Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-11
Soldierly Appearance of Bri-
gade Last Saturday
IN IN AUGURAL PARADE
SECOND REGIMENT COMMENDED
BY COL. URELL.
Already Thinking of Camp-Resump-
ton of Rife Practice-A Sarcastic
Criticism Answered.

The National Guard of the District of
Columbia. according to persons admitted to
be competent to judge, surpassed all
former records by the showing made in the
inaugural parade last Saturday. In gen
erai appearance. condition of clothing and
equipment. numbers and efficiency the local
brigade of citizen soldiery was all that
could reasonably be desired, and measured
up to the expectations of those who are
directly interested in seeing TO it that the
command is as nearly perfect as possible.
Undoubtedly the largest share of the
credit for having brought the guard to it's
present commendsbIe status is due to
Lieut.. Col. Lloyd NJ. Brett adjutant gen
eral, District of Columbia militia That
officer worked day and night for several
months prior to the Ith of March. and
latoTed with The several companies in the
drill hall with such perseverance,. zeal and
energy that something just had to happen,
and it did. The praise that is being be-
slowed On the Citizen sold cry of the ma
tional capital from ell quarters proves that
the preparation and training bore fruit. OF
course. the company, battalion and regi-
mental officers well as the non-CommiS-
stoned officers ard privItes. are entitled to
thanks. for all put their shoulders to the
wheel and helped in tie general movement
toward success.
The District guards-len app AIRED in the
column directly in the rear of the troops
of the regular establishment, and there
were few. if any, among the spectators who
detected any infsrlOTity in the appea rance
of the EuardSmen. The I'd Battalion. com
manded by Major Reichederfer. accom-
pIished all that was wanted in performing
the special duty of keeping certain road
ways of the Capitol unobstructed, and a
''rear guard detail commanded by Capt
Andrew Parker of tie general staff, per
formed yeoman service in conducting the
IONS no n
rendezvous assigned them and in having
them take their proper places in the col
umn.
Second Regiment Complimented.
General orders. No. :, Headquarters I'd
Regiment, \. G. d. c.. as follows, have
been issued by Col. UrelI through Captain
Swigart. adjutant:
1.-The colonel commanding desires to eX-
press to the officers and men of the I'd
Regiment the pleasure and qualification felt
by him because of the fine appearance and
good behavior of the regiment during the
parade of the ith instant.
THE training and discipline of the men.
as shown on that occasion, in their SOL
dierly conduct and appearance and excel
lent drill. reflect great credit upon both
officers and men. The citizens of the DIS
trict of Columbia may well feel proud of
their I'd Regiment, which, in the inaugural
parade, met and justified every hope and
confidence of its friends. The individual
members should be as proud of the fact
that their names are borne on its rolls as
their colonel is of having the honor 20
command such 4 splendid regiment
Already Thinking of Camp.
With the exception of rifle practice the
command will now have plain sailing for
regular drills until the time arrives for the
annual encampment No definite arrange
ments for the outing are made, but the m
tention is to have the plans competed at
date much earlier than was the case IN
1904
AdiutaNt General Brett is occupied at
present completing his report of the m
Snection of the brigade he made last month
nv the direction of the War Department
under the provisions of the new militia
law The writing of the report IS stu.
pendous task and a great deal oil tlfne must
be consumed in finishing IT. .
nv reason of the brevity of the session
of Congress, that ended at noon the 4lii
instant the bill providing Tor the Ieol satl
ization of the militia of the DlSlrlct Oh
C,ol,Iu,hia was not enacted. 1t IS stated
that every effort will be expended carry
during the next session to secure the pas
sage of the Dill.
Resumption of Rifle Practice
T., tho district of Columbia appropriation
h.u which is now law. LOO was mace
Immediately available for the purpose Oh
aouinping the new rifle range beyoho AHA
costa. AS soon as the condltion Oh 'he
weather will permit. Maj. James h. Bell
inspector general of rifle pracuce, ihteiiua
that the work shall be started ana prose
cuted vigorously so that target work OUT.
doors may be inaugurated apou. 'ne !s' "
Nav The guard suffered greatly IN It's IN
s+rnction In accurate firing by reason OF
49, of range facilities last year. The plan
manned out by the chief engineer, Dlstrlct
81 Eolnmbia Militia to make the range
safe one will be followed IN cohhectiois
r6 he
Practice in the gallery, suspended be-
cause of the inaugural preparations, was
resumed last Monday and will be continued
through April so that the ground lost III
February will be regained
The Washington Revolver Association
will shoot a match this evening with re-
voIver club of Pinehurst, N {. Inc scores
will be exchanged by telegraph. tach team
will consist of five men.
Adiutant General Thrift of the Iowa Ma
tional Guard, visited the rlhe gallery at
the Center Market Armory last WEDNESDAY
He inspected the gallery and its httings
with unusual interest, and expressed him
self as being greatly pleased with what he
saw.
Reply to Sarcastic Criticism.
Surprise is expressed by the Army and
Navy Register because of the publication
here recently of a sarcastic criticism OF
the National Guard of the District of Co
lumbia based on the bill providing for the
reorganization of the local brigade to meet
the requirements of the new militia law.
In part, the Army and Navy Register
says
.sThere may be a question, very properly
raised as TO the necessity of increasing the
National Guard of the District of Columbia
or the militia organization of any state or
territory There those in various parts
of the country who believe none of the pub
lie funds should be expended for the equip
ment and maintenance of a militia body.
and they remain unmoved in their opposi-
ton to establishing military reserve in the
face of the necessity of having trained
troops upon which TO draw in time of emer-
pency There must be respect for even that
sort of public opinion which persistently re-
sists further allotment of the public funds
for military purposes, misguided and mar
row as is such view; 1t undeniably repre-
sents at least sane theories, however erro-
neous and unpatriotic they may be.
Provides for a Better Guard.
'Rut no such virtue attaches itself to the
sort of jocose rubbish paraded by the publi-
cation referred to as reason why Congress
should defeat the bill which provides for
larger and better National Guard in the Dis
Of nj nj