Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-12-18

ALI these petitions are taught the
men in the barracks before the outdoor
season commences, aud at the Same
time preliminary drills are commenced;
the rifle is placed on fixed rest, and
the recruit, without touching it, sights
over the barrel and directs the marker,
who stands at the target. The marker
stands with stick to the end OF which
is attached card with small black
spot marked upon it, and through the
centre of the black spot is little hole
large enough to admit the end OF lead
pencil sharpened TO q point
SIGHTING.
The gun is sighted on the target,
which in this case is a blank sheet of
paper, and the recruit, without touch
ing the gun looks over the sights and
directs the marker TO move the black
spot on the card, which is laid against
the target, up or down, or sideways,
until he has, as he thinks, gotten the
two sights and the black mark, or
bullseye, in line; then he calls mark, "
and the marker puts the end OF the lead
pencil through the hole In the center OF
the bullseye and makes dot on the pa
per. This gives the mans first aim; he
tries three times, the bullseye being
moved away from the center each tlme'
and the variation OF the three gives the
accuracy of the mans aim and shows
him where his particular error Is, and
then he is shown how to correct It,.
After this he is shown how to pull the
trigger without disturbing the aim.
So by gradual steps he is brought up
to the indoor gallery practice, In which
the service rife is used, but with a
greatly reduced charge. Here the man
Is perfected in the actual use OF his rifle
and prepared for the practice on the
range with the service charge.
Then comes the estimating distance
drill. This is one of the most import
ant preliminary drills; for no matter
how much care may have been taken in
teaching the soldier how to hold him
self and the gun, to use his sights intel
Iipently. and to pull the trigger without
disturbing the aim, it is all pracucally
useless in Individual firing In the held II
he cannot gauge with approximate ac-
curateness the distance of the object he
wishes to hit with his bullet.
In this observation-disclosures drill every
man is taught to make comparisons OF
OF familiar objects, such as man, at
different distances. Men are posted at
different distances from 100 to 1000
wards toward the sun, and away from
Il against light and dark backgrounds,
and each soldier notes the different Ell
fects. This practice is kept up till the
men are good judges of distance under
anv conditions of atmosphere. Those
who find 1t difficult TO judge distances
are not exercised at 1t over 600 yards,
while others readily become proficient In
accurately determining distances up to
and over 1000.
REAL FIRING.
Next comes practice on the target
range with service ammunition at
known distances. The men are divided
into three classes, recruits, second sea-
son men and those who have completed
these two courses. The men here tre
individually up to 500 yards.
Then comes the firing at sllhouettes
representing men standing up, lying
down and kneeliDg; in this the distances
are not known, the firing line starting
from a point about 600 yards from the
sllhouettes and approaching to within
a little less than 200 feet, making ten
bslts, five advancing and i've In re-
treat, the movement being part
in Quick time and part
AZ the double. While moving
At the double, the bugle sounds "Skir-
misbers hsltY' Immediately followed by
commence fring!" When the sights
are adjusted, the man takes his posi-
tion for firing, and fires the number OF
shots allowed; the time given to DO
this is in 80 seconds, the bugle sound
ing the ''ease irIngF" so that the last
note sounds at the expiration OF the 80
seconds, when al firing ceases. This is
repeated for each OF the 10 halts. Then
me bullet holes In the silhouettes are
counted and the efficacy OF the IRE Is
determined.
This drill combines many Of the con-
d,tions OF Reld service At the signal
q falt and CON manee firing Z aa ps1