The Washington times., 1904-08-28
CADETS DRILL WELL.
BUT CANNOT SHOOT
Veteran Officer Criticises
Tactics Now in Use.
SHOULD BE GIVEN PRACTICE
Old Formations and Ancient Guns and
Powder Theirs-Says Boys Ought
to Have Krags.

A few weeks ago a sham battle was
fought on the White Lot, the large oval
space back OF the White House. The
regiment of Washington High school
Cadets was divided into two forces and
contested calamity for the possession Of
the disputed ground
Charging and retreating, ralIying and
recharging, their glittering accoutre-
ments, futtering flags. glistening swords
and bayOnets. waved by eager hands
and backed by earnest youthful faces.
combined to render the sight inspiring
That is all very well" said a grizzled
veteran Of two wars, whose shoulder
straps denoted his high position; but
II Is sad to think that probably 80 per
cent of these young men who are so
CALAMITY popping away at each other,
II put to test. could not. to use the
hackneyed expression, hit a flock OF
barns at hundred yards"
Couldn't Shoot.
The general probably put the matter
too strongly but there is undeniably a
basis for his statement. While no statis-
tics are available, it is more than prob
able should the young cadets, who made
who displayed such a commendable
knowledge Of military tactics. be called
upon to fire rapidly and accurately at
an enemy 800. 500. or 1000 yards away,
they would be at a loss to proceed.
Yet the complaint of the veteran Off
Ger could not properly be laid against
the cadets. for. doubtless. they would
have been more than pleased to familiar
ize themselves with the use of the army
rife and ammunition. and to become at
least fair marksmen. had an opportunity
been afforded them. And in all parts
Of the country there are other sham
battles fought where the participants
are quite ignorant Of rife shooting.
Workmanship Neglected.
To the casual observer, il is argued.
there would seem TO be something wrong
about a plan that provided only out-of-
date guns and blank cartridges for the
training OF the youth Of the country,
that taught hundreds OF boys at expen-
sive military schools and colleges re-
ceiving a Government subsidy. how To
drill. 10 march. 10 make camp. and
everything else Il soldier should know
except how TO shoot.
Congress in March. 1868. enacted law
providing for the national board for the
promotion OF military practice. TO be
composed OF tventy-one members. civil
ian and military. which should be charg-
ed with the duty OF devising plans TO
encourage al! citizens. and especially
the youth OF the country. to learn 10
shoot and &c shoot straight
skill in rifle and revolver shooting is
counted ne eight points IN ten OF efici-
ency. and vet in military schools the
-N11onal o'"ard. and IN crack military
at nrrff Ion Do
eNoluticns ard the manual al arms than
20 iiie ard revolver practice.
Lack CT Ranges.
The decline I'm the average rna~,rsr,,-,-
ship Of American youth. observers say.
IS directly traceable 10 the lack of suit-
able ranges. both indoor and out. ana
the national board has turned its atten-
ton 70 arousine the interest Of in
struetors and students IN the military
schools throughout the country in this
SUBJECT OF rifle and revolver pra ctice
Win view Of securing adequate ranges
mere are eighty-nine universities ard
colleges In the United States 10 which
military officers are assigned as prore--
EoIs OF military science and IL would m,
ilt,,-lIe stSadIs 70 Know how many Of these
There are four colleges in Pennsvl-
HeIla 70 which army officers are detaiio3
as instructors.
ne board advances G number Of prop
ositons Tor the corsIdera+lor ~ -.
war Department and OF Congress-
- wei as of the heads Of fhe
various schools Tt points ONT tia+
YER little expense is attached ~
lhe construction OF indoor shootfng
s@iitfles and recommends that spacfaI
pans should be taken 70 gee that ,,-er--
public and private school thro1i ,-l7-,,,t ~
country is equipped with such a ranra
r. ecioli- does this apply TO those In
sllluiions 10 which army officers are