The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-05
The National Guard
Contributed by Capt. G.. H. Williams.

Bulletin of militia notes, issued by
the division of militia affairs, Wash
ington, d. c., for the year 1912.
The price list of clothing and equip
age and supplies issued to the regu-
lar army general orders No. 81, war
department. 1919 contains the price
of the olive drap cotton coats and
breeches. No price has yet been fixed
for olive drab sweaters, and the issue
thereof will not commence at the pres
emit time. NO service hats, new pat
tern, have as yet been purchased by
the quartermaster'S department.
The ordinance publication No. 1923,
Description and Rules for the manage
ment Of the u. S. Rifle, has been
revised to Oct. II, 1911. and valuable
information added.
Every enlisted man Of h militia
below the rank Of marksman should
qualify with the gallery practice rifle
calibre 90, before being allowed to
IRE with the service rifle, calibre 80.
In connection with rifle practice, it is
considered indispensable for range
work that the soldier has had some
form of indoor instruction, either aim
ing and practice drill, or gallery prac-
tice. Indoor shooting not only ma
teriaIly assists in the instruction of
the soldier, but is Of positive benefit
in stimulating interest.
A careful persual OF the reports
from the summer camp or 1871
showed that in many cases an undue
amount Of time and attention was de-
voted to guard duty, and thereby
needed instruction in drills. and prac-
tice exercises was ~curtailed. Elk
cessive guard duty brought about a
material percentage of absentees from
the outdoor work. A solution Of this
problem consists in a medium course
being allowed, 1t is believed tnat
rather than have a large, Indifferent
instructed guard, it would be prefer
able to reduce it and improve the
instruction. If the regular service is
taken as a guide, note is made OF the
fact that in the San Antonio camps
no guard was on duty in some in
stances during the day, and only a
squad by night, and yet no property
was lost or stolen. Guard duty in
camps is primarily for the safety o.
property. An attempt should be made
to have every officer and ma pres
ent at drill, and other forms of in
Struction.
For instruction in pitching shelter
tents indoors. the following plan is q
good one: Two-by-fours with holes
bored at proper intervals to receive
the shelter tent pins, are attached BY
LzyA A. = a., ~yhfnh hos haon norn.
fully measured and chalked off sc
that the tents can be readily pitched
For instruction in signalling, tive
| squads should operate from different
parts Of the armory. The method fol
beginners is not to have them study
the code separately from the practi'
cal work. but to constantly use thu
book as a reference in the sendins
and 20 living of messages
First sergeants and musicians o.
infantry, armed with the revolver fol
| field service, may be equipped witt
either the rifle cartridge belts. witt
s~uspenders, or the revolver cartridg'
belt, Model 1909, WITH s~uspenders, pre-
scrtbed for sergeants. majors, etc
For armory duty, when the other EN-
listed men wear the leather belt frs
sergeants should veal the same and
| carry the revolver until equipped witt
the saber.
Under the new equipment, mode
1910: first sergeants r armed with
the saber only in garrison service, FOL
which they will be supplied with {
suitable web belt. In the field, frs
s~ergeants will be armed with revolv.
| err only, and either of the two belt.
| mentioned above will be suitable.
Another edition Of the Manual fol
Priyates Of Infantry, OF the organized
militia will be issued az soon rs the
n ssary data are obtainable.
Regulation for the uniforms of th'
United States army have been pub.
lished, and are now available for dis
tribution to the organized militia
They will be furnished without re.
QUESTION in a n similar to thu
distribution of war department orders
Extra copies may be obtained upor
application. Each officer of the or.
ganized militia should receive on'
copy. y
Amendments to the infantry, drill
regulations, 1910. providing for tn,
use OF the old equipment, have beer
issued by the war department. The.
may be obtained in the usual way.
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