The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-26

tice there instead Of indoors. Indoor
shooting, while helpful in a manner. is
just enough different from the outdoor
shooting to make a great change in a
marksman-s or sharpshooter's score. and
the men prefer work in the open air in
stead of being cooped up in small
gallery
Since the Ordway range was closed
last fall d great many changes and i'm
provements have been made, and In the
estimation of Major Bell they are all
for the betterment OF the place. The
recent heavy rains caused the protec-
.tions for the targets to drop down or
loosen, because the earth around them
was washed away ] he boards, which
have done excellent service these many
years. are TO be replaced by new On
the zoe and 500 yard range at least four
new targets Will be added, because the
projections which hold the targets in
place will be smaller this year than
usual. When the projections are small
er there Will be space enough fer four
or probably FIVE new targets, and al
most entire companies viii be able 10
shoot their scores at once. OF course,
the targets will be ethe same size as
usual. and the change viii not be in
the least detrimental to the shooters.
Besides these changes. Major Bell says,
there have been others, perhaps of
minor character, but yet needed
On May the local Guardsmen who
have made 30 per cent during the sea-
son on the indoor range viii contest
for the handsome gold medal offered by
Henry Burkhart, prominent citizen
LOT the District who is endeayoring to
encourage craftsmanship in the local
brigade of boys in blue. Only those
who have made 80 per cent viii be eli
gible TO shoot Major Bell says there
are about twenty-five men who have
come UP TO that standard and he eX-
poets q hard fight for the coveted
trophy. Mr. Burkhart stipulates the
winner shall wear the medal for one
year, when it viii again be contested
for, Mr.. Burkhart VIII in all prob
ability be the one TO present the prize
to the winner on the day it is won
The men have taken interest in this
match and will try to sul pass their
previous efforts tn order ts have a
chance at the prize.
Men VIII Profit by Change.
When asked if he thought the re-
vised regulations for the handling and
shooting of small arms would cut down
1.-THE scores made by the District Guards
I men. Major Bell said yesterday: I do
rot think the men viii suffer any loss
because OF the revIsions. On the con
trary I am strongly of the belief that
/ they viii profit y the changes in many
ways. The board OF army officers who
revised the rules acted wisely in pro-
hibiting the use OF extra sights, spirit
levels. and the blackened sights on
! the pieces while the men are shooting
/ The changes, however, are not material
as TO the firing of the piece. The prin-
lcipaI change Is in the distances the
men have TO stand from the targets in
order 10 qualify for certain matches
and classes. The paramount benefit de-
rived from the revisions is that it
makes rife shooting uniform all through
the United States. That is, the same
rules govern a match in San Fran
lin Maine, up TO the time the revisions
were made. man could qualify
as a sharpshooter at 300 yards Now
he has to show at zoo. 300 and 500
yards; fire six shots at the targets
while on skirmish run, and also shoot
1--WE shots while timed, which Is
called time-firing It makes it a tritie
more difficult for a man to become a
isharpshooter, but, then, We shall have
better shaFpshooters than we ever had -
The plan Of installing rife practice
into the regular routine studies OF the
Washington High School cadet has
been temporarily abandoned. Major
Bell believed 1t impossible for anything
! definite to be done before the ending of
this school year, but next January he
/ expects to see the plan in full opera
ton. The subject is agitated in all
parts of the country and in almost ev~
cry large city Washington. as usual.
has taken 10 the scheme with unusual
fervor and zest, and il would not be
strange II it we're the first city in the
Unian TO adopt the plan.
How to Fit Up Gallery.
latin T. Raud DoUdarrua Lyarc are