New-York tribune., 1907-11-30
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Horseback Target Practice for Ca0-
0Lr!Ymen.
From The Tribune Bureau. J

Washington, November 9.
INTEREST IN TESTS-Ofhcers of the cavalry
arm have been discussing the advantage which
would be derived from target practice by soldiers
who mounted. Cavalrymen are maintaining
that there would be real benefit if craftsmanship
from the horse took the place Of target practice
on foot so far members of the cavalry are n
cerned There have been some practical tests
along these lines and keen interest in the subject
mas Deen awakened. especially among the enlisted
men VINO nave taken part in the exercises. The
great dlniculty encountered. however is in getting
the horse accustomed to the discharge of ,Ae rifle
over or near it's head. is found that the animals
stand perfectly still after a little experience as
they DO under heavy artillery and in the pres
ehce or the noise of shooting generally. There are
zines zines "hen the cavalryman must shoot without
setug OF his horse, especially when he is detailed
Iol 'He duty OF scout patrol or when acting
aiope Inc experiments have been made the sub
Jeot OF an official report which is considered of
nluch Importance. Steps may be taken TO extend
Tue "ork TO the cavalry generally.
YOUNGER SAILORS WANTED-rt Is possible
'hat the naval authorities will renew their efforts
10 nave Congress change the law relating to re-
0IuIns so that restrictions respecting the accept
1ii0e oI applicants which imposed by law
may be removed. This difficulty was the result of
'he complaint that the navy was taking in young
men who were not of age In all such cases of
curse 'he young men resorted TO falsehood in or
uer 10 OBTAIN acceptance. and later sought to make
tillS an excuse for discharge. which could not be
enlisted man in a charge of fraudulent enlistment
Inc requirements that the candidate for enlist
ment shall show his certificate of birth or written
evidence other than the statement of the candidate
or statement which is merely based on his own
assertion, and this rule must be applied whether
the man is obviously more than twenty-one wears
"'o or not 1t has had its effect enlistment and
IL considered a block to the acceptance of men who
want TO enlist and cannot meet the requirements
1t answers no special purpose so far as the naval
authorities have been m
GALLoPING TELEPHONE sYs-EM-some rn
usual experiments have just been completed Fort
Leavenworth, Kansas. with instruments and cleo
trcal connections which will permit telegraphic and
teephonic communication between operators mount
ed on horses without requiring the operators 10
dismount and establish stations. This was done
by making the animal part Of the electrical cir
cult and was successful that a man riding
along received telephone call while in
uon Ihis Is done by means of a small piece Of
copper properly connected TO the telephone instru-
ment placed against the animals body. the ground
connection being completed through
hoofs Of the horse. The horses stood the well.
ana are described as exhibiting surprise rather
than pain at something unusual. TO which they
quickly became accustomed The tests were made
over all kinds OF ground. wet and dry IN the roads
and fields. The signal corps authorities do not re-
gard the test as likely to lead to much OF perma-
nent value. but they acknowledge tho novelty OF
the experiment
NAVAL AMMUNITION TENDER.-The naval
authorities will make a recommendation at tho
coming session OF Congress for at least one am
munition ship. Most officers who know anything
Of tho situation in favor OF having two such
ships. the Atlantic and the other the
Pacific to transport ammunition the ships of
These shipments mostly made by
naval colliers and supply vessels. which are not
specially adapted to tho work, although they are
fitted with small cargo magazines. The difficulty
Of shipping ammunition would be greatly increased
in time OF war and when 1t is considered that the
batteships do not have space for more than enough
ammunition than would last en- hour 1t Is appre-
ciated that arrangement should be made for
providing the means of getting ammunition to the
vessels.