The Portland daily press., 1885-08-04
RIFLE PRACTICE
Shooting by the Militia at Wooden
Dummies.

When Col Harrington sets the Maine militia al
| shooting at wooden dummies perched on rocking
h3rses, as ne proposes, the encampment Of our
| Why would 1t not be good Idea to 20 to Gomez
Island and buy at secondhand one 81 thoSs ISs ~.
yoiVlhg elreuses for our militiato play wtthS
10 the Editor Of the Press:
| The above paragraph from the Lewiston
journal, ridiculing the idea of rife practice
at moving targets is in keeping with the mo-
tons OF many who do not conceive Of the
utility Of giving practical instruction to the
soldier In the use Of the rife. In answer TO
aguestion by reporter recently In regard to
the practice during the encampment said
that hoped to introduce running targets. be-
ieying such action to be an advance step we
could now take. The item alone indicates
the Journal writer's conception of running
target My idea Of practical instruction may
De all wrong, and If so it is time 1t was found
out, for from the war department Of the
general government down, much labor and
expense could thus be saved. Not only have
made rifle and shot gun practice . subject
OF careful study, but 1 have had the benefit
OF the experience Of those whose time aud
practice have been devoted to the work OF as
eertalning the best methods OF becoming .
skilful shot.
Capt. S. Z. Blunt, inspector Of rifle prse-
tlee at the headquarters of the U. S. <, In
ms ms new book, instructions in Rifle and
CarDlne fIrings," issued this season, SAYS
1st. 'The object Of instruction In rife and
earblne firing is to develop in a body OF
troops such a state Of discipline. such 4
knowledge OF the capabilities Of their
weapons and such accuracy in their use as
VIII, III battle, render their fire the most ef-
fective." That is the principle that governs,
or should govern, the instruction and prae-
tlce IN the militia. Now how should the
above result be secured-with or without in
StructionY With or without practice? First
armory instruction in aiming-in getting ac-
eeustomed to the best positions, is required OF
the companies; practice upon tho rango-at
various distances with regulation amrnuni-
ton IS urged upon the commands If the
@ @Soldler is faithful In these requirements he
becomes accustomed to his rifle and will be-
come lair, good or an expert marksman in
accordance as his natural abilities and prac-
tlce. will allow. The practice Of the
past few years has developed . degree
OF enlclency in our militia greater / believe
than, that Of any other State. But how are
we 10 get that knowledge, such as Captain
Blunt suggests, to render the use Of thA
rife most effective in battle. In battle men
40 q. not step out in full view and stand mo-
uOnleSS so that the enemy can take deiiber-
ate aim at them. All kinds Of devices are
USED 70 protect themselves and 40 little Of
the body is shown as possible Hence CAPTAIN
bIunt recommends the use OF targets in imi-
tatlon Of men in different positions, such as
the soldier would expect to see in battle.
Targets only showing the head; head and
shoulders; targets that look like men lying
down-that the soldier may have practice
such as would make his fire more effective in
an engagement. Last encampment the skir-
mlsh match in which targets were used in
Imitation of men, suddenly exposed to view
LOT an instant, at distances unknown 30 the
squad, was highly spoken of by Capt. Fes-
senden, U. 5. A, who was present al the
match; The effectiveness Of the shooting was
a great surprise to him. This may look like
ehild's play to the Journal critic, but fancy
ne would regard it no child's play II he were
TO oppose such marksmen in battle But
now are we to make the practice still more
eHectlVeT whoever sees another war will
nnd that the sharpshooter will be an impor-
tant factor in settling the question Of victory
OF defeat 1t Is only twenty years since the
rebellion, and the arms used then would now
be regarded as totally unfit for service. The
oprlngheld rifles, such as our militia are
armed with, are effective at the distance Of q
mile, If 1ntelligently handled. But the idea
the Journal.
But let US look into this question. We
Want nght upon It. Suppose the country
needed soldiers. We send them forth to do
battle. Not only is their courage, but their
efficiency as well trained soldiers is to be
tested, They confront the enemy The
sharpshooters are posted and on the lookout
to cut of the delivery of any message sent
from headquarters, or to pick OF the officers
IN command. The higher the officer the
more important the loss to the fOe Human
lty does not enter into the calculations OF
war. An officer appears, dashing toward
some important point. He is riding. we sup
pose, at about a four-minute mile speed.
A score Of rifles are leyeled at him. He Is
600 yards away. Every man takes
deadly aim and fires, and again
repeats the FIRE; but on rides the officer as
though he had an enchanted life. What is
the troublep Every man will swear he judg-
ed the distance well, and took good aim ID
is easily explained II takes the bullet one
anu slx-tenths seconds to reaeh that point
Inc rider has advanced about thirty-six feet
In that time, and the bullets fly har1nlessly.
more than two rods behind him. They took
too good aim. 1t would have been an acci-
dental shot that would have hit horse or rid
er Again, let US consider that he passes
within 200 yards of some sharpshooters. IL
the aim is point blank at the man, the bullet
VIII pass eight feet behind him. Let me ask
II II IS OF no Importance that soldiers shall
be instructed how to hit moving object A
man or squad Of mon are on tho double
quick, they are moving only five or six miles
an hour, but an allowance Of three feet must
be made If the shots are expected TO take ef-
tect. There are very many things that one
needs to know II he expects to be fine rife
oAOt Oub among the pldl16SL Is klab OF uIl-
derstanding the flight of the bullet; the
Judging of distances and the movement Of
men on foot or mounted. Go and have .
talk with your veteran wing shot Mr.. Mason
OF your city Ask him Of how great conse--
quence sportsman is If he cannot eetimats
correctly the flight Of the bird, the distance
away. and the allowance to be made. He
will give you an idea possibly worth know
ing. Men who hunt the deer and other large
game with rifles, often practice at running
targets with rifles do not expect that th0
soldiers will learn very much in half hours
practice at running targets, but do expech
by this to bring before officers and mon the
Importance OF this branch of knowledge and
awaken an interest that will lead to good re-
suits. A bird flying fifty miles an hour
would not stand one chance In twenty-five ok
safely passing any one Of score Of sports
men IN your city; and If the militia were
properly instructed a horseman could no
more safely pass a sharpshooter. Possibly [
may not be able to make this test at the CON-
ing encampment. l hope to, however, and
most cordially invite the journal critic 10 be
present L. c. FARRINGToN,
Inspector Rifle practices.
Meaning of the Name Grant.
In the book on family names by the late