Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-11
NATIONAL GUARD

The presentation of service medals to
those officers and enlisted men of the Ma
tional Guard of the District of Columbia
entitled to the same will occur Wednes-
day, the 21st instant, and will be made an
occasion of ceremony. The entire brigade
Is to be paraded. and some individual
prominent in military or governmental cir
cles will be invited to formally bestow the
decora tons.
Arrangements for the affair have not
been completed. 1t Is understood. how
ever, that the turnout will be ordered for
$50 o'clock.
f. The original intention was to distribute
the medals last week. but change to the
21st instant was ordered in order that the
members of the Naval Battalion. now on
duty elsewhere, may participate in the
presen tation ceremony.
- The I'd Separate Battalion, Sd Separate
Battalion and the 4th Separate Battalion
will retain those designations, 1t Is learned.
| probably until next fall, and certainly until
after the annual encampment in August.
AS heretofore stated, the commanding gen.
eral takes the view that there Is no need
for hurrying in the matter Of reorganizing
the 1st Regiment, and explains that there
are certain details in connection with the
subject which he desires shall adjust them
selves in their own good time
OF course, while in camp, the %. Sd and
4th Separate Battalions may. be organized
temporarily as a provisional regiment for
maneuvering and other purposes.
Jackies In Mimic War.
The United States steamship Puritan,
with the Naval Battalion of the
National Guard of the District of
Columbia aboard. moved away from
her moorings last Friday afternoon.
the start having been delayed sew
eral hours by unforeseen happenings The
local jackies are participating in the joint
army and navy exercises on the Potomac
river and Chesapeake bay, and are ex-
pected to give good account of them
selves. This Is the first time the battalion
has moved the Puritan from her moorlngs
since the big monitor was brought here
from the League Island navy yard last
summer Commander STATIONS command
is not due back prior to the evening of the
18th instant. of-r-,
The new rifle range has been completed,
and the official ordered practice thereon
will be started the 18th instant In accord
ance with the orders published in the last
issue of The Sunday Star. The arrange
ments that have been made entirely
satisfactory, and the shooting ground is
deemed to be absolutely safe.
The jackies Of the United States steam
ship Dolphin have asked permission to use
the range IOf their required target pTdC-
tice and the necessary authority for them
to do SO will probably be granted.
1t Is announced that the 1st Division,
Naval Battalion. commanded by Lieut.
Carmody, is the only division of the bat
talon that, having qualified in the gallery.
is entitled to shoot on the range. The LIST
Division won the gallery volley match.
Responsibility of Company Command
Major James E. Bell, inspector general
of rifle practice, District of Columbia Mill
tia, has recommended to headquarters that
company commanders be required to as
sumo responsibility for the training of the
members of their respective commands In
rife practice. His recommendations may
be made the subject matter OF general
order to the brigade.
Battalion inspectors OF rifle practice have
hitherto been in command of companies.
which report for rifle practice under sched-
ules and orders from militia headquarters,
Major Bell says, and the custom should
cease. He adds that 1t Is manifestly the
duty of the commanding officer of a COM
pany to assume all responsibility in the
direction of the men of his command in
the performance of every military duty de-
volving upon the soldier. He should par
ticularly drill and train the men in the
important duty of rife practice and be
familiar with their capabilities so that when
they are scheduled for duty in the gallery
or on the range they may be able to per-
form that service in an acceptable man