The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-12-05
TARGET
PRACTICE
ARO|)SE:S
INTEREST

Washington, ID. c., Dec. 5.--In their
annuel reports to the secretary of the
navy, Admiral Jonn e. PiEsbury
chief of the bureau of navigation
and Brig Gen. George f. Elliot com
manding the U. S. Marine corps, take
occasion to refer to the eS-ellent
shooting done by the teams represent
ing the Navy and Marine corps in the !
National Rife match at Camp Perry. !
Ohio hast August, when the navy
came ln second IN a field OF iitt3
teams, vita The Marine corps fourth
and the IT, s. Naval academy seventh.
Admiral Pillsbury notes that with
the Improved facilities now provided
for training the personnel afloat at
small arms practice an Increased In.
terest Is manifested. Owing TO the
cruise OF the pattleship fleet none OF
tue men OF the feet were able to hold
small arms Practice. but of the other
vessels of the Navy. 6,256 officers and
meg completed the regular course Of
firing 9Sg qualified as marksmen. 392
as Inarpshooters and 124 as expert
rlfiemen.
IL it4 NiNiin ihdl Tue flbptlAN dAJoih'
Ing the Naval Academy range is Of
fered fcr sale for residential purposes
which, if sold to other parties. would
end firing on this range. Admiral
Pillsbury therefore recommends tnat
this property. 274 acres in extent be
purchased This will permit an in
crease of the present range from 500
to 1000 yards, and admit OF improve
ments 10 make it adequate for the fur
ther needs OF the Academy. He
points out that with the exception OF
small and insslaluate 600-yard range
at the Mare Island Navy yard, and
smaller one at tae Naval training
station. Ycfby Buena Vista. the navy
has no target range on the Pacific
coast, and north OF Guantanamo, Cuba
, there are only few small and IN.
adequate ranges on the Atlantic
coast"
General Elliott also refers to the
lack OF ranges. "The long range oil
the rifle now used" he sGys, makes
the location of ranges a problem OF
great difficulty. There are but few
posts Where the marksman's course
requiring a range OF 600 yards, can
be fred ana It is therefore imprac.
ticable to give the necessary instruc,
tion in rife practice under present
conditions.
During the coming year the mari
mes at Boston will use the range o.
the Bay State association at Wake
field Mass; those stationed at Phila
delphia will depend on the 800 yard
ri,nge OF the u. S. S. Lancaster; al
Newport. II. l., they will nave a 30O
yard range belonging TO the naval
training station; those in Washington
will use the District National guard
range at Annapolis they can use Tho
Naval academy range, and the marin
os at Puget Sound Twill have the
Marine corps range for the morks
mans course, AMI the National guar
range for toe sharpshooter's ana ex
pert rincmans test. There Is n,
range available for the marines sta
TONED al New York. the largest pos
In the United States. Arrapgoment
will be made to have the enlisted mel
who have qualihed as marksmen an,
who are transferred to saat pusi in
strncted on the New Jersey range a
Sea Gir;
General Elliott recounts with pai
h'ihAbi' Hf4hf the hAtttNh OF IN
Marine c9.ps team last summer q
Camp Perry Ohio. ana Sea Girt. \. ]
and says. '"rhe excellent work don
by the team In the matches referre
70 Is a source of great pride To tn
Undersigned and TO the Marine corn
at ih,ge. and wGs of such a characie
as to call forth a commendatory 10
ter from the Nav department. Grea
credit is due Captain William C. Hal
Ice u, S NJ c.. The team captail
for nls indeatlgable Efforts in gettin
the team into the form disp'ayei."
General Elliott reports qualification
for lseS as follow 81 expert rim,
meni l06 sharpshoOters; I79 mark
men ana - ma7Ksmen. specis
fnH a The award Of indiviiui
Arli competitive prizes under Navy d.
natment ol vgH. Instituted thls veal
20 enlisted men OF The Marine corr
serving 0n koro. has proven a grea
inccniive Target practice. especia
~ at poet where ranges OF only 80
fards are available General Elliol
finds iaat tie suggestion tnst m
same lrl1as ~ awardel candidate
who qualify Ton the Marine corps tear
ae are given candidates who MAX
the army team is working well. Coz
tnning he says.
In order 10 obtain n linz on m,
teriai iuf he Marine corps rife team
AM to further arouse interest IN "a
ger practice II Is the intention /
n