Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-25
Brigade Ready for Inaugural
Parade Next Saturday.
HARD WORK PERFORMED
COMMAND PERFECTING ITSELF IN
NEW REGULATIONS.
Line of March to Be From the Capitol
to a Point Beyond
White House.

The National Guard of the District or
Columbia, including the Naval Battalion
will participate in the inaugural parade
next Saturday. 1t is expected that the
Districts representation in the big pro-
cession will number fully 1880 officers
and men, All work other than that OF
preparing to make as credItable snow
ing as possible on the occasion OF the IN
auguration of Theodore Roosevelt as
President of the United States has been
suspended throughout the brigade. Dur
ing the week ending today drilling and
the putting of uniforms and equipments
in perfect condition has occupied the at
tention of the citizen soldiery to the ex-
clusion of everything else of a military
character. Advantage will be taken OF
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday of next week to apply the
finishing touches, and when it takes Its
position in the column Saturday the or
ganized militia of the national capltat
will certainly compare favorably with
any of the visiting troops, including
those of the regular establishment The
local guardSmen will appear week
hence governed in their movements by
the new infantry drill regulations, and
thereby will demonstrate spirit of pro-
gressiveness superior to that of the ma
jority of the state troops.
The blue overcoats to be worn week
hence by the enlisted men of the District
National Guard have been pressed by
competent tailors and all things consid-
cred the brigade should then present a
better appearance in every particular
than ever before. The commissioned Off
GERS will wear the new olive-drab over
coats.
From Capitol to White House.
Just as soon as the instructions of the
grand marshal of the parade are promul-
gated general orders will be issued from
District militia headquarters calling out the
brigade for parade duty next Saturday,
and giving the details in connection with
the formation. 1t has already been ex-
planned that the first grand military
division, of which the District National
Guard will be part, Is not to act as
escort to the President on the trip from the
White House to the Capitol the morning of
the 4th of March as has been the case
heretofore Therefore, the guardsmen will
not be required to form as early in the
day as was necessary in connection with
former inaugurations. The march one way
will be decidedly less arduous than would
be the round trip, so to speak, from the
White House to the Capitol and return.
The 9Th Maryland Regiment Of Balti-
more, which was encamped directly along
side the LIST District Regiment at Tampa,
Fla, during the entire month of June 1898,
will attend the Inauguration ceremonies.
The 9Th Maryland will come down to the
capital by water, chartering steamer for
the trip down the bay and up the Potomac
river The regiment will leave Friday
afternoon, reaching this city early Saturday
morning. Supper will be served on the boat
and the troops will bid farewell to WASH
ington at or o'clock Sunday morning,
having a daylight trip up the bay.
Drill Regulations Explained.
Capt. Charles H Muir of the War de-
partment general staff, who served as in
structor for the commissioned officers OF
the National Guard of the District of Co
lumbia upon three occasions during last
November and December, read an explana-
tory paper on the subject of the new drill
regula tons few days ago before the
Maryland National Guard convention. Per-
haps the most noticeable innovation, 1t was
pointed out, is the execution of the com
mand Forward march,, as prescribed by
the new regulations. Under the Old regu-
lations the musket was brought to the
Forward" and at the command of exc
cution-"march"-the step was taken. By
the new regulations the command of exc
cution is the signal for the first movement
of shoulder arms and also for the first
step. The second and third movements of
shoulder arms" are made in cadence with
the second and third steps.
This new way of executing the command
Captain Muir explained. He first saw the
command executed by the Japanese troops
during the campaign Of the allied forces
against Peking, and he was at once struck
by it's rapidity and precision.
Another noticeable change is the method
of marking time" The new regulations
prescribe that the foot shall be raised In
perpendicular line from the floor, whereas
under the old regulations the foot was
thrust forward and then drawn back The
new movement Is easier and requires less
exertion.
1t was stated that the men face to the
right on the right heel as a pivot and to
the left on the left heel, whereas, under
the old regulations, the left heel was used
pivot in facing either way.
Rear Rank Moved Back.
Captain Muir further said that the new
regulations moved the rear rank back in
stead of keeping it at facing distance. The
space occupied by each man in the rank
was also reduced two inches, so that each
occupies twenty-six inches, including his
half of the intervals between him and his
comrade on either side. The distance be-
tween the front and rear ranks is pre-
scribed as forty inches.
The new regulations, Captain Muir add
ed, omit the forming of squares as being
useless in modern warfare and eliminate
the command, fright forward; fours right
This last is superseded by the command,
SQUADS right, cOlumn Inc enmlna-
ton of the rather useful movement of
fright forward; fours right was necessi-
tated by the new distances already men,
toned.
The changes in the extended order drill
are numerous Captain Muir said. The
battalion supersedes the company as the
smallest unit in advancing on the enemy,
and captains and lieutenants charge six
PAGES in front of the companies and pla-
toons. Captain Muir remarked that it was
claimed that this entailed increased NOR
tally among the line officers, but he de-
clared that individual danger is of small
Importance as compared with the efficiency
Of the army.
In conclusion. Captain Muir said that 1t
is the fire Of infantry that decides modern
battles. He then quoted from the official
reports of the casualties in the Japanese
army to show that IS per cent of the loss
was caused by infantry fire; per cent by
artillery fire, and per cent by the bayo-
net These figures show that the DAYS of
hand-to-hand fighting with the bayonet are
not passed.
Instruction in Field Service.
Captain Eli A. Helmick, 10th Infantry.
United States army. at gathering of Ma
tional Guardsmen recently, concluded an
able address on instruction In Field Serv-
ice," as follows:
Let your goal be the perfection of your
organization, whatever 1t may be- the cor