Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-03

the number may be 1t appears certain that
there will be but one firing point. Just now
the department of rifle practice is hoping
that there will be at least five targets at
each of the most frequently used ranges
200. 800, 500 and coo yar1s--with one tar get
at loo yards. couple OF pistol targets,
too. are down on the program.
But this work of bull1ing a range will
take time, so much time that it will not be
possible to do any practice outdoors until
early spring. To meet this condition. the
season of rifle practice for 1894 will be ex-
tended into 1895. probably until May 30
For the same reason that there will be no
practice this fall. there will lie no competi-
tons; the matches will all be shot soon
as possible in the spring. This arrange
ment will bring two meetings in next year,
but as they will be quite six months apart
and as no better arrangement can possibly
be made. there Is nothing to grumble about
The circumstances that have made these
changes necessary were entirely beyond the
control Of the guard.
The Rifle Gallery Is Open.
Meanwhile there Is q good deal Of work
to be done in the gallery. There are many
recruits In the brigade who enlisted since
the close Of the gallery season, and there
are very many of the older members who
failed to complete their gallery score, in
spite of the fact that their opportunities for
doing so were much more frequent than
during any past year. AT meeting of the
day evening it was decided to make one
more vigorous effort to have every officer
and enlisted man in the brigade complete
his gallery score before u o'clock of the
evening of October Il. The gallery Is now
open every week day from 10 m. to p.m.,
and on such evenings as may be arranged
for by any of the inspectors Of rifle practice.
The gallery will remain open during tho
hours named up to and Including October
Ii. Aside from the score completing con-
sideration, 1t should be remembered by very
many of the men that scores already made
can in most Instances be considerably im-
proved. 1t Is believed that this reope ming
of the gallery will be appreciated by those
who are backward in a decidedly important
branch of soldierly duty.
Changing the Targets.
When the rifle practice season for 1904
reaches its close there will be put into prac-
teal operation a reform, the utility Of
which cannot be questioned by any military
rifeman. From the beginning of modern
rifle practice it has been the custom to do
all known-distance firing at targets that
resembled nothing but targets. On some
the bulls-eye was round; on the latest i'm
proved the bull is elliptical. Now, for
so argue the inspectors, who at the meeting
held last week applauded the idea, there
Is material difference between the appear
ance of the targets at present in use and Of
the human figure; as matter of fact, two
found. Commencing with the season of
1898 all range practice for record and In
matches or regular competitions by the
District National Guard will be at silhouette
target D-the standing figure. At this time
this target is only used by other commands
for skirmish work, and then only in
conjunction with kneeling and lying-do
Silhouette. The standing figure has been in
use here as pistol target during the pres
ent season, and is much to be preferred to
any or the varieties of ring targets Hits
on the standing figure will not be of equal
value; the figure will be subdiyided nv limos
that Will be visible only to the marker.
A hit in the head or down the center of
the body to a little above the waist will
count D; about two inches from each of
the outer edges of the chest to the lines
mentioned, will count 4. and SO will a
space of about six inches below the 5-line
The projecting arm of the figure and the
leg will be valued at 3. while the feet
from the ankle. will. II hit, count 2 II
thing at all. 1t is to shoot at men-although
no one is particularly anxious for the time
when such a thing may have to be done
and as the silhouette figure looks decidedly
like man at a little distance Gen. Ord
way has deemed II best to approve the
recommendations favoring the change
which has been outlined. Sooner or later
the example which Is thus to be set will
be followed by not only the National Guard
but by the regular army also. for the prac-
tice under the new conditions will compel
that for which every instructor in military
Workmanship Is ever striving, viz: low
shooting. The soldier who now holds q
nt;le high gets a three or q two High