, 1889-05-05
MARKSMEN In THE ARMY.
THE DISCIPLINE THAT MAKES OUR
SOLDIERS EXPERTS.

The Country Has Not n Large Military
Force, but the Boys in Blue Are Remark-
able for Their FnciHty In Handling the
hs-H They Are Taught and Trained.
The United States has a very extensive
territory, yet 1t has the smallest regular
army of any civilized power of nearly
equal territorial extent Still, with
American ideas and policy, the gallant
little force seems amply sufficient to
guard the country. Peace is so much
the policy of our nation that. even the
small army finds little to do. The great
Indian tribes nave been corralled within
their reservations, and the life of the
United States soldier is now narrowed
down to the stereotyped military code.
Weary with the some old ceremonies
from year to year, practiced until the
regular tactics are absolutely perfect,
they have developed the principal gar
rison duty, target shooting, into a science
OF remarkable accuracy. Tho pleasure
of the practice and the spirit of emula-
ton aroused combine to make them the
most skilled marksmen In the world.
THEY BEAT THE WORLD.
The rifle used is the ordinary Spring
field service pattern, n breech loader,
carrying seventy grains of powder and
800 grains Of lead, common service sights
that never get out of order. =
Our little army may DO deficient in
many ways, but in tho matter of rifle
shooting TO hit and with the object of
hitting to kill (the business in which the
soldier is presumed to be particularly
efficiently, 1t certainly stands first in the
world. Another great advantage, al
though not n pleasant one, has been con-
tinuous and almost everlasting stations
on the remote frontier. Surrounded with
large and small game, what wonder that
men, whose business 1t is to kill, always
seized every opportunity for hunting?
To be perfectly fair, our marksmen are
80 far In advance of the best European
soldiers, that, so far rs execution is con-
cerned, the latter would have no show
whatever when pitted against our own
regulars. European armies, though
armed with n longer range gun, yet lack
practice and accuracy.
They are trained to volley shooting in
stead of individual aim, and the result is
that fully half of tho men fire at random
into h air. Uncle Sans man has to
depend upon himself. European nations
nurse their dislike of each other and their
military training partakcs of it. They
pay more attention to Matching up new
schemes TO hurt each other than hitting
the bulls eye. They are able to pierce,
times without number, n target in the
shape of an efIigy of n French soldier,
but would miss at every shot an Ameri-
can target. Neither the French, Ger
mans, Belgians nor Russians have the
skill of the Americans in sighting their
guns or in handling their pieces.
Routine duty on the frontier Is about
rs follows: The soldier gets Sf3 per
month straight pay, r~ations, clothing,
and a certain allowance which is paid
him on the date of his discharge; an in
crease for each years service or re-en-
listment; additional remuneration If pro-
NOTED corporal, sergeant or artiflcer;
extra pay If worked as n carpenter,
plasterer or mechanic, and lots of other
perquisites too small to mention. Guard
duty is the hardest In the service, and
to this the soldier is eligible about one
day in six.
LIFE.