Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-07

! abolished, but the shape of the new type
will be round, whereas that formerly used
was eliptica1 With a constant aim from
the same place and under uniform meteoro-
logical conditions 1t was found with the old
Springfield .45-caliber rifle that bullet
marks On target formed shot, group
in the general outline of an egg standing on
end This was the reason for adopting the
ola elilptlcal bull s-eye targets. The ''shot
groups made with the modern magazine
rifles are nearly round. Hence the adoption
of the circular bull s-eye
oihouette hgure targets will be used for
rapid Hre ana SklrmfSh fire practice The
skirmish targets have steel skeleton frames
representing the outline of a soldier in
iiring Notwithstanding and lying, respec-
lively. They are covered with cIntb ana
black paper cut as silhouettes to the shape
of the frames. The group skirmish tar
get is composed of two slhouettes in line
and yard apart, kneeling figure on the
leit and a lying figure on the right An
other black silhouette target represents tbe
soldier IN standing position. Still another
represents a soldier upon a horse both
fldef ana mount being seen about three
quarters view.
The 'collective-fire target" consists of
forty-eight black silhouettes of the human
figure. Nearest the shooter are sixteen w.
ing hsures In line and ten yards behind
these are sixteen of the kneeIing silhou-
cites. Twenty yards back of the latter are
the same number of standing figures All
forty-eight represent men in the firing DO
sition.
Disappearing Silhouette Targets.
disappearing targets are also to be
used. These are silhouettes representing
soldiers in the kneeling and standing posi-
tons, each placed in the middle of a rectan-
gUlar target At a signal they are exposed
to view and are then Withdrawn after n
prescribed number of seconds.
The raw recruit will be taught to aim by
first resting his piece upon loosely filed
sand bag supported in the upper fork of a
tripod Each company will be equipped
with four five of these contrivances
For pistol practice black pastors or disks
are TO be placed upon the barracks walls
and squads of soldiers with unloaded re-
volvers will go through the motions of aim
ing and firing at these until they correct
false positions.
Later will come practice with loaded pis-
tolls. A more advanced course win be given
when the men are mounted Previous to
this their horses will be put through a
preliminary training 20 accustom them to
pistol reports. Blank cartridges will be
fired near them each day while they are
being groomed on the picket line, and all
forms of targets will be shown to them
until they cease to shy at such sounds and
sights The mounted men will be drilled
IN rapid aim while their horses are In mo-
ton. They will be taught to fire at sill
fouette targets arranged about the riding
tracks course in pistol practice, still
more advanced. VIII comprise shooting at
swinging disks of leather five inches in
diameter so suspended near the riding track
that they may be kept In motion by the
blasts of the pistols.
Captain Harry c. Hale. general staff, has
ing correct firing positions with both rifle
and pistol. These will BE- published part of
the compact little volumes of revised Fir
Ing Regulations for Small Arms" to be dis