The San Francisco call., 1896-08-04
COAST MILITARY GOSSIP
Target Practice for Artillerymen
Under a New and Import
ant Method.
Commodore George Dewey Regarded
as Rear.Almiral Beardslee's
Successor.

WASHINGTON, D. o., Aug. 3.-The
artillery force stationed on the Pacific
Coast is to have heavy target practice un-
der the new and i'm portant method Just
adopted for the army. The method is set
forth IN circular now being prepared at
army headquarters, which will be issued
to the service within q week. The circular
is drafted from the report of the board of
officers assembled some months ago at
Fort Monroe, by order of Secretary La.
mont, TO devise new system of target
practice for the artillery arm. When its
report was received copies were sent to all
officers com manding artillery regiments
and to several general officers for criticism.
Their Endorsement was considered by Gen.
eral Miles, and some of the changes sug-
gested were adopted.
The general scheme of proposed practice
is very comprehensive. There is to be
the usual annual instruction and il is tn
be followed by three successive competi-
tions-frst, the battery competition; Sec
ond. regimentai competition, and third
general artillery competition. board OF
regimental officers is to be appointed for
instance, by Colonel w. M. Graham, who
commands the Fifth Artillery at the Pre-.
sidio, which shall examine in gunnery
the men recommended for examination
ciusion of the examination competitors
will be arranged into three classes and
are to receive suitable insignias. Heavy
artillery practice is to be held at such
posts as are garrisoned by heavy artillery.
|. Practice will be held with such breech.
loading siege and seacoast ordnance as
may be available, otherwise with 8-inch
converted rifles.
In the regimental competition, which is
to be held every two years, those batteries
which shall have presentation will un-
dergo an examination by q board of two
officers, designated by the department
commander. The exercise will consist OF
service of the piece, mechanical maneu-
vers and competitive firing. The battery
OF the winning detachment at the com pc.
tition will carry at all parades and other
occasions "prize guidon."
The general competition is to occur at
such time and place as the commanding
general may designate, and may be par
ticipated in by the detachments re epresent-
ing all regiments. Prizes are to be award ed
to the. victorious detachment and its regi-
ment is to be awarded a trophy OF value
and device to be decided upon in future.s
1t is expected by the department. off,
cials that great increase III efficiency In
artillery firing will follow the practice of
the new system in artillery.
Although the tour of duty of Rear
Admiral u. a. Beardslee, in command of
the Pacific station, will expire this month,
1t is understood that Secretary Herbert
will not relieve him until fall This in.
| tention of the Secretary is due to his idea
to have the Pacific squadron exercise in
fleet maneuvers under direction of an
officer with whom his subordinates are
acquainted.
Before the Secretary's departure for
Alabama the question was raised as to The
date when Rear Admiral Beardslee should
be relieved, and he decided that no orders
should be issued Until the close of the
feet maneuvers. The decision of the
Secretary is not generally known, and in
naval circles where it is known that
Admiral Beardslee's tour of duty will
shortly expire considerable gossip is In
circulation as to his successor. AS in all