The San Francisco call., 1897-07-12
At THE new TARGETS.
The System of Shooting at
Rectangular Boards Now
Obsolete.
New Rules in Regard to Examina tion
of Officers Below Grade of Major
for Promotion.

During the past week large number of the
Eastern Christian Endeavorers visited The
Preside and were shown every courtesy b5
the officers and men at the post. Quite
number of these were the guests of Colone
Evans Miles and were shown all the points o.
interest on the reservation.
During the past week there practice a.
the new range near the Mar ne Hospital by
the cavalrymea stationed at this post To-day
the infantry will establish camp in the yicin.
ity of the range and engage in target practice
during The entire week. firing under the new
regulat ons for small arms
The new regula ions Introduce many novel
features IN the matter OF target practice. The
marksmen, instead of firing at targets as in
the past and occupying the same position al
fixed distances through the practice, are now
required 10 fire as they would if in actual
service The tar els represent men in differ
ent Misunderstanding up. kneeling down,
lying down and cavairymen mounted. The
targets are figures called silhouett and the
soldiers are brought face to face with these as
they would be in action. They are required
TO advance and at certain distances fire at the
targets. the shooters at v,rous distances
ass uming different positions They are re-
quired 10 fire singly, by yolley they ad-
vance, by Yoley as they retreat, and go
thro ugh the same maneuyers that they would
II they were before the enemy. The result of
!
the several targets at different stages OF the
practice and the result recorded.
While the new regulations do not show the
individual scores OF men as in the past it will
show what the men can do as a company or a
battalion and II is expected that the results
viii be much more satisfactory than the old
sly e of rectangular target shoots.
First Lieutenant Thomas Connolly, Com
pRny H. First Infantry, stationed at the Pre-
sidio, who has been sick al quarters since the
18th OF last May. has been granted leave of
! iSes fGnr7s fsE In orasi fNrS he
First Lieutensnt Charles B. Satteriee Light
Battery c, Third ARTILLERY, stationed at the
Presidio, has also been granted six months
leave OF absence on account OF illness.
1t is probable that the next post contest at
the Presidio Will not be held until Weunes-
day, the 28th inst. 1he board that was ap-
pointed to revise the rules for contests has OF
yer com pIeted its labors.
Recent orders from the War Department d.
rect that the examinations of army officers
under the grade OF major for promotion mu It
be conducted in sucn manner as 10 insure
thoroughness and to determine the actual
professional fitness of officers for promotion
The orders say that N re cIamming is not
desirable feature in the examination of ma
ture and generally weli-educated men, and
that the examining boards should so conduct
eXamIna tions that the qualifications for pro-
motion will be developed by The officers abil-
ity 10 make practical application o, all he has
learned rather than the commital 10
memory OF equea tions and data which
he could, under ordinary conditions,
obtain nom books OF reference, and that
while a correct understanding of theory is in
dispense bic, it should in all cases be upled
with the ability to make practical appIcs-
ton OF the know.eIge. The nse that an officer
has made of his opportunities is also 10 be
taken into considerati ton.
Hereafter to les. the capacity OF privates for
the duties OF non-com m SIS Ioned officers in the
army company commanders may appoint
LAM e corporals who viii hold such appoin l.
menls not exceeding three months and such
will be obeyed and respected as corpora.s
The appointments, with the approval of the
regimeltal or post commanders may Be re
newed, but no company shall have more tla :
one lance corporal a. a time.