Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-14

ing the required number of shots with
in the stipulated firing intervals as
laid down in the Firing Regulations
for Small Arms. Simple as this may
seem, it will prove most excellent
training for actual skirmish running
for it will accustom the rifleman to
take position readily and teach him
to take full advantage of the firing
intervals. In the course of time he
will learn that 80 seconds is ample
time in which to take deliberate aim
and fire two shots, and that even in
the 20 seconds allowed at 200 yards
five shots may be fired with certainty
of aim if the rifleman is regular in his
motions.
If the range will permit an occa-
tridges, the rifieman will find that he
is making steady improvement and
will thereby be encouraged to continue
practice with the empty piece.
In the same way. holding and snap
ping may be varied by rapid fire eXer-
cises, both with the empty piece and
with gallery ammunition, care being
taken to see that the firing interval
in the off-hand position is 20 seconds
and in the prone position, 80 seconds.
Commanding officers should ascertain
what possible material they have for
the State team. and then do all in their
power to see that possible candidates
spend the winter protitably. Holding
and swapping exercises are irksome at
best. but if commanding officers will
encourage their best riflemen to persist
in such practice, the coming seasons
results will be greatly improved.
Riflemen who hope to make the State
team should take time to thoroughly
learn the rifle with which they are
armed. They should learn to remedy
the roughneSS in the action and trig-
pull. and should be able to test
their rifles for smoOthness and cali
bration of bore. These little things
may make little difference in ordinary
shooting; but to the expert they are Of
vast Importance, for a rifle of excess
sive caliber will send shots high and
wild at 1000 yards, no matter how
ca refulIy the rifleman may hold. The
rifieman who lacks This knowledge is
handicapped in any competition with
experienced riflemen.
When another season opens. the rifle
man should make his eos at 200, 300 and
500 yards. and then expend his surplus
ammunition and spare time at 600
yards. Any man who can shoot at 600
yards can shoot at 500 yards and work
at 600 yards will do more for a man
than work at any other range. In the
same way, a rfleman's time is put to
better advantage for long-range train
ing by work at 1000 yards rather than
300 yards.
And the final suggestion is this: Don't
pick the good days. They are excellent
for qualification purposes but they do
not train for all-round craftsmanship.
The work Immediately before the
Guard is that of indoor practice and for
the indoor season of 1865 all inquiries
should be addressed to Major John J.
Dooley, assistant inspector-general OF
rifle practice, sos Congress street, Port
land. Major Dooley will have entire
supervision of the indoor practice and
his decisions will be final.
Companies which have gallery ranges
should see that they are in condition
for the winters work, and companies
which have no such ranges should take
steps to remedy the deficiency. All
necessary Information regarding the
construction of ranges will be furn-
ished by the assistant INSPECTOR general
Of rifle practice on request.
Information regarding the amount of
gallery ammunition which will be al
lowed for the winters practice will he
announced later from the Office of the
ant-gencral
ELLIOTT G. DILL.
Colonel. Inspector General Of Rifle
Practice.
The railroad commissioners have APP
proved the location of a branch track
of the Boston and Maine railroad in
the town Of Hollis. to the plant of the
Publishers Paper Co.
The following corporation has filed its
certificate of organization at the office
of the secretary of State:
Mexico. Oaxaca & Yucatan Railway
organized at Portland, for the purpose
of constructing. equipping. maintaining
and operating a line of single or double
track railway in the Republic of
Mexico, with s1,0OO.00O capital stock. of
which nothing is paid in. Officers.
President, Willard w. Baldwin of
Portland; treasurer Geo. G. Kicker of
Portland. Certificate approved Nov 10,
1905.