New-York tribune., 1905-12-18
JERSEY RIFLE PRACTICE,
General Spencer Opposes Fort Riley
for National Match.

General Bird w Spencer inspector general OF
rifle practice of New-Jersey, has fied WIN 'i'0
adjutant general his annual report for the season
Just closed, and has also transmitted to the mill
tarv secretary at Washington. through the ad-
jutant general the results of firing under Special
Course c.
The results OF the season just closed are hatter-
inc and are much In advance of the two previous
wears Special Course c firing regulations for
small arms OF the United States Army went into
effect in 1903. The figure of merit for the state
was 81 the 5th Regiment being the highest with
a figure of merit OF IS; the 2d Regiment being
next, with figure of merit OF 81; followed by so
Regiment. AZ; 4th Regiment, "A. and 1st Regi-
ment, .SS
There were qualified Expert rifemen, @5; sharp
shooters 81: marksmen. 1170; first class. ts; sec
ond class 49, third class. 9l3. and fourth class,
1884.
Regiment. leads with 1.12 Company D. 9TH Regi-
ment being next with LOT. The 1st Troop, New
ark, has the highest figure Of merit, 12S qualify
ing every man on the roll: Expert ri1emen. Is;
sharpshooters g. and marksmen, 80
In armory practice the 1st Regiment leads, with
1914 qualified, the 5th Regiment being next, with
44S qualified followed by the 4th Regiment, 40: Sd
Regiment 5S4 and Cd Regiment, 2S4. The 1st Bat
TALON of the Naval Reserve had rifle practlee
while on cruise on the Portsmouth. with sue
cessful results.
General Spencer recommends that the rife prac-
tice be held during camp. and that all the regl-
ments shall go into camp each year. he says
In view of the increased range facilities ana lhe
present system of employment OF scorers dnu e
from the colleges we VIII pe SO o;1atione 20
there is at all why the orgaztd1oTIiLs S
ing to camp should not obtain all OF pTdcI1Gy @
OF their rife practice during their ealip icient
instruction than extended order drills WIN olah
cartridges although not quite as spectacular.
TyheTeby the entire National Guard will encamp
by regiments for period of five weeks IN ALL anu
panies a day be extended over this period. Adj
tionaI time-say three weekS-can be afforded after
the camp IS over for the pra%G.ce % nav 9v he 1tifle
10 fire in higher classes than those pracuseo 9u.-
ing the camps. I believe that the money saved IN IN
to the regiments during rife practice VIII be al
most sufficient to pay the difference necessary TO
encamp the entire National Guard eacn year: ~
goes without saying that a more effclent guard
viii be developed and a larger percentage VIII
have opportunity to qualify upon the rlne range
Captain W. C. Cannon, Inspector of rife practice
of the 4th Regiment, is announced as the winner
of the Governors champion match.
Reference is made to the use of the magnihcent
facilities at Sea Grt for the rife practice & of sas s
United States troops. Six companies OF tne stli
Infantry and seventeen companies or coast ar
tillery completed all OF their practice on the sea
As to the national match at Sea Grt, General
Spencer has the following to say:
While Sea Girt is not especially a candidate for
the next match, or for future matches, Sun lt 10
to be regretted that the tendency OF the reguiaI
officers is toward permanent matcn az e[t fSlaey @
under strictly regular army regulatlons: NOT ta a
we agree with General Hall in his report that tne
Fort Riev range makes it the most available point
in the United States 1t is true tat II Is near Ce
geographical centre of the country oue nov +i
much less of the shooting populatlon II the he-
tional match is to be success IN tne t duture & IL
nices and not in any sense strictly unf1er army
control.