The Savannah morning news., 1903-07-30
REGULARS AT RANGE
PRACTICE BEGAN YESTERDAY
FIRST STEP TOWARD
GOVERNMENT RECOGNITION.
RANGE PRESENTS PRETTY AND
UNUSUALAAPPEAR

Members of Troop G, Seventh U. S.
Cavalry, Began Annual Target
Practice at AvOndaIe Range Yes
terday-Their Presence Is Imme-
tiOns-Tents Have Been Pitched,
Mess Hall Built and Horses Pick
eted-Practice VIII Probably Oc-
cupY Ten Days or Two Weeks.
What is considered the first step in
government recognition of the Avon
dale range was instituted yesterday,
when Troop C, Seventh United States
Cavalry, began its annual target prac-
tice on the Savannah range.
The presence of a body of cavalry.
their tents pitched and horses picketed
on the range, and rations and proven
der for a fortnight on hand, was the
unusual sight which passengers on the
Thunderbolt cars witnessed as they
passed yesterday. The men in blue
and khaki lined the firing line, and the
sharp report of their Krag- Jorgensens
were heard throughout the afternoon.
The troop win be on the range for
ten days, or. maybe, two weeks. I'm
der direction of the War Department
they come to hold their annual target
practice. It is believed by those in
authority that the troop is the first of
many that will be ordered here, and
that the government will render sub
stantial aid in the maintenance of the
range. The policy of the War Depart
ment has been to encourage rifle prac-
tice. and the War College Board has
warmly Endorsed the plan of co-opera-
ton between the regulars and state
troops in the use and maintenance Of
the ranges throughout the country. The
presence of the troop. then, is fraught
with great possibilities.
Yesterdays Shooting.
The troopers began practice at
o'clock. Under the command of Capt.
Bell, Lieut. Kendrick and Lieut.. Mil
Ter, the men put in a steady and bene-
fetal practice. Eight men shot at a
time at each range, and, owing to the
facilities for disposing of large num-
Der in a short time, the officers are of
the impression that the shoot VIII De
finished in ten days.
The first five days will be occupied
in instruction practice. The remainder
of the time will be spent in what is
known as record practice. In the IN
Struction practice each man will be
required to fire at least two scores of
five shots each at the 200, 300, 800 and
800 yard ranges, besides the sklrmish
fire The poor shots will be given ad-
ditional practice. In the instruction
practice the rapid fire shooting Will
also be held This is provided for by
the new regulations, and consists in
firing five shots in twenty seconds. The
manner and time of firing on the Skin
mish differs in some respects from that
in vogue with the Springfield rife.
To Fire for Records.
In the record shooting the men will
endeavor to become marksmen and
sharpshooters. The position, time of
firing and other details differ some
what from that in the instruction
practice. In addition to the duties on
the range, the men who wish to be-
come sharpshooters will have to I'M
dergo another test. They will have to
guess the distances, and are required
SAA%N
work, in order to qualify. This work
will be done when the troop returns to
Camp Thomas.
The regulars do their own marking.
A detail of men Is sent to the. pits to
mark for their comrades, and, after a
while, are relieved by those who have
completed their score. In the record
shooting, a sergeant from one of the
other troops in the regiment will SUI
kI41 III NH 6n
will be kept by Leuts. Kendrick and
Miller neither of whom are members
of Troop C, they having been attached
to the troop for the encampment.
Pleased with Range.
The officers and men were very much
pleased with the range, and Capt. Bell
expects to develop some good shots
before the two weeks ends. The troop
has already held its revolver practice.
In the revolver practice the men shot
but fairly at first, as was the case at
the range yesterday, but before the
practice was completed many of the
command had become good shots.
With the hard practice that may be
had with the range right at hand,
Capt. Bell expects to develop his men
u great deal Their improvement will,
of course, speak well for the range,
as we'll as the efficiency of the in
struction.- The tents have all been
pitched and mess hall built.
Capt. Bell spoke in highest terms of
the range. The telephones and bells
worked well, and the targets were run
up and down without a hitch. The
men us the round bulls eye and ring
instead of the elyptical. The new red
wind flags gave prettier general ap-
pearance to the range.
why r. p. P.,Lippman's Great Renee
dy, is the Best Medicine i'm the
United States.