The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-26
NEED OF TARGET PRACTICE.
LIEUT.-COL READE NAMES n SUE
PRIsING REPORT FROM HAVlEL.


He Says of the Second ARTILLERY That with
out Shooting Practice tho Men Might ms
Well he Armed With Gas Pipes-The Com
bination of the Man md Gun Neglected.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 25-The War Department
has received from Havana long and valuable
report by Lieut. Col. Philip Reade on his In
spection Of the Second Artillery stationed ut
the following batteries around Havana: We
'dado. Cabanas. Pyrotechnica. Santa Clara.
Reina. Jesus del Monte. and Maostranzin.
Col. Reade describes in detail his observa ions.
He calls particular attention to the lack OF tar
get practice by the men. and declares that
rome OF the officers and majority OF the men
are lacking in military instruction or cxpe-
ricnce Extended order and firing exercises.
he says are wholly lacking. and he remarks
that while the weapons are Of the best attain
able typo. no practical knowledge OF their use
exists. In some cases. however. rifles car
bincs md revolvcrs. used by regular troops.
are ante-dated by fire. arms used by volunteers
At tho timo of making his inspection. Col.
Reade 50, s that no national flag was displayed
over the headquarters OF the regiment at We
dalo. The only places where the flag was dis
played was at Cabanas and Pyrotechnlca. lie
comments on the conflict of authority between
tho provost guards and the policemen OF Ha-
vana. and says it will probably continue until
tHtlT ItSICCIlNt JuIlSuICliOHS ul'
and understood. Tho report says in part:
AS tho Second United States Artillery is
armed and equipped as infantry the regulations
and orders regarding the course OF instruction
in small arms firing with the present service
magazine rifles and revovcrs apply. or the
1906 enlisted men of the Second United States
Artillery present for duty at this station one
Rlan only has been in active campaign. The
number OF men in the regiment who have been
In military service for less period than one
year is 1.O2S. Probably 1000 men of the regi-
,ment have never fred ball cartridge from tho
weapon furnished them by the United States
for offensive purposes. Blk batteries OF this
regiment. b. c. E. X. L and NJ arrived in this
Department on Jan. l. also the General STAFF.
Field and Non Commissioned Staff and Band.
Batteries II and arrived on Jan. 10. and D.
and G on the oath.
The regiment was mainly composed OF re-
cruits. 1t has done patrol duty ever since
A heavy percentage OF tho effective strength OF
the regiment was daily occupied In the dis
charge of patrol duty. guarding the dis
tricts OF the city assigned to the orEani-
cation. In the language OF the Depart
ment Commander: The sole resources for
tho maintenance Of pence and order was
the use OF American soldiers as guards and
patrols: and this involved camping them
best adapted to the purpose
'On tho 2Sth Of February asst the reorgani
cation OF the City Metropolitan and Rura
District Police Force OF Havana relieved TO
some extent the Second United States Artillery
from these onerous duties. 1t Is claimed that
there has been no range. or time oroppormnity
for instruction in or prosecution OF smalarms
firing, or any other class OF firing. by even the
recruits OF this regiment. Further: That it is
not the fault Of any officer or man that
three -fourths of the United States soldiers are
90 woefully unacquainted with the highest use
OF their rifles, viz: to shoot. hitting with
measurable accuracy. what they are told to
shoot at.
This feature OF a soldiers education 10 too
important to be longer neglected. soldier Is
armed SO that in battle he can hurt somebody.
What tool is to q workman. a rifle should be
to soldier. The elements OF small arms can
be acquired indoors The prescribed course
OF instruction indicates the preliminary drills
and exercises for the instruction Of the indi-
yidual soldier.
1T should be made part Of the duties oOcom-
pany. troop or battery officers to see that
sighting drills. position and aiming drills. and
gallery practice with reduced cartridges be
had by every uninstructed man. coupled with
measuring and estimating distances. Actual
range pTuCtlCe bnOulu lOuOW. opJ0CtlNtb YAH
be sot up on the shore near the sea. and some
practice with ball cartridges be had with
security. because the projectiles would fall into
the ocean. Reports should be made monthly
by every company, troop or foot battery COM
mander as to the nature and extent Of instruc-
ton given in small arms practice.
"A suitable small arms range. whore short
range mid-range and skirmish firing can be
had, is a necessity second to no other class OF q
soldiers duty 1t 10 respectfully submitted
that adequate facilities and area sufficient for
small arms rifle ranges can be had on the beach
back OF Cabanas and Morro An officer should
be detailed to take charge OF small arms prac-
tice. range officer should be appointed and
required to make timely estimates for the
material and labor required to place the range
In condition for the target season. as we'll az
the selection OF the range location oithe differ.
snt firing points. Gallery practice and range
practice are the rehearsals: the battlefield |,
the arena. 1t ia a crime to send men into
action who are unacQuainted with the capac
ties Of their weapons.
In tho annual report OF the Inspector
General OF the Army for the year 1897. the fol
lowing is found All recognize how novel tn,
weapons placed in the hands Of tho sol
diers at present are and how eXacting mus
be the practice with them until the mel
are famiiarized with the peculiarites an,
power Of tho new implements. the transi
ton from tho sinGle-loading Springfield cali
bre .45 to the magazine rifle. calibra 80. Il
complete. Men come and go; short periods O
enlistment and the facility with which dis
charges are now obtained have operated t.
change the standard Of effectiveness. The i'm
petus Of promotion has scattered the officers
Lieutenants lose their Identification with
particular company.itr troop or battery. TIL
company is no longer the home Of the private
He has become nomadic. Notwithstandin
this divorce OF association. target practic
should be begun and maintained until fire dis
oipine is obtained
Some OF the defects OF the regiment whic
are an Inspectors duty to report are OF mino
character. but more instruction in what
called Target Practice is not of minor i'm port
ance. The Second United States Artillery wi
shortly be a regiment Of unacclimated recruits
and the officers be transferred into drill SCI
Eeants. The ability to shoot we'll 10 theEult
mate OF soldiers duty. Argument ought nc
to be necessary where the orders are manda
tory II these orders are not complied wit