show occasion with little that was prac-
teal, save here and there where something
approaching real work in the field was oc-
casionally exhibited. The equipment of the
guard was mixture of dress uniform, de-
generating into a species of rivalry among
the various commands to which should
adopt the most spectacular and ornate. All
this has been changed. We find the mill
tiamen composed of men who now possess
a realizing sense of their value to the
country; they are trained for actual service
and are able and ready to respond intel
ligently to the call to arms; their equip
ment is after the fashion of the practical
Quitting of the regular army; their en-
campments are surrounded by all the ele-
ments of duty in the presence of an enc
my. The new conditions have business
like aspect and the results are bound to be
profitable to the great body of citizen sol
diery and, consequently. to the nat1on,
which In time of emergency must depend
hot RI IA
the regular force.
Well Differed and Drilled.
'It would appear that many people and
perhaps most newspapers do not accept this
view of the militia. They are still inclined
to regard its members as engaged in no
very important pursuit. No such sighting
opinion could be entertained, of course, IL
it were possible for everybody to visit the
big encampments of the Pennsylvania and
the New York organizations or to witness
the strictly military rule which obtained
under General Harries during the recent
epcampment of the National Guard of the
District of Columbia Military observers at
the latter camp are unstinted in their praise
of the performance of the District militia
men this year, as they We're last year, and
1t is the occasion of congratulatiOn that the
local body of that command is so well Off
cered and so practically drilled. There are
other organizations where the same tho
TOuSNneSS ana the Same spirit are III eNl-
dence and 1t Is one of the best assurances
of national security that this new phase of
industry, obedience and determination is so
generally manifest.
ut remains only for the public sentiment
of the country to appreciate this dignified
and 1audable effort, inasmuch as the ma
ton. It's citizens and its material interests
profit by the results. We hear less and less
Of the militia as the supposed adversary of
labor and it has evidently come to be
realized that the national guard organza-
tons are quite as much the protection of
the man who works for a living as of the
man who owns the factory or the mine
and who no less works for living. This
realization of the friendly relation of the
military-militia and regular-to all inter-
ests will do much to increase the public
respect for the man under arms. ready,
willing and, best of all. able to respond to
the alarm when 1t is sounded in the cause
of right and justice. When the militia
is recognized for what it is fast becoming
the efficient ally of the regular army of the
country-we shall hear no more pet names
and verbal coddling Of the soldiers"