The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-20
FOR THE ARMY SHOOT.
Teams Gathering at Fort Riley and
Range Is Prepared.

Fort Riley, Kas., Aug. 2O.-The
strength of the camp of the army rifle
competitors has been increased by the
arrival of the teams from Kansas
Maryland, New York and Georgia and
the United States army infantry and
cavalry teams. The infantry team
came from Chicago, where the army
infantry contest closed recently. The
cavalry team merely moved from the
camp on the old range a mile nearer
the post, where the cavalry contest
closed yesterday. The New YorkerS
were in special cars, which have been
s~idetracked in junction City. Lieu
tenant Colonel T. B. Thurston, in
spector of rifle practice of the state of
New York. is captain of the team.
OF all the teams in camp, that from
the navy probably receives the most
attention, although the marines come
in for their share as well. Not that
this team has a better record, but the
members smack of the salt water; they
are of the number that 'go down to
the sea in Ships" they speak of for
eign lands and ports as the average
landsman speaks of boarding a car to
COUP or down town. In central Kan
Sas. IN the geographical center of the
United States. where the sailor is seen
less often than a broiled live lob
Ster, he takes on an amphibious hue,
and his sayings and his coming and
going, are noted accordingly. Upon
his arrival in camp his blue toys were
for white; a loose fitting
garb that looked cool and comfortable.
Lines were strung from the tops of
TEN poles and in a short time articles
or apparel were hung out to air and
dry, as on shipboard. They were tied
fast with strings, as on s~hipboard,
where clotheSpinS are A
person used to their ways would dis
tinguish their location in camp by that
one feature without making an in
quiry.
One of their number, E.. E. Griggs,
yeolnan of the first class from the
Hartford, halls from Garden City. Kan.
The team can hardly be called a repre-
sentative navy team as the members
are picked from the ships composing
the Atlantic squadron. 1t would be i'm
practicable to select men from foreign
stations on account of the long jour
ney.
Men in the navy are supposed to have
practice with the rifle once every three
months, although this is not always
possible. On the Atlantic station there
are target ranges at Pensacola, Fla.
Guantanamo bay, Cuba, and Culebra
Creedmore, L. L, which is the property
of the state of New York, was used by
TINS team. Lieutenant rovos
Babin, a big hearty fellow now
on shore duty, is the captain of the
navy cam The marines were selected
in much the same way as the sailors,
although the greater number are for
the present located in the numerous
AoN yoA0o jill III COdSls lHGlE uISSS
is practically the same as the United
States regular, save in a few minor de-
tails. Major r. H. Lane, United States
marine corps, is the captain of this
team.
Yesterday was spent by the teams al,
ready settled in practicing on the range.
There is no particular order about this.
The range is so large that several
without discommoding each other. Three
teams nay be shooting at the same
time, one at 600 yards, one at 800 yards
and one at 1000 yards. On a rangeof
smaller size this would undoubtedly
mean considerable danger to the team
at the 600-yard range, as those behind
might fire into them. On this one, the
extent of the lines of targets makes
it practically impossible. There is no
limit to the number of shots. Each
team shoots as long as it sees fit. OF
course this pertains only to the prac-
tice, for when the record firing begins
Monday every shot will have it's value.
thermometers at different parts of
the ground record the velocity of the
wind, and those firing are. notified of
it's exact velocity from time to time.
resting on eaSels, which
are easily portable, are distributed
along the firing points for the
of scoring the shots. During the record
these will be kept by author
lied scorers, from which tabulated lists
will be made in the statistical officers
office. These lists will tell the tale of
the day shooting, and their advent
at the close of the day will be looked
eagerly by the contestants and
their supporters.
Powerful field telescopes. resting on
tripods, are also furnished for eacn
firing point, so that the captain or
may more accurately watch the |
targets, especially at the long ranges, |
and coach his men according to their
shooting. A signal corps man with a
field telephone is also on hand, |
and follows the party from range to
and communicates with the men
at the targets whenever directed to do
so.