Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-15
To Promote Rife Practice


duct is good 81 day.
To Promote Rife Practice
A meeting of the natioDal board for the
promotion of rife practice has been called
for Saturday, the I'D instant 1t will be
held at the War Department and a full
attendance of the members is expected The
principal matters which hvaR come before
the board at this meeting will be the ap-
prevail of the awards made at the recent
shoot for the national trophy at Fort
Riley. Kan, and the subject of what legis-
lation will be sought at the hands of Con-
gress during the coming session.
At it's last meeting the, national board
adopted a most comprehensive plan for the
formation of a national marksman's reserve
including the encourag cement of rife prac-
tice in the state militia, where necessary;
in military and other schools, and among
those individuals who may be called upon
to serve in time of war. AS a first step in
this direction the national board desires an
appropriation of 100000 per annum for
five years to be expended under the direc-
ton of the Secretary Of War for the pro-
vtding of ranges, their equipment and main
tenance. The board thinks that these
ranges should be open to use by civilians
on every holiday and Saturday and at other
times when possible-of course, under ap-
for rifle practice in schools the board pro-
poses the awarding of state championship
badges and national school trophy, rec
ommending an annual appropriation of
So, 900 for the former and $4,000 for the
national trophy.
The national board has had this matter
under consideration since its organization
under the act of March 2, 1893 and for sew
eral years prior thereto those who have
been most actively identified with this
project were engaged in mapping out the
plans. AT the coming meeting it is expect
ed the national board will take up the ques-
to-, - t~.f1 I
to be presented to Congress in December.
How to Learn to Shoot.
An expert military rifleman remarks that
recruits and others desiring to learn to
shoot can find considerable amusement and
experience that will be valuable later with
rifle by undertaking to estimate distances.
In the days to come more and more atten-
ton will be paid to shooting at unknown
distances, and to get into the front rank of
shooters skill in estimating distances is es-
sential Practice in this can be obtained
very easily by first learning to step dis
tances correctly, one step to the yard, and
then, in course Of a stroll through town or
country. selecting object, estimating the
distance and counting the number of steps
necessary to reach it.
This proposition appears to be simple
one, but 1t is more difficult than 1t seems,
and the results, especially if the trials are
amusing well as instructive. Recently
a party of thirty-five or forty, the most ex-
pert rifle shots in the country, were gath
cred at Sea Girt, N. j. Some one asked how
far it was to certain fence, and 1mme-
diately every man estimated the distance.
After much good-natured bantering the dis
lance was paced and the result was ludi-
crous. Every one had over estimated it, the
closest guess being fifty yards out of the
way, while the majority exceeded it by 2oO
yards. 1t is explained that at thirty yards
the white of mans eye Is plainly seen,
and the eyes themselves up to eighty yards
that at 100 yards all partssof the body are
seen distinctly, slight movements are per-
ceptible and the minute details of the uni
form can be distinguished; that at 200 yards
the outlines of the face are confused and
the rows of buttons look like stripes; that
at 400 yards the face is a mere dot, but all
movements of the legs and arms are still
distinct; that at 600 yards details can no
longer be distinguished. though files of
squad if the light is strong, can be counted,
and that at 800 yards the men in a squad
cannot be counted nor their Individual
movements distinguished. AT LOCO yards
line of men resembles broad belt; the
direction of their march can, however, be
readily determined. At leo yards caValry
can be distinguished from infantry, and at
1000 Yards a mounted man usually appears
as mere speck.
In these days of long-range weapons pat
ties are fought at a distance of 1000 yards,
and it is stated to be desirable for marks
men to qualify at that range. The new
rifle with which the United States troops
are to be equipped, has a maximum erect
i've fighting range of 4.7S1 yards, OF more
than two and one-half miles. In other
words a bullet from this rifle will Kill or
disable at a greater distance than the man
firing it can distinguish an individual enemy
from tine surrounding landscape.