The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-25
NATIONAL GUARD.
General spencer's Report
Shows Results Are Good
Though Approprla-
tions We're
Small.
SATISFACTORY RIFLE PRACTICE
Seventh Regiment Leads in Merit
"A Model Military Rifle
Rations for Marksmen.
SATISFACTORY RIFLE PRACTICE
Seventh Regiment Leads in Merit
Specie. to the Jerscu citu Nears.

TRENTON, Nov. 25 1S96-General Bird
W. Spencer. Inspector General of Rifle
Practice, has filed his report for 1896 with
the Adjutant General. He says
The Camp Of instruction in Rifle Prac-
tice was established and the practice was
conducted in accordance with general
orders.
The Legislature having appropriated
but $4,000 for the expense of the rifle prac-
tice of the National Guard for 1886 and
as this sum was not sufficient to pay
the transportation of the entire National
Guard to Sea Girt and to pay the officers
detailed there tor duty, and was not suffi7
cient to maintain the range for the pur-
pose of practice during the entire season.
II was deemed best, after a conference
between the Commander-in-Chief and
the State Military Board, to give the
tirst Brigade their Usual practice and
to keep the range open for two weeks
for the practice OF the Second BTigade,
who were to come to the range at their
own expense. This plan was carried
out and the First Brigade had the usual
practice. Such of the Second Brigade as
had interest enough in this most impor
tant duty OF the soldier 20 pay their own
way to Sea Girt were supplied with
tickets on the railroads at the State
rates.
Under all these circumstances. the
showing for the year is remarkably cred
liable. The record of course, does not
approach that of the previous year,
when out OF a total enrolment of 42l2.
I 8 IS responded for duty. This year, out of
an enrolment of ABB, 2320 reported for
duty. OF this number, 55S Of the Second
Brigade carpe at their own expense. Ihe
desire on the part Of these soldiers to keep
up their record, and ipne des4re on the part
of their officers to create as efficient a
National Guard as possible. is highly
conlnlendable.
It is no idle boast to say that in the
face of the disceuraging circumstances of
an apropr ation net much more than half
the amount necessary to give the mem
practice to create efficient officers, New
Jersey still leads all the States of the
Union in her instruction in marksman-
ship and its results.
1t is particularly gratifying to Cote
that with all the troops above referred
to, POT soldiers qualified as snarpshooters,
marksrnen, as against 1853 in 1895. In
the skrnaish practice and volley firing
proportionately good results were pro-
duced
The appropriation for 1896 has been
fixed at $4,000, and unless the Legisla-
ture deems it proper TO increase this ap-
preparation to at least $15,000 1t will be
necessary the ensuing season to devise
some similar means to that adopted this
year for practice.
AS in 1S94-5, the First Troop head the
list in organization figure or merit, hay-
ing attained 1881 for 1896, as against
1882 for 1895. They have 10 sharp
| n.
class man who failed to report.
The next in order is the Second Regi-
ment. which attained a figure of merit of
59.97, and it is gratifying to note that in
the company figures of merit. Companies
C, D, L, NJ and A of this regiment lead
the company figure of merit in the order
named, and Company 2 of the same regi-
ment, is seventh on the list This regi-
ment sets an example in rife practice
which the other organizations Of the Ma
tional Guard might do well to emulate
That the Seventh Regiment has attained
the fifth place in order of merit, when it
s considered that all of their practice
was done at their own expense, deserves
more than passing notice. Captain Reid,
Inspector of Rifle Practice, is an efficient
and indefatigable worker, and to his eff
forts and those of the other officers of the
regiment is due the fact that it stands In
SO crediteble a position, in view of all the
circumstances. that it does.
The FIRST Regiment is sixth in order of
merit. The reason that this regiment
does not obtain a higher decree of merit
has been repeatedly referred to in these
reports, the fact being that the rifles with
which they are equipped are almost en-
tirely useless and worn out If a change is
made this regiment should be FIRST
equipped with the new rifles, after which
| am sure, they will give a very much
better account of themselves
Il has not been expected that a COM
parison with 1895 could be made which
to me that after looking over the results
as indicated herein, the members of the
National Guard win be satisfied that
much was accomplished which could hard
ly have been expected, with the means at
ourh ands.
General Spencer says:-.I have person
ally given the Krag-Jorgensen a two
years test at Sea Girt, and have discussed
It's merits with officers of the National
Guard of other States, as well as officers
of the United States Army. l have visited
the rife ranges located at various posts
of the United States Army at Fort Ma
CARA, Plattsburg, n. Y. I have this year
witnessed the rifle practice of portion of
| the troops at two of these places. all of
which was done with the Krag- -Jorgensen
| rifle
My conclusions on this subject lead
| me to the suggestion that model mill
tary rifle for the National Guard is not
accomplished in the Krag- Jorgensen, the
| Winchester. or the Savage rifles of a 30
| caliDre The question then arises. what
| Is the best rifle for the use of the Nation
al Guard of the various States? And, af-
| ter discussion of the subject with vari-
Gus officers and rifiemen, [ have come to
| the conclusion that model military rifle
for the use of the National Guard must
| frst of all be a simple action. single load
er. 1t should be of 38-calibre, with an
| improved Springfield action, improved
| firing pin, stronger breech block, a more
rigid kan latch 300 grain jacketed
bullet, with an equivalent in nitro pow
der of So grains of black powder. This
would provide a rifle of moderate weight
| and one much more useful for drill pur
poses. 1t would alsos be much safer in
! the hands of the new recruits The re-
| coil which now attaches to the Springfield
| IS ealibre would be, to a great extent,
| overcome in this proposed rifle this being
| one of the difficulties which instructors
| have to contend with. because new men
| become gum shy and sore at shoulder from
| the use of the present Springfield. The
/ Burlington sight could be adapted to it,
| with some changes, which would save the
| sight from injury. This rifle would be
| better adapted to mid-range shooting, as
| well as to the longer ranges, because the
velocity, while not so great as the Krag-
! Jorgensen, would be much greater than
! the present As calibre. and the projectile
| would be of sufficient weight to attain
| correctness. Such rifle as this could be
/ made a most accurate weapon.
General Spences quotes literally from
/ an article in the November, 1896 Jour
/ nal of the Military Service Institution
| f-nm tho pen cf Captain C. j. Crane,
! Twenty-fourth g. S. Infantry, on the
/ suhjecl OF the need of a new, reliable
/ rifle.
| General Spencer recommends that the
| troops ordered to Sea Girt for rifle prac-
/ tice be given two rations for each man,
| and that the Quartermaster Generals
Department take charge of the mess hall,
/ du1in gthe rifle practice season, for this
j purpose. The cost OF this would be but
i Ok on = na1 Far