The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-19
TARGETS SHOULD BE CHANGED.
EXPERT SHOTS SUBMITTING VIEWS
on WHAT Is NEEDED.

gen. Bird W. Spencer Of New Jersey
Writes of the Mnttcr-Cnpt. John
{. PosteIrs suggestions as 10
Changes That should he Made.
and Comments ON Gen. Spenccr's
ViewS-A Target Wanted That VIII
Give Good shots IA better showing
To Keep Up Their scores.
There has been much discussion Of the
new military target for shooting at 200,
$780, 500 and 600 yards which, 1t appears,
has been somewhat unsatisfactory. in that
it has put a premium on poor shooting
through the fact that the bulls-eye is so
large
The results of the shooting last August
at Sea Grit N. j., in which team from
Savannah took part, have been to call
forth many suggestions as to changes
which should be made in order to make
them more like the old blunt targets in
giving the proper value to scores.
a recent article in the Morning News
gave an account of these targets, with
views. For the 200 and S0-yard ranges
there is a reclining figure at the bottom
of the target, while for the longer ranges
there is a kneeling figure, much larger
in size. A shot anywhere in the figure
counted five, shot below would miss the
target altogether, counting nothing, and a
shot above had the value of three.
Gen. Bird w. Spencer. inspector general
Of rifle practice of New Jersey, has wit
ten a letter to Col. John C. Bates, presi-
dent of the board of small arms firing reg
ulatons of the United States army, in
which he has suggested some, changes that
will be of interest to the military gener-
ally. Gen. Spencer's letter is as follows
State of New jersey, Inspector General
of Rifle Practice, Passic, N. j.. Nov. 4,
1S9z-Co John c. Bates, United states
Army, President of the Board on Small
Arms Firing Northumberland You
will recolect that on the occasion of your
visit to Sea Girt this summer l took the
liberty Of suggesting some slight modih-
cations TO the present United states army
regulation target Furtner developments
during the seasons practice Convinced me
that both for the troops of the regular
army and for the National guard, certain
more satisfactory. / have prepared a new
target, on the general lines of that adopted
by your board, and beg to submit cuts of
the same, herewith.
The principal point, which will meet
with the utmost satisfaction Is the re-
ducing Of the black space, which counts
five to about the dimensions OF the old
bulrs-eye. You will see that I have plac-
,,1I. ft-sv, s.rf
band on the kneeling figure. Shots in the
collar and waist-band ana oil above It in
the black, count >. You VIII also see that
the figure is raised six INCHES from the
bottom of the target. Shots in this space
TO count four. the object being to encour-
age low shooting as much as possible.
l submit this for the coRsideration of
your board, and believe its adoption, or
something similar, will insure general
use of the target by the National guard
of the various states. Yours truly, .,.
Bird w. Spencer,
Brigadier General and Inspector General
of Rife Practice, New Jersey.
Many, however, disagree with Gen
Spencer in his views as to the changes
necessary. There has already been some
discussion of the matter among the mill
tary men here. and the matter will no
doubt he taken IN by the Sea Girt team
at an early date for discussion.
Capt. John G. Postell, who organized
and captained the first team that went
from Georgia to Sea Grit, has written let
ters to Gen. Spencer and also to Col
Bates, in which in response to requests
from them, he offers suggestions which
ne considers will improve on those Of
fered by Gen. Spencer.
In his letters Capt Postell says that
Gen Spencer's suggestions are inconsist-
ent, in that he really puts a premium ON
high shooting, since he puts the bulls-eye
above that portion Of the figure in which
a shot would count four. The object seems
to be. on the other hand to encourage
low shooting.
In the second place Capt. Postell con-
siders that a center shot, even though Il
goes above the bulls-eye, should be valued
at three. Such shot he argues is OF
more value than lateral shot, because
the overhead shot would have a chance
of finding a mark farther on IN the reserve
line Of skirmishers, whereas O lateral shot
would go between the vacant spaces and
be Of no value whatever lie, there
fore, suggests that the lateral shots should
be counted two, while a center shot above
the bulls-eye should receive the value of
three for the reason stated.
Capt. Postelfs ideas about the target
met with much commentator among
those who have heard them. The Sea
Grit team as a whole as well as It's in
dlYidual members. has some ideas about
changes that should be made TO the end
that a good shot may get the full value
of his work, instead Of having some poor
shot come along and beat him by getting
just within the limits of the large figure
which constitutes the bulls-eye on the pres
ent target The matter is now being CON
sidered by the army officers, and some
changes in the new target will no doubt
be made.