Evening star., 1909-03-14
NEWS OF THE
NATIONAL GUARD

-~~ -ITH the annual inspections
proceeding smoothly, mem
bers of the National Guard
wv of the District of Columbia
are beginning to manifest
an active interest in the matter or the
REORGANIZATION of the brigade in accord
ance with the law recently enacted. NO
one seems to know definitely just what
is to be done or when the first step
will be taken. AS a preliminary to the
reorganization every commissioned officer
has been called on to submit to head
quarters without delay an mdiVidual
service report. Among other things each
officer is required to set forth the date
and place of his birth, whether he is
married or single, if married. the num-
ber of his minor children; name and ad-
dress of nearest relative. present physical
condition, any previous disability or seri-
Gus illness. whether in receipt OF or an
applicant for pension, residence and
business address. telephone numbers
qualification with rifle and revolver,
enlisted and commissioned service. edu-
cational advantages, occupation, special
knowledge of any particular work. pro-
feSsional or scientific study and inveStiga-
ton other than military, whether or not
able to speak any foreign languages,
or able to translate foreign languages
and a detailed statement of service, In
Guiding names and dates of any battles
or campaigns In which the ofncer may
have participated.
When the service reports are in Gen.
Harries and his advisers will be in
position to begin the work of reorganiZa-
ton with something definite, SO far as
the commissioned personnel Is concerned,
on which to proceed.
4*
The inspections scheduled for this week
are as follows:
Today, 10 am. Brigade Band.
Monday s pm, field and staff I'd In
fantry and I'd Battalion, I'd Infantry.
Tuesday. s pm, 1st Battalion, I'd In
fantry.
Thursday pm, field and staff 1st
Infantry and the 1st Battalion, 1st In
fantry
Friday pm, the Ambulance Corps.
| Maj w. E. Harvey, Sd Battalion. Cd
| Regiment has called the attention of Maj
James E. Bell, inspector general of rife
practice. to two recent decision of the
War Department.
This brings up matter which will
| be of interest to quite a number of peo-
| pie in the guard here" Maj. Harvey
| said. Personally, 1 think it would be a
| very good plan to have such members of
| the guard who desire to qualify under the
army course do so, and, failing in that,
| they will have to be qualified under
special course G.. j believe there are a
| large number Of US here who can qualify
under the army course without question,
| and as we have always had the regular
| continue to earn it,
Maj Bell stated that he will recommend
| to militia headquarters the adoption of the
army course as he believes it would be
| of great benefit to the Suardsmen.
| The decisions in question follow:
| whether the course in rifle firing pre-
| scribed for the army must be used by the
| entire National Guard of a state, or
| whether part of the state troops can fol-
| low this course and part fire under special
| course c, and the proper insignia to be
issued respectively-The course to be pur-
| sued In rifle firing is optional with the
| state authorities. If 1t Is considered ad-
visable for portion Of the state troops
| to fire the regular army course and that
| special course c be followed by other
portions of the National Guard there is
| no regulation Of the department which
| would prohibit the adoption of such pro-
| Cedure.'
was recently made by a state for marks
manship insignia for the members of the
| National Guard. The standard insignia
issued to the regular army for excellence
| in rifle shooting be supplied TO the
| National Guard only when the course fol-
lowed by them is that prescribed for the
army The guard Of the state requesting
the insignia fires under special course G,
! and the standard insignia could not
therefore. be furnished it. AS the National
Guard of q ma ajority of the states follow
special course & the Secretary of War
has instructed the quartermaster general
| to provide for issue to the guard insignia
made of bronze of the same design as
those for the army. These bronze H.
sigma may be obtained on requ!sitfon OF
the governor, as charge against the al
lotment under section 1861, X: s.. as
amended. or as a purchase Tor caSn from
state funds under section II of the ma
tional militia law. Section 1861. 4. $, as
amended, and the act of May -, provide
only for an issue of standard military
supplies to the National Guard. The in
sigma prescribed for issue to the Nationa
Guard who qualify in the course of re-
volver firing laid down in circular So w
D., series of 1907. are not articles OF Is
sue and cannot be furnished to the state
under either of the statutes quoted. II
these insignia are supplied to the state
they must be paid for from state funds
under section II of the national militia
law.
| On recommendation of Adj. Gen. Smiley
Mai. Bell has been reappointed state sec
retary of the National Rifle Association
The national board for the promotion o
rifle practice, having decided that targe'
3 shall be used for the skirmish scores II
the national matches instead OF target ti
the silhouette. it Is likely an effort VIII
be made to have the target substituted
therefor in qualifying scores under specla
course G the present season.
But little work is being done In the rlflt
gallery at the present time on account ol
the inspections.
The High School Cadets, who propose
taking part in the matches during Easter
week and the interscholastic rifle mattel
: to be shot between April II and -, art
|, practicing faithfully In the National Guar,
, rifle gallery under the supervision o.
, Lieut.. Albert S. Jones, secretary Of tht
: National Rifle Association, and several o.
I the National Guard officers who evinc,
3 great interest in developing the youthful
shots.
4 Company +. I'd Regiment commanded
by Capt. r. r. Duffie, First Lieut.. NJ. b
. Hodgson and Second Lieut.. Webster fl
. nf Ii.rI, Col ro1 lots