The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-30
MiIitiamen Fire Straighter Than q
Year Ago.
REPORT OF THE LAST STATE SHOOT.
But Then It Was at 200 Yards and
the State Pays More for Decor.
atoms Than Bullets.

| now 10 SHOOl.
Since the strike and the resulting agita-
ton about putting the States military or
ganization together and making it amount
to something, the news that the boys are
able to shoot pretty straight is the most
encouraging and flattering announcement
that has been made concerning the guard.
The State equips and supports its soldiers
that they may shoot when the time comes,
and so the number of bullseyes at so many
yards that the organized militia can make
is really of more importance than the fit of
| the uniforms or the percentage of the turn
out at the Fourth of July muster.
AT the State shoot of 1893 the increase
| in the shooting skill of the guard was
made so evident and the total score was so
| greatly improved that the whole guard
| was jubilant and proud and was stimu-
lated to greater effort and pride in its
craftsmanship.
| This year shows a marked improvement
over last year. In 1892 there were 1853
officers and men who wore State decora-
| tions for skill in craftsmanship. In 1898
there were 1878 and last year the number
that 255 more shooters in the National
Guard came up to the prescribed require
ments in 1894 than in 1898.
This is very encouraging as far as the
figures CO. but now the rife inspectors and
the other leading men are saying that this
wholesale decoration of the guard for its
shooting ability does not amount to much
because the conditions are too easy, and
there is a strong sentiment brewing in
favor of making the guardsmen shoot fur
Their, oftener and better before they shall
be given the decorative bars that all
mllitlamen are so proud of.
The National Guard of California shoots
at targets set 200 yards distance For
years it has constantly been reiterated by
a few leading spirits in the guard that
in these modern times a soldier will seldom
or never find himself in action at such
short range. The ways of modern war and
the new long-distance Krag-J orgenson
rifle, which will drift down to the State
soldiers before long, make shooting at 200
yards seem boys play.
The practice rules of the regular army
require long-distance firing, and in New
York and other States where the National
Guard has attained high military rank the
State decorations are bestowed for rife
proficiency at various distances up to 1000
yards and for proficiency in skirmish- firing
at silhouette figures besides. In California
the State bestows bronze bar on every
soldier who makes score of between so
and so in twenty shots out of q possible 100
at 200 yards; silver bar for those of the
per cent, and gold bar to those of the
first class who make 80 per cent or over.
The men practice at their own expense
during the year at such ranges as they can
provide, and at the annual State shoot the
State pays for twenty cartridges for each
man or officer who completes.
Those who qualified last year are divided
into three classes, according to the per-
centages named above. Fifty-nine won
gold bars and the ranks of first class and
sharpshooters; 324 won silver bars with
the second-class rank of marksmen, and
1150 won the third-class rank of rihemen
with bronze bars. In 1898 those of the
first class numbered 81, of the second class
234, and of the third class 1913 The wear
before there were but 10 of the first class,
154 of the second class and 1876 of the third
class.
This showing of shooting ability is some
what reduced in fact, for the reason that
all staff, field and line officers shoot with
pistols at short range, and their scores
count in the totals with those of the rife
men.
One of the main features of the showing
made in the report of the last State shoot
is the defeat of the First Infantry by the
Fifth Infantry for the second place. The
crack regiment of the State, as far as
craftsmanship goes, has long been the
Eighth Infantry.
The Eighth Infantry maintains its first
place with 253 decorations, % of the first
class, 81 of the second and 1853 of the third.
The Fifth Regiment, of six companies
only, scores ia, of the first class, 40 of
the second and 123 of the third. The First
Regiment takes third place with ITO deco
rations, four of the first class, 50 of the
second and Ia of the third. The other
regiments make much smaller showing.
The advance made by the Fifth Regl-
kAn,, q, 4 7
ant b. ). Heller, who has been regimental
inspector Of rifle practice for a year, and
who has stirred up the boys across the bay
to constant practice, and who has intro
duced skirmish-firing at silhouette figures
on improvised ranges among the Oakland
foothills.
Mr.. Heller is a member of the committee
of National Guard officers appointed to
recommend legislation in regard to the
rifle practice of the guard, and this COM
mittee has recommended a raising of the
standards. The committee points out that
the State pays a great deal more money
for decorations cheaply won than it does
for ammunition with which it's soldiers
may learn to shoot.
The results of the last State shoot"
said Mr.. Heller yesterday, "show that the
standard must be raised. When the State
bestows so many decorations easily won,
they mean little and create no distinction.
We should have long-range and skirmish
firing among the conditions on which
State honors are won, as it is in the regular
army and in New York State. The COM
mittee of rifle inspectors has recommended
that the present system be abolished, and
that practice at 200 and 500 yards and at
skirmish firing be required.
tThe State is spending too much money
for decorations and not enough for ammu-
milton. The last Legislature appropriated
$4,000 for rifle practice in the guard and
tions.n
But if the boys are shooting at only 200
yards the year has made them better shots |
on the average. There is prospect that
next summer and fall the bronze, silver
and gold medals will be harder to win.