Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-05

EFORE departing from this city for
X weekend trip Lieut.. Col Samuel +.
- Smiley. adjutant general District OF
Columbia Militia, visited the War Depart
ment and conferred with Col. Weaver. In
charge Of the military bureau. and other
officials IN reference to the participation
ot the local brigade in the coast defense
exercises at Fort Washington and Fort
Hunt. beginning the 18th instant. 1t is
understood that general orders will be
issued this week making announcement
Of the details in connection with the out
ing, including the assignment of the
troops and the program for instruction.
Orders will also be issued covering the
cruise Of the naval battalion.
The drill and parade by the LIST Separate
Battalion on the White Lot ellipse last
Monday evening was witnessed by a
large throng of spectators. Military men
present congratulated Maj. Brooks on the
exceptionally excellent showing made by
his command.
With the last. rife fired by a member
of Company c, LIST Separate Battalion,
last Friday the camp OF instruction for
the promotion Of rife practice established
by authority of General Orders 4. 1908.
ended. Companies A. B. c and D. of the
battalion paraded more than 40 officers
AMI men for target practice, which is
the record With much faithful and
conscientious work on the part of the in
lions were secured than previously re-
corded to the credit of the battalion. In
addition to the regular assignment the
comnant. had the assistance of Lieut..
Wormley. its inspector of rifle practice,
to assist in the work.
Gen Harries. accompanied by Col.
George Truesdell, paid a visit to the camp
Wednesday evening. and both expressed
themselves as much pleased with the
camp and it's surroundings and the work
which was being done. schedule reg
ulating voluntary practice on the range
for the remainder of the target season
is in course of preparation.
Nearly 1000 officers and enlisted men
period the camp Of instruction was open.
The entry list in the intercollegiate
rifle shooting match, which took place at
the Wakefield, Mass, range. June
20. was regarded as disappointing
Only four institutions were represented,
Harvard University, Massachusetts Insti-
tute of Technology, University of Penn
sylvania. and George Washington Univer-
sity. A team had entered from Yale, but
did not appear.
The lack of facilities for practice is
thought to be the reason for so little in
terest being taken in the sport among
the colleges Several of the colleges have
to depend upon the courtesy of the Ma
tional Guard authorities in their home
cities for the opportunity to practice. and
as the ranges are almost continuously oc-
cupied by the guardsmen the students
have little time for work. Yale and Cor
nell are two Of the colleges thus handi-
capped. Princeton had a good club sever
al years ago, but the use of the range
at Princeton being denied, they also dis
banded.
Another handicap to the colleges and
universities in excellence In marksman-
ship is the difficulty in procuring arms
and ammunition, which cannot be issued
under the law. 1t is therefore necessary
for the students to purchase their own
arms and ammunition. which makes
rife shooting an expensive luxury.
1t is doubtful whether the rifle teams
from Harvard University. the University