The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-12-04
PRACTICE DRILLS
FOR ALL OFFICERS
Planned to Familiarize Them
With Tactics
NEW RIFLE PRACTICE BILL
Draft Has Approval OF War Depart
ment-To Promote Marksman-
ship Of Citizens.

Tomorrow evening the initial drlu Of
the officers of the District militia VIII
be held in the Center Market Armory.
The object OF the driu viii bee 70 famiI-
iarize the commissioned officers with
the new drill regulations recently
adopted by the United States Army.
and which viii DE used in all field ma
neuvers in coming years.
General Hurrles, commanding the
local brigade OF citiZeu-sOldiery and
AdJL Gen. Lloyd A. Brett. rated as
one OF the best instructors in military
tactics and maneuvers 10 be found in
the United St.bes Army, are 90 be the
chief teachers
Those expected 10 be present are the
battalion and company officers. The
sessions Of the school OF Instructions
viii De from enc ana ualI 30 two and
half hours duration
On December l3 and Il the COM
Panies supposed 10 Grill will be placed
IN command Of the nOn-commissiCncd
officers OF the respective commands.
The latter are expect ia To SHOW their
competency To handle squads Of men
under the new regulations
II Is expected IluI &c efficiency OF
tle Guard WA. ue greatly enhanced Ev
the duoI tlcn OF t-le regulations. Onccrs
anu non-cc ms wall IN au Likelihood
ts'Ac 10 tHc plan VIII great interest.
Rifle Practice Bill.
At the coming session or Congress il is
expected that "A bin drafted bv the
board Tor The promotion of rifle practice
viii be presented by the Secretary OF
War The object OF the BIN VIII be 10
carry into eject The plan d.aWn by the
board in compliance with the act of
Aarch ., 1903.
In the consideration Of The subject
more than year was spent by the
board and the comprehensive plan
" Inch was finally drafted was submitted
10 the Secretary of War ana promptly
approved
~ he bin is entitled "A blI TO encourage
rife practice among the citizens Of the
United States SO as 10 render them
quickly available for efficient service in
time of war The board viii ask for an
appropriation of $4,000 annually.
II is puIposed TO have clubs composed
OF civilians. numbering NOT less Lhau
ten, formed in ali the large cities in the
country, ana 10 issue rifles and ammuui-
ton 10 them. These clubs viii be ac-
corded the privilege of using the rifle
ranges, both ia and ont doors, which
nave been nJted up ior the militia ina the
cities IN which they were formed.
Practice Coaches.
The members OF the Army Navy. Ma
rine Corps, and National Guard are also
considered in the bill The inspector
general OF rife practice in the miIltias
viii act as coaches, and there wall also
be score keepers and spoilers for the
civilians and all others who use the
ranges.
To enable civilians TO practice I'm the
shooting galleries and on the nationa!
ranges, and 10 obtain the benefit of the
provisions for the issuing of rifles and
ammunition. clubs are 10 be formed of
not less than ten members each, and the
shooting galleries and ranges viii be
open 10 such clubs, as well as 90 the
Army Navy, Marine Corps, and Nation
al Guard
To reach the schools, both public and
private. the age limit of mem bership to
The clubs mas been placed al fifteen
years Not exceeding one rifle may be
issued 10 club for each ten members
Thereon. together with 800 rounds of
ammunition per piece. After the first
year, not exceeding nifty rounds of am
H.unluou Tor each qualinca ton as
Hlafhaman may Le issued free.
Official Badges.
All qualified marEsmen viii receive
official badges. and their names and ad-
dresses are 10 be filed in the office OF
the military secretary of the army. so
that a complete roster viii be on hand
Of AN The men in the United States who
are familiar with the handling of the
national arm. and who are able TO use
il effectively. Such information would
be extremely valuable ia case of war.
Reports from nearly all civilized
countries as 10 the work which Is being
done lu those countries lu the direction
of rifle practice have been secured. con-
tanning valuable information. which viii
be presented 90 Congress In support Of
the bill
1t viii be pointed out that in estimat-
ing ia military efficiency OF a soldier I'm
battle. If We consider ten points as
standard Of perfection, al least eight
and ont-halt of these points are skill In
ritle and revolver shooting.
lu the Santiago campaign the soldiers
OF our INsular army engaged In that
campaign were perhaps the finest body
OF expert riremeu iu the world while
the Spanish troops had received little or
30 instruction iu target practice and
were very poor shots.
Russian Weakness.
The lack OF rifle practice on the part
OF the Russians is contrasted with the
care and attention given this subject
by the japanese. and is held largely re-
sponslhle for the success OF the Japan-
csc DO attacliug and carrying fortified
places
The board takes the position that for
practical purposes ln battle. the man /
behind the rife is the military emit. and /
IN he is properly trained 90 hit what he (
shoots at al other units viii do GOOD 4
work and insists that there D. no lvav /
by which a rife can bee accurately shot /
at any range without the individual I
training OF the man who aims IL and 1
pulls the trigger.
Forces Of the District
In she annual report OF the Score /
tary OF War. just Published, o. Is shown /
that there are l35 officers and 1886 en- 4
listed men ia the local militia. with
the exception OF the Ambulance and 4
Signal Corps the Guard conforms TO /
United states Army regulations
The Secretary calls attention 20 the /