Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-07

tai teams. After the morning team work
was over the WashingtOnians, each day,
have kept hard at 1t as icing as firing was
permissible, deyoting the late afternoon to
the long ranges. There has been little else
of interest Transporting, SO far as the Dis
trict detachment is concerned
In connection with the Dryden match, an
interesting story is being told here. 1t is
related that during the short session of the
last Congress a number OF persons were in
washington pressing the matter of a ma
ssnal competition Representative Mon
dell OF wyoming. member of the house
committee on military affairs. introduced
bill providing for an appropriation for a ma
tlonai snoot every year and for national
jutant general of the army, who placed his
Endorsement thereon. Next, 1t was reported
favorably by the committee Oh, military af-
fairs but was held up in the House by the
committee on rules.
Story Of the Appropriation.
In despair, Representative Dick. now SEN
ator from Ohio, who was chairman of the
committee on militia; Representative Mon
dell, Col. E. ]. Dimmick and Gen. Bird w.
Spencer, the latter president OF the Ma
tional Rife Association of America, pro-
ceeded to the Senate wing Of the Capitol
In the hope Of enlisting the support of SEN
ator Dryden of New Jedsey. While at hun
cheon, the facts were laid before the sena-
Tor, who finally remarked:
Will get what you desire added to the
army appropriation bill as an amendment.
VIII talk to Senator Proctor about it."
senator Dryden explained the matter to
senator Proctor, the acting chairman of the
S senate committee on military affairs. The
latter demurred strongly against accepting
such an amendment, pointing out that such
would be contrary to custom and that he
thought 1t would be impossible for 1t to
pass Senator Dryden, however maintained
his position, and eventually succeeded in
winning the support of Senator Proctor, the
result being that an annual appropriation
for the national shoot was added to the bill
meanwhile 1t Is said, Senator Dryden had
become so interested in the subject that
he sent for several of the officers of the
National Rifle Association of America and
announced:
Il want to provide trophy that will ner-
petuate this rife shoot on the Sea Girt
range
Dryden's Generous Donation.
After inspecting several designs, Senator
Dryden gave an order for trophy, to be
contested for annually, that cost $1,000. In
addition he gives a cash prize of $3.50 each
year to accompany the trophy, and has ar
ranged that the contribution shall be con-
tinued in the event of his death In recog-
milton of his generosity the senator has
been elected director of the National Rife
Association for life.
At the present time there are approx
assas, Va, assembled for military maneu-
vers. These, of course, serve several i'm
portant purposes They familiarize the
commanding officers with the manipulat ton
of large bodies of troops in the field, enable
company and regimental commanders to
handle their respective commands in con-
junction with others as a part of whole
and give the regulars and the niIitiamen
experience In actual marching, skirmishing
and making and breaking camp and the
like on a scale impossible at other times
One of the most desirable results Is the
bringing together as one force of the regu-
lar troops and the National Guard It
also affords the citizen soldiery an oppor
tunity to profit by observing how the regu-
lars perform their duties and conduct them
selves generally. Officers are also given a
chance to handle bodies of comparatively
raw troops with trained soldiers in the
same brigades and corps, a condition that
would undoubtedly confront the majority
of them in time of war.
No Actual Rifle Practice
Those now at Sea Girt who are deeply In
terested in the subject declare that there is
one thing lacking at the maneuvers that de-
tracts from their value, and that is there
is no actual rifle practice. 1t is regrettable,
say the officials here, that $4,000 troops
should be assembled without the oppor-
tunity of testing their ability to hit that at
which they shoot 1t is added that this
condition of affairs cannot be remedied,
however, until Congress provides for the
purchase of suitable sites for maneuvers.