Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-22


! Infantry detailed as nspector-instructor
of the local brigade, has started a fine
| tooth comb search, which will undoubt-
eddy develop some surprising situations
The circular announcing this general
property cleanup is now in the hands OF
every responsible officer in the brigade,
and reads as follows, over the signature
of the adjutant general:
Due to the mixing of rifles and revolV-
ers throughout the brigade, the com
manding general desires to obtain full
list of all rifles and revolvers with the
United States arsenal numbers thereon,
at these headquarters, so that the proper
rifles can be placed in the hands of the
officers to whom they We're originally in
voiced. You will, therefore, without UNI
necessary delay fill out and return the
incosed for accomplishing the certificate
thereon, taking care to enter your rifles
thereon serally with respect to the
arsenal numbers. beginning with the
! lowest in your possession.
This blank will be returned direct to
the adjutant general District of Column
bia militia, properly filled out. not later
than October 81 1911
=
The War Department exercises a jeal-
| Gus care over the rifles and revolvers is
sued to enlisted men in the regular army
and in the National Guard throughout
the United States. Each rife Is supposed
to be as much part of the soldier as his
hands. Take any old soldier when he
| hasn't a gun in his hands and give him
| d rife:
as this your rife?"
Il don't know, sir; let me look at it,"
he win say.
He carries in his blouse a ticket with
the number of his rife on it, and he will
compare the arsenal number with the
number on his ticket.
* K i
Capt Allison is going to put that sort
of thing into effect with the National
Guard of the District of Columbia 1t is
to be expected that in militia organiza-
ton guns will be changed around from
place to place, because ii is impossible to
pay the same strict attention given by
the regulars. Many rifles are taken home
by the men, They have to do that some
times in order 10 get out TO the range
with a rifle on time. In scores of other
ways the regular army surveillance has
to be lessened somewhat in the National
Guard, and it is fact that many a
rife charged up to one company is now
in the hands of the men in another COM
pany.
There is no criticism directed against
| the guard. 1t is expected, say the OFF,
| Gals, that these firearms will pass out Of
| sight in various ways. The present clean
up is to locate the guns and get them
| back to the men to whom they were orig
| inally given. When this cleanup has es-
| tablished all the necessary facts a strict
accountability for such property will be
| required. There is nothing exactly new
| in this, but the OLD rules will be taken
| strictly into account. Hereafter when a
| company commander misses a rifle he
must Immediately ask for appointment Of
| a surveying officer. He will then have all
| the evidence concerning the disappear
| ance of the rifle fresh in mind and all
| of it will be recorded on the long and
complete form used in such cases The
proba bilities are that when the surveying
officer has made his report no one will
| be held responsible. However, if the COM
handing officer who misses a rifle waits
for q year or two before tryjug to clean