Bisbee daily review., 1909-12-14
RIFLE PRACTICE
 PROMISES PROFIT
GOVERNMENT PUTS 4 PREMIUM ON MARksMANsHIP THAT STIMULATES EFFORTS TO Ex- GEL.

WASHINGTON, Dec. f3.---In the an- nual report Of the Adjutant General of the Army. General r. c. Ainsworth devotes some space to small firing He states that contipued improvement is shown in rifle firing by the in- crease fin the number of qualifications in the higher grades of marksmanship. He cites the practice seasin of 1905. during which 2s79 expert riflenen. 7So7 sharpshooters and 4204 marks men qualified. as against 1871 expert rifiemen, 55s5 sharpsheters and 4i2s marksmen in .lso7 This means a great deal to the army as under the regulations as amended February 9, 1909, enlisted men qualifying as ex- pert riflemen. sharpshooters and marksmen are entitled to additional pay of s5. 8 and $2 a month. respec- lively from date of qualification to the end of the enlistment in wfl cil they qualifv. provided that during that time they do not attain a higher classification and that they continue to be mem bers of an organ, ,zation armed with the rifle or are trans ferred for the convenience of the gov emment to some organization not so armed
 From the jove it is seen that tae government is giving substantial eec- ognit.on to craftsmanship in the reg ular army.T The regular army at pres ent consist of about TT coo men. many of whom, of course. a1e not armed with the rifle and therefore cannot draw the increased pay. There are 14.390 men in the table noted who are drawing increased pay as the rs- suit of proficiency with the rifle. Ehe total amount reee'yed by them in the course of 8 wear is s524.6SS or S4s,- 724 per month. Of this s11.S95 goes to the 2379 experts; s2S.42i is paid to the 7S0s silarpshooters while the 4204 marksmen receive SS,4eS per month. all in addition to the regular monthly pay Taking the army at 77,000 men, rrore than 20 per cent of the enlisted strength is receiving ad- ditional compensation for eeellence tn marksmanshiR
 During 1909 the troops in the De- partment of the East and the Depart ment of the Gulf joined in what was known as the Atlantic Competitions which were held at Fort Niagara, N. Y; those in the Departments of the Dakota, Lakes and Missouri, partic- ipated in the northern competitions at Fort Sheridan. Ill inois; on the Pacif- ic Coast the Departments of Ca'ifor- mia and Columbia held their competi- itfons at Monterey. California. and tue Departments of Colorado and of Tex as combined in the southwestern compet' tons held at Leon Springs, Texas-After the Department competl tions, the army competitions were held at Fort Sheridan as the result of which the army rifle team for the National Trophy match was selected. This team was defeated by the U. s Navy team by 49 points the Navy making 3S0l and the Army Infantry Team 3752.
 In the division competitions medals were awarded to a considerable mum Der Of competitors. including 113 en- listed men and 2S commissioned of ficers for proficiency with the pis- tol Altogether the number of com- petitors in the army competitions were as follows. File 5S5 enlisted men, S4 commissioned officers and g distinguished marksmen; Pistol. 2S3 enlisted men, 73 commissioned Of ~ficers and 22 distinguished pisFol shots.
 The small arms firing regulations have been revised and published as saThe Provisional Small Arms Firing siaaaal This manual is to take ef- feet January l, 1910 and is to super sede the present small arms firing regulations.