Evening star., 1909-04-25

- ECTION 20 Of the combined acts
of Congress ito provide for
the organization Of the militia Of
- the District of Columbia" ap-
proved. respectively. March 1.
1899. and February 49, 1909. sets forth
that the commanding general. subject
to the approval Of the commander-in-
chief is authorized to make and publish
regulations for the government of the
militia in all matters not specifically pro-
vided for by law. conforming the same
to the practice and regulations OF the
army SO far a. they may ba applicable"
Gen. Harries and Adjt. Gen. Smiley are
very busy drafting the regulations re-
ferred to. The duty is proving a far
anticipated and the expectation that the
first definite step In the reorganization
of the brigade would be completed last
week was not fulfilled. The regulations.
when issued, will constitute q pamphlet
or booklet Of considerable proportions,
and there is no reliable indication OF
just when It will be ready for publication
to the command.
In the meantime guesses are being made
and states Of prospective officers framed,
but 1t is authoritatively stated that no
appoin ntments are to be announced until
the regulations are approved.
Il
By order issued to each company COM
mander Of the third battalion. list In
fantry, Mai. Glendie b. Young announces
that the program of the battalion Is to
be modified as follows: The men OF each
company who are short gallery scores
will be detached. and, in charge OF an
officer. be reported to Lieut.. Coffman In
the rifle gallery at o'clock, or as soon
thereafter as possible.
Those having complete gallery scores
will be sent. by squads. to the drill hall
to be consolidated into one company for
the prescribed drill. as per schedule of
regimental headquarters.
AS fast as men complete their scores
in the gallery they will be formed into
provisional squads and sent to the drill
hall
The major commanding says he Is
especially desirous OF having the battal-
ion improve its figure OF merit during
the rife practice season of 1909. which
is close at hand. While its past record
has been creditable, he remarks, the
battalion has never reached that figure
pany oficers are. therefore. urged to
make earnest and redoubled efforts to
increase the attendance of their COM
mands at the practice ordered for June
B, y. lO ana IL at the T1N0 range, ana
In the meantime special effort should
be made to perfect in the sighting. posi-
ton and aiming drills all recruits and
all those rated below marksmen last sea-
son. and to complete the gallery practice.
Glasses should be formed at once for
the instruction Of all who heretofore
have been deficient in this most impor-
tant part of the soldiers education.
After these men shall have been properly
instructed in the position and aiming and
the sighting drills the battalion COM
mander will be pleased to assemble them
for one or two lectures. wherein. by
charts and drawings. he will endeavor
to instruct them In the more important
features of rifle shooting and the correc-
ton of the more or less common faults
of beginners
The records of the rifle gallery show
that the number of men In each COM
pany Of the Sd Battalion, 1st Infantry
having insufficient scores, or none. at
either the 200 or 800 yard ranges. or
both, are as follows: Company I, 49,;
Company K, 81; Company L. II: Company
NJ, 81
The deficiencies In the prone firing
could not be determined, because the
5O0-yard scores, 1t was stated, had beer
taken away by the company command
ers instead Of being turned in to thu
gallery. as they should have been.
Preparations are being made by the
division of militia affairs for an addi-