Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-20
NEWS OF THE LOCAL
NATIONAL GUARDSMEN

gress Intended that the medals were to be
| issued only to men who are still in tbs
military service that statement would have
been Incorporated in the law by the framels
OF the bill. 1t is contended that the law
was passed for the benefit of all the fight
ing men who saw service abroad as stat
, eu. out that the officials of the War De-
pdrtment, finding that the sum appropri-
ated was insufficient to pay for medals TOR
all the men who SO served, decided on the
Interpretation that cuts out all soldiers OF
foreign service who are not now members
OF the regular army
That this action Of the War Department
creates an anomalous condition is the con-
tention OF volunteer sod is and regulars
alike who for one reason or another are
not now in the military service. AS TO
the statement put forward as an argument
that The badges are only issued to men
now In the service because they are con-
sldered part of the uniform, il is poin, ed
out that when such men, by reason of the
expiration of their terms of enlistment or
other causes. cease to be members OF the
regular establishment they will still re-
tain their medals and then the medals
Will perforce cease to 'be a part Of the
military uniform" and will be In the pos
session of men who are no longer soldiers
in active service.
In brief the War Department holds that
the badges are to constitute part OF the
army uniform and to be worn as such.
one not in the service" Further, 1t 10
maintained that membership in the organ
lied militia is not considered military SEW
Ice within the meaning Of the general or
ders governing the issue Of campaign
badges"
1t is argued, and It is said, the contention
may be presented to Congress, that the in
tent of the trainers of the law was that all
soldiers, regulars and volunteers, VINO saw
foreign service between the dates named,
whether they De now in or out of the MILF
tary service. should receive the badges.
The War Department has ruled that tho
expense of procuring or preparing abb
stracts and title papers to lands to be pur-
chased for target ranges and shooting
galleries, the cost of necessary services
and any other legitimate expenses en-
tailed in securing the consent OF owners
to sell are proper charges against the
amount allowed the state for rine practice
provided the purchase of the land involved
is accomplished. Any bulIulng essei,.,I
for storage purposes or for housing care
takers on state rifle range would be
legitimate charge against the rifle practice
appropriation, but the erection of bar
racks for the accommodation OF the state
militia is a matter for the state to take
care of.
The War Department has recommended
legislation providing for the equipment OF
the militia with the type of rifle used by
the regular army whenever such type is
changed. At the present time the regular
army is equipped with what Is known as
the New Springfield. while the militia Is
using the old krag. The War Department
is issuing new Springields to the militia,
but is charging the cost against the appro-
priation for the militia in the several
states. 1t is desired to exchange the new
f4r tAa a Irno hon
the Krag replaced the old Springfield and
also to provide that the War Department
can do this in tho future without add
tional legislation. 1t is pointed out by the
department that in time of war IL Is abso-
lutely necessary that the volunteer army
and the regular army should be equipped
with the same rife and that is very adj
visable In time OF peace, as otherwise two
kinds of cartridges must be manufactured.
1t is impossible to remodel the Krag Into
Springfield.
A writer on rife practice points out that
1t supplies an excellent exercise for the
chest and lungs. One of the first things
the young rifle shot has to learn Is how to
take a deep breath and then hold the
breath while the rIr1e is kept absolutely
steady and the finger Is gradually tighten
ing on the trigger. Any form of recrea-
ton which trains the muscles of the arm
and exercises the chest AID lungs would
seem Ikeiy 10 De DeEeuCldi " bul
if that is not enough there is that I'M
eaualed training which rifle shooting gives
to the eye and to the hand working on
the eye. The writer remembers hearing
musketry instructor boast that he had
heightened not only his own sight, but the
sight of scores of boys whom he had
taught how to Use their eyes In aiming
al target by 29o 800 yards, simply by
continued practice at long-distance shoot.
ing.