Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-18
EYES OFESOBDIERS,
The Training Which Enables One to
Judge DISTANCES Accurately.

The Training Which Enables One to
Judge DISTANCES Accurately.
From the New York Times. - .... a.4..
The eye may be educated to greater use
and power as well as strength with a little
care ana practice, and this has been appre-
ciated and made use of in the army of
every nation within the past few years
The study has eventuated into, an art
which, is vastly interesting and VIII be
found profitable to all human beings in pos
session of their eyesight. 1t constantly
happens that men detached from the main
body of an amy are called upon at very
vital moments to determine for themselves
and their lives the distance of an object to
be fired at
Experience abundantly proves that SOL
dierS, by continued practice, may and do
learn to estimate distances up to eight
hundred or even, at times, one thousand
yards, with considerable accuracy and by
simple, rapid observation and regard for
rules set down from close experience.
Every soldier is supposed to have good
eyesight, for his eyes are tested before en-
tering the army, and it Is regarded as the
most important OF the natural gifts to man
and Indispensable to the soldier. He there
fore, after a little practice, under instruc-
ton in sight estimating, becomes CONVEX
SAINT with facts which are of the greatest
Importance in preserving his own and TAX
ing the life of an eremy.
At thirty yards the white OF a mans
eyes can be plainly seen and the eyes them
selves up to eighty yards AT one hun
bred yards all parts of the body may be
seen distinctly, slight movements are plain
ly perceptible, and the minute details of
the uniform can be plainly distinguished.
At one hundred and fifty yards the brass
tirguished. At two hundred yards the
outlines are confused and the rows of brass
buttons resemble yellow stripes. AT three
hundred yards the buttons on the coat are
longer hundred
yards the face is mere dot, but the move
ments of legs and arms may be distin-
guished, for they are distinct to the eye.
At six hundred yards the details can no
longer be distinguished, though the files of a
squad, If the light be strong and the wealth
er clear, can be counted distinctly.
The men In a squad at eight hundred
yards cannot always be counted by the or
binary eye, nor their individual movements
distinguished. At one thousand yards a
line of men simply resembles a broad belt,
but the direction of their march can, how
ever be readily determined. At twelve
hundred yards infantry can be plainly dis
tinguished from cavalry, and at two thou
sand yards . mounted man will look like
1t is always ON smooth and level country
that the estimating drills are conducted,
but afterward they are continued on rough
and broken ground, and they are supple
mented a little later in the season by skir-
mish practice, when the soldiers are adj
vanced or retreated on the run before a
liaa of targets, which are arranged to be
the size of men lying. down, kneeling and
standing, when they load and fire at the
sound of the bugle, depending entirely upon
| their own Judgment as to what distance
they may happen to be from the object
fired at and what may be the direction of
the wind and character Of the atmos-
phere. ~
It teaches them to be, quick and observ-
| ant, and, above ALL to depend upon them
selves for the manipulation of their sights
and the handling of their pieces. These
| estimating distance drills are usually kept
up for two months or longer, and after
| that the soldier ise kept at practice in
doors, at aiming, pointing and pulling the
| trigger but it is frBm the rules set down
| in the armies in these Ytimes that others
than soldiers may find lit possible to esti-
| mate the distance oof observable objects,
whether moving or stationary, to the view.
| There is to be found in all nations a va
| riety of eyes, color having much to do
| with power of sight and strength of vision,
| but the rules mentioned may be generally
relied upon and the estimate made will
be found to vary not more than few
feet in the greatest number Of yards.