Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-25

|, should not score more than three SO also
one which strikes at the right elevation
and close to the left side OF the figure, so
as to be far closer than the former, counts
but four. One which is two inches below
the center of. the figure counts nothing,
while one which strikes four feet below If
1t ricochets into the target counts five. All
these make luck countstbaiance skill They
considered that the target was even worse
for purposes of instruction. The object of
this is to train soldier to Shoot as close
| it is indispensable that he should know
where his shots are going, so that his err
rors may be seen and corrected. 1t is also
important that he should be trained to
| low shots go into the bank and If the
earth Is damp cannot be seen. The men,
therefore, always shoot high, so as to see
where their shots strike.
Size Should he Reduced.
General Wingate and number of others
were of the opinion that if there was any
military value in practicing at a mark of
this shape (Which they did not believe)
it should be reduced in size, and that
its base should be placed upon a horizontal
line bisecting the center of the target The
lower half of this might be colored green
to represent the ground. The target would
then resemble a man lying down as much
as the present one does, which is not much.
If this was done a low shot would be seen
to it, and a high one 40 more. At the same
time. the men would be trained, as they
ought to be, to shoot low.
1.-The mid-range target brings in the ele-
| ment of luck to about the same extent as
the other. A high shot to the left will hit
the elbow of the kneeling figure, and count
five while shot six inches below, which
is n much better one, counts but four. Close
shots under the figure count nothing, while
very low shots, If they ricochet, count as
bulls.
1T was pointed out that the marksman
can control his elevation much easier than
ing practically perpendicular line, gives
no greater score for a good elevation than
for a bad one. Both count five, while close
side shots count but four. This is reduced
to an absurdity when it is recalled that the
bullet from the new army rifle is greatly
affected by the wind. Yet the rife is not
furnished with a wind gauge by which the
effect of the wind may be counteracted.
THE same general objections also apply
to the skirmishing target the shots strik-
ing the open spaces between the figure,
into which space the bullets are easily car
ried by the wind, counting as misses In
other words, the targets were considered
by the practical shots of the National
Guard as being theorists targets which
the National Guard should have as little
to do with as possible
Notes.
The companies of the LIST Battalion will
III Al uiitii III tHSi uctiSe Ill accordance WIN
the following schedule: Company A, Mon
days; Con pany c, Tuesdays Company e,
Thursdays, and Company D. Fridays.
Word has been received from Asheyille.
N. c., that First Lieutenant Richard J.
Harden, Company A, 4th Battalion, who
has been critically i'll for more than year,
is rapidly improving.
The regular monthly meeting of Com
Ratto1i0n Tt,eS
next is to be made a sort of gala occa-
sion. The company means to resume work
the first Tuesday in October in earnest.
Prepar atipns IN progress for an enter
The first Of November for the benefit of the
company.
A red flag displayed in front of the L
street ar1nory yesterday caused somewhat
of commotion among those interested in
the property. 1t was soon learned, how
ever, that the flag was merely a notice
that an auction sale of some government
property as in progress within. Captain
Robbins, with corps of assistants, burned
a big wagon load Of old property several
days ago On the commons near the jail.
For a time the party experienced con-
siderable difficulty, because the residents
in the locality somehow or other were
laboring under the impression that the
property being disposed of was contami-
mated with yellow fever germs. and that
the health of the neighborhood was threat
ened.
The members of the Engineer Battalion
are congratulating themselves that Color
Sergeant w. W. Cookson, who succumbed
to illness very suddenly at Sea Girt sew
eral weeks ago, is able to be out ard Is
on the rapid road to recovery. Sergeant
Cookson after reaching home was found
to be suffering from remittent fever, and
his condition was considered critical for
some time. He hopes to cut very much OF
figure in the mstches at Ordway next
month.