The San Francisco call., 1908-08-18
GUARlSMFN MISS
RIFLE RANGE WORK
San Francisco Lacks Represen.
tatiOn by Shooters Because
Practice Is Not Possible
Members of State Team Expect
to Make Records at Ma
tiOnaI Encampment

The team of shooters that is to rep |
resent the state of California at the ma
tional shoot at Camp Perry. near East
lake, O., left for their destination by |
special car from Los Angeles last week. /
and each man expects TO make a record |
that when the scores are totaIized it |
may appear that the golden west is |
very near the top. The team is made |
up of guardsmen from il cities in the |
state, namely. Alameda, Anaheim, |
Chico. Colusa, Hanford Livermore, |
Riverside, Sacramento. San Rafael, |
Santa Rosa and Vacaville.
San Francisco is not represented. |
This is due to the fact that the guard |
Of this city is unable to practice be- |
cause of lack of range facilities.
On this subject Major Wilhelm, !
United States army, retired, who re-
Gently inspected the guard, says of the
San Francisco companies:
Company H-Instruetion in fire dis |
cipline, sighting and estimating dis
tances is not sufficient, nor is proper at
tention given to target practice.
Company K-Target practice has
not been sufficient and gallery practice
neglected. there being no suitable
place. This should be provided without
delay.
Company Target practice is re-
ported had twice a MONTH Gallery
practice is not had. Attention should
be given to this important work. This
company has not been instructed in
sighting drill, and in estimating dis
tances, position and aiming drill to
some extent only.
Company M-Target practice has not
been sufficient and gallery practice
neglected, there being no suitable place.
This should be remedied without delay"
MEN NEED INSTRUCTION
An officer of one of the companies,
speaking of the fact that San Francisco
is not represented on the teams, said
yesterday that while military etiquette
does not permit an officer to criticise
the superior officers he could not help
thinking that in bygone days, when
some attention was given by the
guardsmen to the use of the arms they
were furnished, there were some very
good shots among the San Franciscans
The officer who inspected the local
companies said he calls attention to
the fact that there is virtually no tar
get practice by the San Francisco men
and suggests remedy without delay. 1
wonder if the inspector of small arms
practice viii get busy and try to effect
/ remedy. viii those above him in
rank take up this matter as it should
/ be? The condition today is about this:
/ The men have been furnished a new
have no opportunity to test because
there is no interest taken in target
practice.
NEW WEAPON sERVICEABLE
The new weapon is a serviceable
/ one, and according to the reports by
those who have used it. is effective. but
the San Francisco boys have no prac-
/ tical evidence of this. The only use
they make of the arms in the armory,
right shoulder and left shoulder and
order arms For this purpose they
might as well have wooden guns. If
the guard is to be of any value the men
must be instructed in the use of the
weapon which they are expected to
handle. Every man can in three min
ates know how TO load and pull the
TO use a f1rearm effectively. Maybe
some day the matter Will be attend
/ ed to-
MART1SMEN SCORE WELL
On the occasion of the recent hike
| from SaUsalito TO the United States
rifle range in Rodeo valley, Marin coun-
| ty, Company NJ of the Fifth infantry,
CAPTAIN W. G. Hyde, located in this
city, turned out so per cent of its mem
bership, that is, 40 enlisted men and
two commissioned officers, all in heavy
marching order. The men practiced
all day at the 200, 800 and 500 yard
ranges to accustom themselves to the
new rifles. Some good scores were
made.
This company now has 81 names on
the roll and four applications for en-
listment. At an election held last
Thursday Richard Z. Mittelstadt. sec
Ond lieutenant, was advanced to first
lieutenant, vice De Finnis, resigned.
At an election presided over by Major
Grattan, George w. Keuhne was elected
second lieutenant of Company K of the
Fifth infantry, vice Schenck, resigned.
PREPARE OCTOBER CAMP
Company NJ Second infantry, at Han
ford, recently went on an evening
/ practice march TO an overnight camp
/ at Laton, several miles out of
Hanford. The following day there
was camp duty, rear and advance move
ments and drill and a hike back to the
| armory This was for the purpose of
preparing the men for the October
camp.
Captain Chanler, commanding Com
pany l. Second infantry at vacaville,
has been on the sick list for some time
and in his absence and that Of Lieu
tenant Palmer Second Lieutenant
Mauer is in command.
A number of members of Company
L. Second infantry, located at Bakers
field, were at the targets last week to
. test the new rifles recently issued to
them, and the majority of the men
I found that they could make better
scores with the new weapons than they
could with the. Krag-Jorgensons.
! MANY COMMISSIONS ISSUED
Commissions have been issued as fol
S lows:
Paul Alien Adams major and surgeon vie'
I BruDer. relieved. assigned to the Seventh in
fantry: Clarence Gaines Toland first lieutenan
- and surgeon. vice Bruner. promoted assigned
10 Seventh infantry.
Earl Bosworth Terry. first lieutenant. secon'
company signal corps. vice Jones, resigned
Milton Hesselberg. Second Lieutenant troop d
first squadron. cavalry, vice Allnson. resigned
James Carnes Young. first lieutenant compan,
L. Fifth infantpy, vice Armstrong. resigned.
In the Seventh infantry-Harry Breson Light
first lieutenant. vice Heber. promoted; Ortol
Clark Holden. second lieutenant. vice Lousley
resigned Jacob William Smith, second lieuten
ant. company X. vice Ham. resigned; Howar'
Allen Wassum. hrst lieutenant of company L
. vice Howe. resigned
Charles S. NJ. Bartlett has been ap
pointed sergeant major and staff or
l..