Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-08

reminding the officers of their shortcom-
| ings in times past: for holding up mirror
that they could see themselves. the rec
ord showed them to be, in most cases,
when it related to rife practice, sadly out
OF gear when considered in connection with
their other military duties He expressed
confidence that his talk would have the eff
feet of awakening the proper interest in
the work during the present season to such
an extent that every man capable OF quail
fying at least a markSman would do so,
which fact would be most acceptable and
gratifying to the commanding general.
There will be no lack of sharpshooterS and
expert rifiemen. said the major. If the
proper attention is bestowed on qualifying
the men as marksmen. He reminded the
officers of the record made by the COM
panies commanded by Cepts Summers and
TAFT, and declared that each of the COM
pany officers could present a showing
equally meritoriouS if they would be-
stow the same amount of time and atten-
ton to the work as the officers named have
done.
In support of his claim that rifle practice
should receive the attention of the soldier
Major Bell read an extract from a report
of the Secretary of War. in which 1t was
set forth that 1T is of no use to pay,
equip, subsist and transport soldier to
the battlefield unless he can hit the enemy
when he shoots at them The speaker
laid particular stress on that part of the
report of the adjutant general of the army
which set the standard of a soldiers eff
cheney as follows: "If the military eff
cheney is rated at 10. S1s of these points is
accurate rifle shooting" This Major Bell
asserted. settles the standing of more than
100 officers and enlisted men of the brigade
and places them in the light of being Is
per cent soldiers. This is what has been,
Major Bell added but will be no longer.
Some of the remarks of Maj. Gilfoyle OF
the army along the same line were quoted.
as were those Of President Roosevelt. who
who called to see him: you may put a
uniform a man and a rifle in his hand
and then drill him: but If you do not edu-
cate him how to shoot that rifle. and shoot
to hit the object, another man can come
along with a club and put him out of bust
ness" After commencing Maj. Harvey for
the interest he has displayed in rifle shoot
ing as shown by the record of the 9th Bat
talon. and reading some of the statistics
for rifle practice in 1903. Maj. Bell closed
his remarks by appealing to the officers of
the brigade to turn over a new leaf and
make it possible for the commanding gen.
eral to refer to the meeting then in prog
ress. when, at the next annual encamp-
ment. he should have the opportunity of
offering his praise and congratulations on
the work of 1904 being well and acceptably
done.
Gen. Harries supplemented Mai Bells
remarks with the important announcement
that next spring. in all probability. each
ba ttaliOn of the guard will be ordered into
camp at the range for period Of three or
four days each SO that there will be no
excuse for men not qualifying in rife prac-
tice. Any OfnCer or enlisted man who,
without good excuse. does not qualify will
rot be permitted to participate in the an
pual encampGnent later in the year.
Notes.
A board of officers, consisting of Capt.
Clarence A. Weaver. surgeon, LIST Regi-
ment; Capt F. J. Woodman, surgeon, I'd
Regiment, and First Lieut.. Charles r.
Luce surgeon, LIST Battalion, was appoint
ed yesterday to examine into and report