Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-19
WHY A MEXICAN SOLDIER LEADS
THE WORLD IN MARKSNANSHIP

continued handling soon renders MIN
familiar with its use. He is instructed
as to the position to be assumed in
firing how the rifle must rest against
the shoulder and many other minor de-
tails. He is next instructed in load
ing In this drill dummy" cartridges
are used to guard against possible ac-
cidents After he has become familiar
with his rife, and can load and fire with
sufficient rapidly, he is then furnished
with blank cartridges.
Gets Used To Firing
The firing of these accustoms him to
the sound of firing. On the range this
is essential, for while firing only g few
feet away from him there will be other
men firing at the same time. The sharp
metallic crack of the rifle is very dis
concerning to one unfamiliar with the
sound. and is apt to result in derange-
ment OF the aim.
In the meantime the recruit has been
instructed in the manner OF adjusting
his sights at various ranges and IN the
methods of taking aim. He is shown
the difference between a fine, hale and
fulI' sight, and practice soon demon
strates which is the best adapted to
his eyes. The eyes of men show
great deal of difference. and all their
peculiarities must be studied out and
correction made of defects in so far as
is possible. Blue and steel gray eyes
seem to predominant among the expert
rifiemen
Range is classified as short range
Goo to 800 yards). mid range" (5O0
to 500 yards), and long range $500
to 1000 and over). Many VINO lead at
short and mid ranges find IT difficult
to hit the target at all at long range.
it being extremely hard on the eyes, and
only those with strong eyes can ever
hope to do good shooting at these
ranges.
month or six weeks before begin
ming actual range firing with service
ammunition. the instructions are dou-
bIed. Tripod exercise, position and aim
ing drill. and gallery practice are taken
up for several hours each day and are
continued until actual firing begins In
the tripod exercise" a sack of sand or
sawdust is supported on a tripod, the
rife being placed upon the sack. Ex-
perienced non-commissioned officers
sight the rife at small target & few
yards away, causing the recruits then
to note the alignment of the sights and
target They are then required to sight
the rifle, their errors in sighting being
pointed out to them. This drill insures
correctness OF aim.
Position and Aiming
Position and Aiming drill Push ana
Pull as the soldiers term it, is then taken
up, the object of which is the strengthen
ing of the arms, enabling the soldier to
hold his rife in position without t~emb-
ling, and to insure rapidity of fire, so
that he may fire the required number OF
shots in a given time, and yet to so
utilize all the given time that he may be
as accurate as possible in his firing.
For gallery practice a rife of reduced
caliber is used. This rifle, however, has
the same weight, sights and mechanism
as the service rife, so that on the re-
duced range all the details Of service
practice are carried out. Scores are kept
and all kinds of methods, such as low
man cleaning the rifles, used to encour-
age the men to their best efforts and to
take an interest in the drill.
Upon arrival at the range. the entire
course is shot over at least once as
instruction practice prior tn beginning
the record firing In the instruction
course effort is made to correct all defects
among the men, the expert riiemen act
ing as instructors and pointing out err
rors and suggesting remedies to those In
but in the record course no
coaching is allowed.
AS qualification as markeman better
entities one to increased pay, every ef-
fort is ma deto insure correct scoring and
the preservation of records, so that fraud
is practically impossible. even were any
so disposed. Those qualifying as marks
men take the sharpshooter's test those
in turn, taking the test for
expert rifiemen. Expert rifemen, sharp
shooter. and marksman increases the SOL
dier's pay s., So and 81 per month re-
spectively thus Offering an incentive to
the best efforts of the soldier.
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