The morning call., 1891-02-09
COLONEL KELLoGG.s REPORT.
Much Room for Improvement in Shoot
ing in the y. G.. c.

Much Room for Improvement in Shoot
ing in the y. G. c.
The report Of Colonel Sheldon l. kellogg.
l. G. r. P, which has not been published.
shows that 1901 was the percentage made
during the year 1890 in craftsmanship by
the \. G. {. over that of 1889, and while this
is gratifying. there still exists much room
| for improvement" for 1.-THE \. 6. c. is not
as proficient as it should be in the use of the
| rife, more especially when compared with
the citizen soldiery of the Eastern States"
The Colonel declares that this cannot be
| said to he the fault of the officers or mon,
almost all of whom are DESTROYS of making
Improvements, but of the State in not ap-
propriatiug sufficient funds. More should
be done, he contends, than to issue Stats
medals State rifle ranges should be eSiab-
lished to afford practice at all distances
either in individual, company or skirmis h
firing; over these the troops should be
obliged to practice frequently; q new an
thorough system of small-arms practice
should be devised and inaugurated, teach
ing the recruit first in the armory in the
aiming or sighting drill and thence to the
outdoor range with ball cartridge, working
gradually to the longest distance as pro-
hcleEcy IS acquired.
Instead of being as at present considered
OF second Importance, rife practice should
be made the most vital part of the soldiers
military education, and no recruit should be
allowed to leave the squad for the ranks un-
I'll he had acquired at least its rudiments,
nor should an inspector CT rife practice be
appointed unless good shot, a competent
instructor, and willing, as well as able, to
attend TO the field and clerical duties of his
office. He should set good example to the
men Of his command by annually qualifying
for the State medal.
Lieutenant George Il. Strong, l r. P,
First Infantry, sent in report tabulating
| the rifle practice OF his regiment during Nav
and June, and this is believed TO be 1.-THE
! first report of its kind ever made to general
| headquarters by regimental inspector Of
rife practice in this State.
! Provision should be made for trophies to
| be competed for by brigade, reGimental and
| company teams; the possession of a State
medal should be matter OF pride to the
| owner, and these decorations should be pre-
Sented TO tie winners with such degree of
ceremony as becomes their importance aud
distributed before the end of the year in
tition for the State championship and its
gold medal should be a severe test of the
participants ability, should be open to the ten
making the highest scores, and should be
fired, say twenty-five shots per competitor,
at 200. 800, 800 and 600 yards
The report also calls "attention to the
contrast in appearance as TO neatness of the
several reports from the different corps
some being extremely neat, even to being
printed-and others anything but clean and
legibie." According only 10 the preliminary
practice in 1880, Company d, Ninth Re2i-
ment, First Brigade. was the highest with
sc. "A per cent, and Company II, Second Ar
tillery, Second Brigade, at the small end of
the horn with 7.37 per cent. According to
regiments or Dattaliuns: