Evening star., 1909-03-07
NEWS OF THE LOCAL
NATIONAL GUARDSMEN

plate anything more advanced than the
simplest problems in attack and de-
| fense. Maneuvers on a large scale are
not favored at this time. Detachments
of the regular army cannot be more
profitably employed in times of peace
forces in camp, and, when possible, at
home stations The two forces will mu-
tually benefit by the association. The
regular, with the eyes of %he young vol
unteer upon him as the finished product
Of the standing army. will strive to
reach the highest standard of efficiency,
gaining Increased confidence in his abilt-
ties as his responsibilities Increase. The
militiamen will gain an understanding
of discipline and the correct methods in
his military work. ~.
Lieut.. Col r. X. Evans of the gem
eral staff, who will be the executive Of
ficer of the national matches next Au-
gust, is already engaged in selecting
his assistants. Something like 100 regu-
lar army officers will be- detailed for
duty during the matches. and In view of
the great demand for their services and
the limited supply the choice of capable
and available men is difficult. Col
Evans is regarded as well equipped for
the task. as this will be his third assign
ment to the duty.
The matches this year. 1t is expected,
will exceed anything ever seen in the
rifle world in this country. Congress
has increased the appropriation avail
able, and there will be an entirely new
arrangement of the teams into three dl-
visions. with prizes for each division:
Almost every state and territory Will
be represented, and, OF course. all
branches Of the regular service, together
with the Naval Academy. The range at
Camp Perry will be better equipped than
ever, and the largest attendance known
is expected Congress has again PROVIDED
for the messing of the teams. and regu-
lar troops will be in attendance as last
year.
Preparations are being made for the
schoolboy tournament in this city under
the joint auspices of the National Guard
and the National Capital Rifle and Re-
voIver Club during Easter week. The
Winder armory has again been secured
and in addition to The Evening Star cup,
a perpetual trophy. there will b: hand
some line of prizes donated by merchants
and other citizens.
Some time after April Is th,-e will take
place the most extensive and important
test of ammunition ever held in this
country For this purpose the leading
ammunition manufacturers are engaged
In manufacturing q mi...on rounds Of am
munition for the United States rifle. A
similar quantity is being Manufactured
by the ordnance department of the United
States Army and when the test is made
a certain quantity will be taken from
each lot and tested to determine which
Is the best. The ammunition which Is
given the palm will then be held subject
to requisition from the state authorities
and from the Army, Navy and Marine
Corps, and will be used for practice for
the teams which will take part in the
national matches. The ordnance depart
ment will hold out 100000 rounds of the
choicest ammunition for the matches
themselves and no other ammunition will
be permitted to be used In them. This
restriction applies only to the matches
under the supervision of the national
board for promotion of rife practice
and will not affect the rules for ammuni-
ton In the National Rife Association
matches or those Of the Ohio State Rifle
Association. which will be held about the
same time.
The manufacturers Of ammunition will
strive their hardest to carry of the prize,
not so much for the amount involved in
the original order as for the prestige
which will go TO the winning company
and the large orders which will doubtless
be received on the strength of winning in
the tests. The ordnance department will
also do its best, as there has long been
a spirit OF rivalry between the private
manufacturers and the Frankford arsenal
as. to what could be turned out. all con-
ditionS being equal.