The record-union., 1897-05-29

Instead of furnishing loaded cart
ridges for target practice for the year
commencing July 1st, each brigade
should be required to furnish its own
ammunition, reloaded as above, and
should be allowed in cash at the rate OF
S11 per LOCO for the number of cart
ridges necessary for the required prac-
tice. Powder, lead and primers can be
purchased cheaper in large quantities,
and it would be advisable for the
quartermaster department to purchase
in quantity, and furnish the same to
the brigades at actual cost, which will
lessen the price materially.
Assuming that $500 enlisted men
will participate in target practice dur
ing the coming year, firing the required
ffty-five shots per man, saving OF
over 81 500 In ammunition can be made,
viz:
192,50O cartridges at s19 so per LOCO. .S3,753
500 cartridges at $l1 per 1000. 2,170 80
s1,5s3 %
This saving would enable an allow
ance to be made of forty rounds per
man, to be expended in preliminary
practice.
From information that l have been
able to obtain, without personal in
spection, / am led to believe that little
or no instruction is given recruits in
aiming and sighting drills. This, is one
of the most important parts of the sol
dier's education and should be thor
oughly taught
The recruit should be familiar with
his arm, it's uses and capability before
firing a shot over the range; If this
were done much better scores would be
the result and the labors of the officers
at target practice greatly lessened. No
greater mistake exists than that any
soldier with good eyesight will make
good shot without systematic training.
Some men, physically perfect, never
become good target shots. The only
mode of reducing this evil to mini
mum is thorough instruction in the use
of the rifle, sighting and position drills
and gallery practice. The absence of
such training results in waste of am
munition. Beyond 1000 yards the ef-
feet of rife firing in action is uncer-
tain; the imperfection of the human
eye, nervousness and excitement all
tend to effect the result.
After men have become fairly good
shots at 200 yards. they should put in
more time at the 500-yard target and
skirmish firing at unknown distances
up to 800 and 600 yards. This will give
an opportunity to instruct men and
non on-commissioned officers in judging
distances.
More attention should be given to fire
discipline, and this instruction can be
best given and controlled in the field
Fire is the preponderating element in
battle; bayonet charges will be rare
and only occur when the nemy is thor
oughly demoralized, hence fire disci-
pline becomes the most important fac
tor in future contests. The most per-
feet knowledge of the drill regulations
and tactical formations will fail of the
best results unless assisted by the
strictest fire discipline.
The National Guard are literally sup
ported and maintained by the State.
Their value depends entirely upon their
shooting qualities. When their services
are needed there will be no time for
instruction. AS a rule, sufficient i'm
portance has not been attached to this
subject in the National Guard of this
State; while the results Of target prac-
tice are gratifying, instructions gener-
ally have gone no further than the 200
yard range, and such instructions as
develops individual shots rather than a
shooting organization.