Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-18
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Each Battalion Will Camp on
the Range Two Days
FOR RIFLE PRACTICE
SERIES OF SUMMER PRACTICE
MARCHES PLANNED FOR TROOPS.
Annual Athletic Meet Postponed
Promotion for Adjt. Gen. Brett
Appropriation for Militia.

The plans of the commanding general in
dictate that the coming spring and summer
will constitute one of the busiest periods
| in the history of the National Guard of
i the District of Columbia. The program of
| work, outlined, is a radical departure
| from what has been done heretofore, and
| it is believed, will result in commendable
| and unprecedented progress being made by
| the local citizen soldiery.
As soon as pleasant weather is here to
| stay, and the new rifle range beyond Ana
| costa is completed, a permanent camp will
! be established there, with Lieutenant
| Colonel Lloyd NJ. Brett, adjutant general
| of the District militia, in command. This
will probably occur during the month of
May. The several battalions, in turn. will
| then go into camp on the range for two
| days each, and in that time the members
| of the battalion will be expected to finish
| the ordered rifle practice and derive as
| much information possible regarding the
1ntricacieS of the art of accurate target
| shooting. The afternoon that one battalion
moves away from the camp to return to
this city, it's place on the range will be
taken by another similar command.
Guardsmen Will Be Paid.
Perhaps the most attractive feature of
the rank and file of the guard, is that
officers and men will be paid at the regu-
lar army rate for the two days thus spent
| on the range. The outing will be a tour
of field duty, for rifle practice under the
provisions of the new militia law.
In order that money may be available to
pay the guardsmen for this duty, however.
the annual encampment will be shortened
from thirteen days, the period spent in the
field last summer, to ten days. the limit
of the annual outings prior to that of 1904.
The encampment will occur between Au-
gust 1 and August 10 next, the exact date
not yet having been fixed.
To occupy the several commands from the
close of the rifle practice season until the
opening of the annual encampment, and to
prepare them for the latter, short practice
marches will be taken. For instance, a
battalion will move away from the armory
early Saturday afternoon proceed to "a
point not far distant from the city limits
and spend the night in shelter tents re-
turning to the armory late Sunday, there
by having an opportunity to acquire needed
information and experience, we'll to
get ready for the work in connection with
the encampment in August. Such practice
marches will very likely be the rule Sat
urdays during June and July.
Athletic Games in Camp.
At meeting of the board of control of
the Athletic Association, N. G. D. c.. last
Monday evening it was decided to hold the
principal meet of the association for 1905
during the annual encampment next Au-
gust. The program will be more varied
than that of last year. 1t will include re-
lays mile and half-mile runs, and four
men races, each running one-fourth the
distance for each event. Gold, silver and
bronze medals will be provided.
The reasons that caused the board to
postpone the meet from this spring were
the receipt of a cordial invitation from the
South Atlantic Association, A A. u, to
participate in the unions annual games in
Baltimore May 20, and promise made by
the acting quartermaster general not to
bore holes in the new hardwood floor in
the drill hall of the Center Market Arm
DRY, which would be necessary should
games be held in the drill hail.
The athletic board is very anxious to
make good showing at the Baltimore
meet, and will assist in every way possible
the bringing out of the best men in the
guard. The association will pay all eX-
penses of it's representatives at Baltimore
and provide gold medals for the winners.
Trials will be held in the armory here, and
the fastest and best men will be selected
to represent the association.
Promotion for Adjt. Gen. Brett.
Admittedly, few better evidences of
good fortune have fallen to the lot Of the
District of Columbia Militia than has
proved the assignment to duty with 1t as
adjutant general of Capt, Lloyd M. Brett.
"
eighteen months the officers and enlisted
men of the guard alike have had ample
opportunity to judge the caliber of their
adjutant general, and in no particular has
he been found wanting. He has brought
to the organization new life and energy,
and has instilled into all with whom he
has come in contact something of the sol
dierly qualities which distinguish him,
even in the army. Now the time has come
when the members of the brigade can ex-
tend their congratulations to Adjt: Gen.
Brett. After being at the head OF the list
of captains of the army for more than six
months Capt. Brett will next month be
given promotion to a majority In the cav
airy branch. In the National Guard he
has the rank of lieutenant colonel, but 1t
does not bring to him any extra pay or
emolument. His promotion in the army
does increase his pay and allowances how
ever, and there is not man In the organ
lied militia of the District, from the COM
manding general down to the newest re-
cruit it seems, who does not wish to ex-
tend his heartiest congratulations to Major
The Districts adjutant general is ma
tive of Massachusetts,, and received MS
appointment to West Point While prepar-
| ing to take an examination for entrance
to Harvard College in 1876. He passed No.
| / in the competitive examination held In
his district. He was graduated from the
Military Academy in 1879 He was COM
niissioned second lieutenant in the I'd
Cavalry, and entered Immediately upon
active duty. The I'd Cavalry, 1t is con-
coded, Is regiment win giorlous ms
tory, and most of those pages that relate
| to the events between 1879 and 1903 con-
tain the name of Brett in large, bright
letters He came to the fore in the In
dian campaigns Immediately after gradua-
tion and participated in many of the ex-
peditions sent out during the disturbances
| in the west from 1879 until the outbreak of
the war with Spain. For conspicuous gal
lantry In cutting out and driving OF
herd of Indian ponies at O'Fallons creek,
Montana while his troop was hard pressed
by the hostiles. Captain Brett was given
the campaign against the Apaches, under
Geronimo, in Arizona. and was frequently
mentioned in general orders. at that time
an honor next to the receipt of the medal
During the War With Spain.
At the outbreak of the war with Spain.
Captain Brett commanded a picked squad