The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-28
An Inspector Who Inspects.


An Inspector Who Inspects.
The report of Lieutenant Colonel
Philip Reade, who recently went to
Havana for the War department to in
spect the Second artillery, is a good
specimen Of what a military inspectors
report ought to be. Colonel Reade trav-
eled with his eyes open, told fearlessly
what he saw and made his observa-
timely suggestions. The Second artil-
lery has been in Havana since last
January yet, says the inspector, prob
ably 1000 of the 1896 enlisted men in
1t have never fred a ball cartridge from
the weapon furnished them by the
United States for offensive purposes, in
spite of the fact that the regiment is
armed and equipped as infantry. There
may have been excuse for this while
the regiment was actively engaged in
police and patrol work but Colonel
Reade points out that on February 2S
last the reorganization of the city and
rural police force of Havana largely
relieved the regiment from these oner-
Gus duties, and he pungently adds
1T is claimed that there has been no
range, or time or opportunity for in
struction in or prosecution of small
arms 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 so
Woefully unacquainted with the high
est use Of their rifles. viz, to shoot,
hitting, with measurable accuracy,
what they are told to shoot at. This
feature of a soldiers education is too
important to be longer neglected. A
soldier is armed so that in battle he
can hurt somebody. What a tool is to
a workman, a rifle should be to a SOL
der. The elements Of small arms can
be acquired indoors. The prescribed
course of instruction indicates the pre-
liminary drills and exercises for the in
struCtiOn of the individual soldier, 1t
should be made part Of the duties OF
company, troop or battery officers TO
see that sighting drills. position and
aiming drills, and gallery practice with
reduced Cartridges be had by every un-
instructed man, coupled with measur-
ing and estimating distances. Actual
range practice should follow. Reports
should be made monthly by every COM
pany, troop or foot battery commander
as to the nature and extent of instruc-
tion given in small arms practice. A
suitable small arms range. where short
range, mid-range and skrmish firing
can be had, is a necessity second to
no other class of a soldiers duty. An
officer should be detailed to take charge
OF small arms practice A 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
well as the selection of the range loca-
ton of the different firing points. It is
crime to send men into action who
are unacquainted with the capacities
of their weapons. The ability to shoot
well Is the ultimate of a soldiers duty,
soldier who has not received the
marksman's training will be as useless
as a woman. a soldier sallying forth
to war armed to the teeth with a tooth
pick, or an inflated bladder, could not
be more useless. Good rife shots are
not born such; they are made such by
training and intelligent practice. 1t is
an obligation Of the government to
give to its regular soldiers the best and
latest model Of firearms of protection. :"
The report of Colonel Reade touches
with equal frankness upon other phases
OF the soldiers life. lie points to de-
fects in the army ration and. not only
that, he recommends specific remedy
For the Cuban climate he would dis
continue the ordinary beef issue and
substitute fish and dried fruit COM
ponents. He complains that medical
officers do not instruct the line officers
and men as they should in first aid to
the injured, camp sanitation, military
hygiene, etc, and he would make in
struction in these matters compulsory
| on the part of both officers and men,
He would turn camps Of rendezvous
into centers of education in all the
| cOmponents of successful soldering and
especially would he emphasize the sol
dier's duty to know how to shoot.
From this brief synopsis we see that
intelligent army inspection is possible
and useful and from it we learn where
the army can be strengthened with
benefit to itself and to the country