The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-31

Inc SCOOOi Tor OTnCclS at foiL 4hy'i
viii open tomorrow. Arrangements have
been made by the District National
Guard with the War Department for
the attendance Of seven officers Of the
Guard, and a further request has also
been made that two additional officers
be allowed TO attend. Action on the lat
ter has not yet been taken.
II is expected that the attendance OF
the Guard officers at the school FOR Off
GERS al Fort Myer win do more toward
giving the commissioned officers a thor
ough military training than any other
method We pursued The garrison school
meets in the forenoons and the District
officers will begin tomorrow, taking up
the post work with the lieutenants on
duty there.
Col O. b. Mitcham. q. S. A. Of the
Ordnance Department, will shortly make
an inspection Of the First Battery. n. G..
d. c.. material The battery IS among
the first militia organizations 20 receive
the most modern type Of cannon, which
We're the admiration OF all the officers
and men OF different field artillery or
ganizations participating in the Massa-
chusetts war maneuvers.
Capt. G. j. Fox, commanding the bat
terry. has accomplished wonders in
bringing his men TO an understanding
Of the workings OF the new 3-inch field
pieces which are most intricate I'm their
mechanism, so much so that the regular
army officer assigned 20 teach the local
guardsmen of the battery was stump
ed" in some particulars and had 20 send
10 Fort Myer for expert advice.
An interesting drill was held by the
battery Friday evening. 1t is known as
the "standlng-gun drill" and consists Of
service Of the piece, setting Of the
sights. quadrants fuse setting OF dummy
shrapnel sc The attendance at the
drill was good and an effort viii i'm
mediately De- made 10 run the member
ship OF the battery up TO 133 men.
Work has begun on the new armory
for the battery and the Signal Corps
company. and Will probably be ready for
occupancy by the middle OF January.
Experiments have been made at the
Congress Heights range with the Maxim
gun silencer. It is probable that Lieut..
Col Bell, retired, Inspector OF smaII-arms
practice. viii make a report on the re-
suits The experiments were confined
principally % comparative firing, one
marksman using the service rifle with
ont the deyiD and another using the
service gun the sileucer attached.
and the scores made being carefully com
puted
The Ordnance Bureau Of the War De-
partment has also carried on extensive
experiments with the Maxim siIencer.
and has found it generally inadequate
for use on the service rifle. Among the
principal objections are that 50 creates
a gas which. arising. interferes with the
sight. that il spOus the balance OF the
gun. and that 10 makes the rapid use Of
hsyonets Impossible, owing 20 The fact
that the sileucer has 20 be screwed and
uuscrewed 90 and from the gun and
takes up considerable time IL is under
stood. however. that a new device IS
under construction which will allow the
suencer 10 be attached 20 the bayonet-
holder and obviate the necessity Of screw
.ng il on.
Following It's weekly drill on Friday
night, Company I, of the First Regi-
ment, held smoker and a luncheon at
the company room. in the Center Market
Armory. This is the beginning OF a
series OF smokers. luncheons. and dances
which this company viii hold during the
winter The idea IS 10 have the men
interested in attending drills rather than
the use Of the arbitrary means Of court
martial 20 bring about regular attend
ancc. Company LIS room has recently
been reEtJed. and resembles q club-rOOm
more than a company room in an armory.
Al Friday nights drill Of Company L
Lieut.. : r. Bomar was in command.
After hard dr!u. Capt. a. -. Hath
away, commanding. came &c inspect his
company His attention was attracted
by several squads which were doing
cIock-like drilling. and Il was some time
before he realized that It was his own
company at which ne was gazing with so
much admiration.
Action VIII be taken by militia head
quarters In the near future 10 arrange
day drills for guardsmen who work at
men themselves and VIII tend TO make a
better showing throughout the entire
Guard The scheme viii be under the
jurisdiction OF the battalion adjutants.
and squads. platoons, and companies
VIII Doe formed according 20 the number
of men who viii attend the day drills
from the different organizations.
The Center Market Armory range will
be opened next January. This will en-