The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-01-11
SMALL ARMS FIRING
DISCUSSED
AOJUTANr GENERAL OF THE
ARMY TELLS OF iMPoR.
LANCE OF PRACTICE.

Washington. Jan. la-In the annual
report of the adjutant general of the
army. General F. C. Ainsworth devotes
some space to small arms firing. He
states that continued improvement is
shown in rifle firing by the increase
in the number of qualifications in the
higher grades of workmanship. He
sites the practice season of 1908. dur
ing which 1919 expert reflemen, $50,
sharpshooters and 4.204 marksmen
qualified, as against 1881 expert rifle
men. 5,5o5 sharrshooters and 4.l2s
marksmen in 1907. This means a great
deal TO the army as under the regu-
lations as amended February 3. 1903
enlisted men qualifying as expert
riflemen. sharpshooters and marksmen
are entitled To additional pay of S.,
SO and 50 month respectively from
date of qualification to the end of the
enlistment in which they qualify. pro-
vided that during that time they do
not attain a higher classification and
that they continue to be members of
an organization armed with the rifle
10 the government In some organiza-
ton not SO armed"
From the above il is seen that the
government is giving substantial rec
ognition to craftsmanship in the reg
nlar army. The regular army at pres
ent consists of about 1000 men. many
Of whom. of COURSE are not armed
with the rifle and therefore cannot
draw the Increased pay There are
1880 men in the table quoted who
are drawing increased pay as the re-
suit of proficiency with the rifle. The
total amount received by them in the
course of year Is s5a4,6SS or $40. Io4
per month. OF this $11,S95 goes to the
s.3,9 experts: sa3.l2l is paid to the
'.s0S sharpshooters, while the 1904
marksmen receive sS,i0s per month, all
IN addition to the regular monthly
pay. Taking the army at 1900 men.
more than 20 per cent of the enlisted
strength is receiving additional com
pensation for excellence in marksman-
ship.
During 1909 the troops in the depart
nent OF the east and the department
NJ the Gulf joined in what was known
as the Atlantic competitions which
were held at Fort Nicaragua, n. v.
those in the departments of the Dako-
N. Lakes and Missouri, participated
IN the northern competitions at Fort
sheridan H.; on the Pacific coast
the departments OF California and CO.
hnDia held their competitions at
monterey, California, and the depart
hents OF Colorado and Of Texas COM
nined IN the southwestern competitions
heid at Leon Springs. Texas. After
the department competitions. the army
rifle team for the national tronhy
match was selected. This team was
hefeated by the United states navy
team by 40 points the navy making
1901 and the army infantry team s7,o
In the division competitions medals
were awarded to considerable mum
ner 81 competitors. including lis on.
listed men and IS commissioned or
iieers. Tor proficiency with tie riff,
ana os enlisted men and IS commits
stoned officers for proficiency with the
pistol. Altogether the number of
competitors in the army competitions
We're as follows: Rifle, $50 enlisted
men "a commissioned officers and 90
distinguished marksmen; pistol. ass
enlisted men. % commissioned officers
and % distinguished pistol shots.
me small arms firing regulations
nave been revised and published as
me Provisional Small Arms Firing
Manual This manual il to take ef-
rect January I. 1910, and is to super-
sede the present small arms firing rac-
nlations