Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-08

- instruction to which the Ma
II tional Guard organizations of
every state have been assigned
during the past few years, the impression
which seems to have made the heaviest
mark on the War Department is that lit
tie good comes from mixing militiamen
with regulars and expecting the National
Guard to do the same work and produce
the same results as the professional
soldiers. The results of the close study
are to be seen in the estimates of the
War Department for next year. One
million five hundred thousand dollars
will be asked by the department to be
expended in maneuvers along totally diff
ferent lines from those of former years.
1t is not to be denied that when the
National Guard of the District of Column
bia goes into Its own camp" as the ex-
preston has it, the individual, the man
with the rifle, comes home from camp
much more of soldier than when he
went into it. This superiority was mark
| ed at the close of the Frederick, Md,
camp. The difference between that camp
and the maneuvers at Gettysburg in 1910
was plain to be seen.
National Guardsmen of long experience
who have seen actual service in front of
| Spanish trenches have said that the best
thing National Guard camp can accom-
plish is to drill the regiment into some
thing like perfection. There has been
criticism against the great involved
maneuvers from all sides. True it is
that many National Guard officers take a
keen delight in delying into the higher
problems of warfare, but after all it is
the joy of the amateur, and even the adj
vanced instruction many of them have
been able to gain in the liberal military
schools does not put them anywhere near
nlaC of fhn
soldier from West Point who has fifty
two weeks of soldering a year, against
two weeks in the field which falls to the
share of the National Guardsman.
At Gettysburg the men hiked for
miles and lay in constructive"
trench. At Frederick they worked. and
worked hard, with real soldiers teach
ing them the rudimehts of military
well. They were nearer to soldiers
than they were after the Red and Blue
wars of the previous summer.
Neither is it to be expected, say those
who have given it deep study, that the
National Guard will be called out ''un-
expectedly" To have the guard pre-
pared for that emergency is undoubted-
" an ideal condition, and the duty OF
the soldier is to be prepared in every
department for the call of the moo ern
minute man. But on the other hand, the
men of the National Guard are men
who work for living. Most of them
support families. Is it to be supposed
that any such organization will leave
1900 civilian salaries instantaneously?
The answer to this question has been
g. variegated one, but the practical side
Of the question is being given great
weight at the War Department
If the men of the National Guard of
the District of Columbia could decide
the question by their vote. it Is probable
they would choose their own camp
next year.
One Of the plans for handling the
militia, in case it need be called into
the service of the United States is
to have certain fixed points throughout
the United States, toward which the
various state organizations will move
Fort Myer is the point selected for the
District OF Columbia. a detailed order
showing how to handle arms and sup
plies has been issued by the War De-
partment. covering every detail of such
mobilization.
The National Guard gymnasium will
be opened for the season tomorrow even
ing at O'Clock. and an announcement
to that effect has been made by Maj.
z. II. Neumeyer, president of the ath-
letic association.
The drill hall can be used every We'd
nesday and Friday evening from to
S:15 O'Clock for the training of the as
ISOLATION track team. Other classes will
lows: Wrestling classes every Tuesday
and Thursday. 7:30 to Q pm: boxing
classes every Tuesday and Thursday Z 30
to o pm; gymnastic classes every Tues
day and Thursday, I 80 to pm; fencing
| classes every Tuesday and Thursday,
TO o pm.
The gymnasium will be closed Satur-
days. No team composed Of professionals
! will be permitted to use the floor with
, out special order from the officers of the
association.
The amateur wrestling and boxing
tournament Will be held beginning with
the month of February 1912. The indoor
meet will take place in March. The of
hcers are urging all members to start
training at once and to report to Physi-
cal Director Joseph II. Moran, who is
in charge of the gymnasium.
The assistant instructors are as fol-
lows: Wrestling, Lieut.. Frank Lockhead,
Craighton Ross, Joseph w. Turner Jo-
seph Grant: fencing, j. Nelson; boxing.
Harry Sheehy tkid Sullivan), w. l..
. Thomas; gymnastics. Olander Ross, Rob-
ert Easton.
Lieut.. Earl Smithson and Charles King
have been appointed amateur coaches for
the track and field team.
Basket ball and indoor base ball will
be a big feature of the winters work.
and a military basket ball league has
been formed. The schedule for the win
ter in these games will be as follows:
Tuesday and Thursday, to 1890 pm.
classes, basket ball practice and indoor
base ball after Nclass, by class members
only; Monday, Wednesday and Friday,
to 1880 pm. basket ball practice and
games for teams on application to Gus
todian or physical director, but no team
can use gymnasum for more than one
hour If there is more than one applicant,
except for league and scheduled games.
The drill hall can be used every Mon
day. Wednesday and Friday evenings
from to Sis for training of the Athletic
Association track team
=
! The Sd Battalion. I'd Infantry, n, G.