Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-18

fasdivision is granted Our broad and rich
domain is large enough and productive
enough for two progressive states, and with
those We can make y better showing ID ma
tional affairs and better manage our own ir.
terhal affairs.
RIFLE PRACTICE.
Some Suggestions offered by One Who
Understands h Subject.
Army and Navy journal.
From an intelligent officer of the New
York National Guard We receive the com.
ments which follow on the present system
of rifle pratice, a. followed in this state:
As certain elements in nature, like fire
and water, are good servants, but terrible
masters, SO certain elements in the develop
ment of National Guard service are to be
regarded and notably rifle practice. II is
just now an important, q vital, question, as
to what extent this factor shall dominate,
control, fashion and govern, the body mill
tary of the state. We speak particularly
of New York. The season of 1879 began
with the year, and each month of its pro-
gress has been attended with features of
significant interest. 1t did not, like its pre-
decess ors, wait for the balmy breezes Of
spring to usher in its coming on the grassy
plain of Creedmoor, but the ball opened at
Albany, in January, at the session ofthe Ma.
tlonal Guard Association ofthe state. At
that meeting, which counted among its
membership q large and more thoroughly
representative gathering of prominent Off
GERS than ever before assembled to consider
National Guard matters, the subject of rifle
practice was intelligently discussed, the
sentiment of the convention placed on re-
cord that a modification of current methods
of practice was imperativley demanded, and
a committee of we'll known inspectors Of
rifle practice appointed, to whom was con-
fded the duty Of suggesting such feasible
means o~frelief from the b%urdensome exac-
tions of the rifle and the range as should be
demonstrated by the experience of the cur
rant twelve month. That committee has vet
to report. 1t is . suggestive circumstance,
however, that the first step taken by the
adjutant general should be directly in line
with the proposed reform by limiting the
amount of transportation and a%mmunition:
the first to a single trip to Creedmoor and
return, and the latter to forty rounds per
man.
Aud with this encouragement we may
perhaps venture the query, whether it is
possible to so modify existing conditions as
to make the system of rifle practice in the
national guard what it should be-a prof.
table servant instead of an oppressive and
exacting master? Says General Wingate,
in his Manual: ut is settled that, so far
from actual target practice being the only
way in which a proficiency in markham.
ship can be secured,imen often shoot worse
instead Of better from mere practice, and
that it is "a easv
by drill alone to acquire ekill in markham.
ship as in the manual of arms" The
paragraph here quoted covers the entire
question. and reduces it to the simplest
form. The range has been relied upon in
stead of the drill-room, %'sactual target prac.
tice' has usurped the province of instruc-
tor, and slowly, perhaps, but none the less
surely, rifle practice has encroached upon
duties until the members of the national
guard, officers and men alike, groan under
the onerous burdens which have been i'm.
posed upon them. Nothing could be more
plausible than the theory advanced BY the
department Of rife practice-that the range
is the place for demonstrating what has
been learned; and nothing can be more
pernicious than its practice of bending
everything to the end of making q big
showing on paper. This paper" phaseh has
been frequently treated in your columns:
but one or two thoughts still suggest them.
selves. The rallying cry of the department
rs "marksman'-reports, circulars, letters,
hristle with the precious term. Every
energy u devoted to making marksmen. No
means is left untried, nothing left undone.
10 all its s~ubordinates it gives the admoni-
lion, u what you can but whatever you
do, make marksmen To this end it
stands at no expense, takes no account of
t Inconvenience or hardship suffered by the
, rank and file, nor does it hesitate to over.
ride and cast co ntempt upon its own rules
aud regulations.
: Thus We have the exhibition of a suppes.
ton published by the G.. ]. r. P. that 1T f.
not advisable that any mar should shoot
. more than twice in the same class on the
same day" formulated into an order by The
= dlvlslon commanders that a man shall moi
shoot more than twice." etc. For violating
presumably this provision, We see the
scores Of n entire N. Y. brigade throw
out and d~isallowed. And yet, in face q
> these circumstances We are treated to The
: further spectacle of the department, at M
extreme end of the season, urging the dual.
ihcation of marksmen in two matches II III,
N. r. A., shot on the same day, and su
% thorlzing each and every nan competing 4
te 99oot twlce, If necessary, in each mach
q How much respect, then, can the severa
tnousand men who have been bound dow
oy an iron rule the summer through, hav
!or an Administration which so Subtitle
4 atsell: Is II not the goose and golden ex,
=. a ,S,aa, Oh e a ,hsn s..,RF; Phrase 81 Again, vhs
these marksmen made in matches ss., ~
\. We have an elaborate system of prae,;c.
20 covering six distances, and cl.ime5 - Z
immaculate and indispensable. Oar. :
suggest that the 300 or 400 yards distsne