The Washington herald., 1909-05-09

The rife range on Congress Heights
was the center Of interest 10 the Ma
tioaal Guard during the past week. The
First Battalion, Second Regiment. hes
completed its ordered practice, and from
early morning until dusk yesterday the
range was crowded with guardsmen en-
gagged in voluntary shooting
MAJ James z Bel, inspector general
Of rife practice, ard nine other officers
who are members Of the team that viii
represent the brigade in the coming
match between the officers of the District
Natsonal Guard and the Annapolis Ca
dets. practiced during the greater par;
OF the day.
The match viii be shot next Saturday
on the Naval Academy tange at An
Bapolis- The teams viii be composed OF
twelve National Guard officers and
twelve midshipmen.
Militia officers are much interested IN
the outcome Of the match. and on SAT
urdsy morning a large number VIII ac-
company the team 10 Annapolis. Gen.
Harries and Col smiley. ad5utant gen
eral, have been invited 70 accompany
the team and probably VIII DO so.
II addition 10 Maj. Bel. who is team
captain. the officers practicing yesterday
were Maj. William E. Harvey. Mai Glen
Gle B. Young, Capt William W Cookson,
Capt Alexander Summers. and Leats.
Thomas F. MeAnally, Ralph Alderman.
Frank Is. Holt. Charles II. Putnam. and
Louis A. Clausel.
The match viii consist Of ten shots at
20" yards. SLOW ne, and ten al rapid FIRE.
ten shots az 61J yards and ten AZ 800
yards. There were also many GUardsmen
practicing yesterday for the Senatorial
trophy match which VII be shot on May
y and 81
Improvement IN Harksmanship.
Although the range has been open only
one week. already there has been noticed
q marked improvement over the shooting
Of last year. Maj Bell. who IS in charge
e. the range, and IS present each day.
said last night that the results o. the
practice 50 far were gratifying
Maj. Stephan, ne said. brought more
than a hundred men OF his battalion out
here. and in the four days Of regular
practice he qualified as uarksus0n twen-
ty-three more men than during the entire
season last year Many OF those who
made the marksman's score are now on
their way 70 higher scores. About half 2
dozen already have qualified. rs sharp
shooters and two as expert ridemen."
Tomorrow night Companies z and F.
OF the Second Regiment. viii assemble
Ct the Center Market Armorv and pro
eeed 70 the rife range 70 begin shooting
early Tuesday morning. Company 6 and
the men OF the Signal Corps VIII leave
Wednesday night and return Friday after
noon.
Await New Regulations.
Officers o. the brigade are waiting Gag
eTly Cor the publication Of the new Ma
t.onal Guard regulations. which are now
passing back and forth through mill
tary channels from brigade headquar-
terS d the division OF militia affairs, the
Chief Of staff, and the Office Of the Sec
retary Of War On Friday the regula-
tons as submitted by militia headquar-
ters, were approved by the Assistant
Secretary Of Var. With some slight al
terations. and then referred back 10 the
Chief OF staff In a few DAYS they VIII
Ccne back through the division OF militia
affairs 10 militia headquarters, with sn
Endorsement containing the alterations
suggested These alterations apply only
e the organization Of the staff depart
nlenys. and are suggested 10 make the
organization conform accurately TO that
OF the regular army. The suggested al
terations wiz slightly decrease the num-
her and rank Of staff officers. but in all
material matters thR regulations already
lave received the approval OF the War
Department
one important result Of the new militia
law IS the attitude Of headquarters TO-
ward discharging men. II the past. when
a member o. the Guard wished to with
draw from his company. he merely made
q request for an honorable discharge "On
his own application which was usually
forwarded 20 headquarters, with the in
dorsement OF his commanding officer.
when the discharge was granted by spe-
cia1 order.
The present policy OF headquarters Is
noJ 70 grant discharges for trivial rea-
sons, and 70 investigate whatever rea-
sons are advanced in the application
These Investigations frequently involve
correspondence with the employer Of the
man who seeks the discharge In the
future, men enlisting IN the Guard are
supposed 10 understand fully the extent
CT the obligations they assume. and while
enlistment is voluntary. a discharge be-
fore the expiration Of the term OF enlist
meIt VIII not be granted except for good
and sufficient reasons, properly authenu-
caIed.
IN this, as in other respects, the general
Tightening up OF discipline and reguIa-
tons al through the Guard Is noticed.
spirit OF seriousness seems to pervace
the entire brigade. and the conscious
ness Of opportunity for the enlisted men
has taken hold Of the more ambitious
men IN the ranks and started healthy
spirit OF competition and rivalry.
Arrange for Eneampment.
The War Department has now about
completed arrangements for the coming
encampments OF the militia forces Of the
country.
The present policy Of the War Deuart-
meat is to devote one year to the regular
army and one year TO the militia The
present Is militia year. and the regular
forces VIII be divided up into IRONS
batteries, and battalions and distributed
through the country, at the different ar
nusl enc2mpmc7ts OF the militia Next
year VII oe the army year, when. as
last year. the regular forces viii be
gathered together n large bodies and the
militia troops assigned to the regular
army encampTnents as auxiliary forces
Al elaborate plan Of joint army and
militia coast defense exercises has been
arranged for the coming summer. and the
schedule Of encampments viii be an
nounced In the near future.
Washington VIII Speak.
Arrangements have been completed
for the special lecture this afternoon at