The San Francisco call., 1906-09-10
POOR SHOOTING Of
STATE MILITIA.
Deficiency Is Due to the
Lack Of Training and Suit
able Targets for Practice
NEED ARMY TACTICS

NEED ARMY TACTICS
Thousands of dollars worth of DOW
der and hundreds of pounds Of lead
have ben used in the target practice
recently held at Sea Girth, N. T.. to
prove the efficiency of men with the
rife as weapon of attack and of de-
fense. The men who participated in
States Army. Navy, Marine Corps and
National Guard organizations of thirty
five States and two Territories
California marksmen. while they did
little better than at the contest of
the previous year, failed, as then. to
place themselves in the list of crack
shooters.
The winners OF the six prizes Of
fered were; United States Infantry
with an aggregate score of 1851; United
States Cavalry. 3191; Massachusetts
National Guard, 3f77: New York Ma
tional Guard. 1855; United States Navy,
3151. and United States Marine Corps,
3113
Washington and Minnesota were
tenth on the list win a tie score of
2So7 Oregon with a. score of e745 is
rated as twenty first, and California
with a score of 271S Is rated twenty
fifth, four points higher than IL was
a year ago
The position that California occupies
in this contest may be easily accounted
for by the simple assertion, lack of
interest on the part of those officers
of the guard whose duty it is to en-
courage target practice and want of
opportunity for the men to practice"
The roster of the National Guard in
this State has upon 1t the names of
officers selected and assigned to duty as
inspector of small arms practice on
every STAFF. but the record shows that
these officials have done but little to
advance rifle practice. Little has been
done in the matter of establishing suit
able ranges for practice.
NO RIFLE RANGE.
San Francisco with it's large number
of Guardsmen has not rife range
that is worthy Of the name. the one at
Glen Park being practically useless.
Men belonging to companies that are
anxious to have good marksmen, or as
good as can be had with limited prac-
tice, must, at their own expense, go to
the range at San Rafael, the one near
Petaluma or the one at Livermore to
engage in a friendly shoot with the
company at either of the places named
The reason that the United States
Army, the Navy and the Marine Corps
are among the six prize winners is that
by the rules and regulations the men
must practice at the targets and with
liberal supply Of ammunition and
competent instructors.
Massachusetts and New York stand
third and fourth in the prize winners
because the National Guard of these
States each have inspectors who have
provided ranges and enforce practice
at the targets under proper conditions
So long as California continues orna-
mental rifle inspectors, fails to en-
courage rifle practice and the men. are
called TO engage in competitive shoot
ing only about a month before the
contests at Sea Girth open. so long
will the California shooters stay below
the twenty line in the contests.
II is reported that the Adjutant Cen
eral of the State will in short time
endeavor to secure sites for rife ranges
in the northern and in the southern
parts of the State.
COLONEL OF THE FIFTH.
Major D. A. Smith of the Fifth In
fantry, who was elected colonel of the
regiment to succeed ]. F. Hayes, re-
signed, received his commission last
Ger of that organization. but he will
not assume active command till some
time this week, when all accounts of
money and property shall have been
properly adjusted. Colonel Smith has
been an active member of the National
Guard of this State for thirty-four
years, having enlisted as a private in
Company D of the Fifth in August,
1872 After serving as a private for
Ave years he was successively promoted
sergeant major, first lieutenant and
paymaster, captain and adjutant of the
regiment. which position he held when
the Spanish American war broke out,
and he was commissioned captain of
Company B of the Eighth California
Volunteers. He was mustered out of
the service in 1891, returned to the
Fifth Infantry, was elected major, and
two years later was reelected and was
senior major in the State at the time
of his promotion as colonel of the
regiment.
CAPTAIN GILLOGLY HONORED.
The members of Company G. Fifth
Infantry, located in Alameda. on last
Tuesday gave farewell banquet in the
armory to retiring Captain J. w. Gill
logly. There were in attendance. in ad-
dition to the enlisted sren. Captain
elect Mcconnell. Lieutehants Fannuef
and Follrath. Colonel d. A. Smith of
the regiment. Major Hunt Captains
Wethern and Petersen and Lieufenants
Herman and Sullivan. The members OF
G Company showed their appreciation
of their retiring captain by presenting
him a magnificent gold seal ring
Major Emmett R. Jones, having re-
turned to the State, has resumed the
duties of auartermaster on the brigade
staff relieving Lieutenant Morsehead,
who acted during his absence
The battalion drill In the First In
fantry Regiment, which was to have
been held last week under command
of Major Mathewson, was indefinitely
postponed on account of the car strike.
For the same reason company drills
were suspended, hu. now that condi-
tions are again normal drill will be In
order again this week.
Too many so-called progressive peo-
pie are always looking for an oppor-
tunitY to huft In