The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-25
ARMY METHODS ABROAD
REPORT on TARGET PRACTICE AND
REMOUNT SYSTEM.
How the European Soldier Is Taught
TO 'sShoot TO KiI1"-Purchase and
Training of Horses.

WASHINGTON. July PA volume OF
great interest to the military service was
made public to-day entitled Target Prac-
tice and Remount Systems Abroad by
Lieut.. Col. w. A. Simpson. chief OF the
Bureau OF Military Information, and ar
ranged by Capt. +. a. Edwards. Twenty
nth Infantry and Capt. j. S. Heron. Sec
ond Cavalry. 1t shows the methods
adopted in the countries OF the world TO
give their troops the desired skill in shoot
ing to kill" The reports were complied by
the military attaches OF the United States
at the various capitals.
In Germany the course OF instruction for
an infantry soldier comprises preparatory
instruction. then range firing and lastly
field or combat firing. The firing exercises
are conducted with great eXactness, and in
one year of work the soldier is expected TO
have fitted himself TO use a rife well in
actual warfare. A feature Of target prac-
tice in Germany is the ingenuity displayed
in fashioning the targets. In permanent
ranges figures are arranged as disappear
ing or moving targets and are manipulated
from covers not noticeable from the front.
target representing a line of infantry
one hundred meters long may be erected
in ten minutes by eight men and may be
worked by man. BY ingenious methods
the advance Of rcinforoements or the thin
ming of line of infantry or the adV4nce
| loon targets are used TO represent lines or
| sharps hooters lying in a trench. Imitation
| keeps them erect. and when punctured by
/ a bullet they soon collapse, showing a Ger
| man firing line that another enemy or the
fatherland has met his just deserts. The
agility of sharpshooters is represented by
/ a variety OF targets which can be made
] to pop up and down out OF trenches and
| from behind embankments at will Other
movable targets are attached TO sleds and
| drawn over the surface OF the ground by
steam power or by horses. Cash gratuities,
/ badges and other prizes are given enlisted
men for proficiency in target practice. and
| in the case OF the officers a sword, saber
| or fine watch is presented.
| The war in South Africa has caused the
| British service TO revise its musketry regu-
| Iations. and the reported changes show in
| a nutshell what the struggle with the
| Beers has taught. The new regulations
| vide a system of iiring behind cover and
| encourage individuality rather than con-
solidated machine work. A new system or
| field firing has been adopted at Aldershot.
| Targets are placed at the crest of a long
| hill and a battalion advances TO take the
| supposed position OF an enemy. A peculiar
| part of the arrangement is that the advance
| is the whole time subjected 10 shrapnel nre:
| which is simulated by the explosion OF
| small harmless bombs suspended over the
| heads of the dummy men in the fort or
| laid at their feet Dummy guns in the
.enemy's" position are fired In the same
way All open grounds are covered pits
/ for the use OF the umpires. who by means
| Of mirrors can watch the advance In all It's
A picturesque feature of the work in the
| Russian army is that certain number
| of selected men OF good constitution ana
keen sight are trained I'm hunting animals:
| the object being TO have specially trained
men for difficult and dangerous ouues III
The great center of target practice work
in France is at Chalons, where every year
groups of horse batteries ana regiments
| of field artillery are sent TO constitute. on
almost a war footing, the whole artillery
and ammunition train OF an army corps.
In little Switzerland. skill in the use or
the rifle is much sought after, and even
before they enter the army, Swiss youths
have attained quite degree or prohciency
in shooting.
Military remounts have been shown TO he
a factor on which success in war depends
In large measure. Great Britain purchased
40 600 horses for the South African war:
| Germany has 10000 horses in her army:
France has IL, 600, and Russia $4,000. As
high as 10000 1t is stated. would pe re-
CURED to bring any one Of the countries
up TO a war footing. In the Austria-Hun-
gary all the horses purchased for
the army Are P e%Sire T There
nearly 100000 horses IN the country and
in case Of war all may be taken from their
| private owners and returned on the dawn
OF peace. Horses and officers are given
a system OF superior training by loosening
a deer and following IL In an exciting chase
over all distractions capable OF negotia-
ton I'm the course.
| All horses and mules Of the French army
| are bought in open market. The produc-
tion and improvement OF horses Tor the
| German army have been for long time
| the object OF active vigilance and the re-
suit accomplished, II Is said, Is that the
! Emperor can justly claim better pred
/ mounts in his army than are found IN that
/ OF any European country. Aside from inc
private breeding stables, Germany has or
ganized government breeding establish
ments where are kept both stations and
mares.
In normal times the British regular army
has had no mounted troops abroad except IN
South Africa India and Egypt. and for
these n has been the custom 20 purchase
/ locally. The horses are acquired by pur-
chase in open market. IL Is said that m
case OF need for mobilization for some de-
Tense Great Britain would need about
Iest0O horses and that she Is at loss "a
, know where they could be obtained.