The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-04-22

the building.
Altogether, the fife Of the enlisted
man at Fort Mckinley centers around
the Y. N. c. A. It is here he goes
for knowledge, for pleasure and for
exercise. Several times a week NOV
ing picture shows are given, which
are well attended, and occasionally a
troupe, theatrical or minstrel, is
drawn from Manila TO entertain.
Admission is charged to these enter
tainments, which is the only revenue
of the Association except nominal
dues
Difficult Target Practice.
Manila Cablenews American: -Nev-
er have craftsmanship honors appear
ed more difficult of attainment than
under the new rules laid down by the
war department for rifle practice dur
ing the year 1911.
Old soldiers who in times gone by
could plug a stationary target full of
holes at 1000 yards, blink and rub
their eyes when disappearing targets
bob up before them at unknown ran
ges, linger for a moment on the horiz-
on, and disappear behind cleverly con
cealed butts. In a vague sort of way
they realize that the "old Betsy" that
they clean with such loving care each
morning is supposed to bore holes in
these things, but as they traverse the
skirmish line and are eliminated at
the other end. 1t is not quite clear
that the man who worked out the
theoretical side of disappearing tar
gets ever had much to do with captur-
ing a coveted sharpshooter's or expert
rifeman's badge
Why disappearing target, anyway?
Who ever heard of soldier, a soldier
of the old school, being guyed like
that? It's just like holding out a
piece of candy to a child, and then
switching it behind your back when
he reaches for it.
1t amt like the old days when the
Army was an Army. No newfangled
flubdubs like that were ever heard of,
and the blankety-blanked idiot who
invented it just ought to be out here
on the range trying to drive hole
in a target that's there when you look
and amt when you pull the trigger.
He would learn something about
shooting then, and would forget some
of these ding-busted theories.
That is about the train of thought
of the three thousand men who have
been engaged in preliminary target
practice at Mckinley for the past
six weeks.
The rules this year are particularly
trying, and one officer expressed the
opinion that the entire post would not
produce more than a dozen sharp
shooters on account of innovations
with which the men are not familiar.
! The disappearing target seems to
be the stumbling block, and few of
any of the men make perfect scores
firing at it,
Target practice will be continued
until all troops at the post have COM
pleted the practice.
Major Bell Received.
! Manila, March PA brilliant re-
ception rendered Major General and
Mrs. ]. Franklin Bell in Schofield
Hall at Fort William Mckinley lasJ
night by the officers and ladies of the
garrison was attended by hundreds
of guests
In the receiving line were: Major
Erickson, Philippine Scouts secretary
of the club; Major General and Mrs.
Bell, Colonel and Mrs. Bowen,
Twelfth Infantry; Major and Mrs.
Purviance, Medical Corps; Colonel
and Mrs. Hunter, Seventh Cavalry;
Colonel and Mrs. Getty, Seventh In
fantry; Major and Mrs. Barth,
Twelfth Infantry.
Magnificent and artistic illumina-
lions featured the occasion. An in
candescent horseshoe blazed over the
entrance of the hall, and red, white
and blue lights hung over the
grounds in lines.
Two great electric stars over the
band stand paid silent but glitter
ing tribute to the high rank of the
guest of honor. Blue and white lights
shone in profusion in the dancing
room.
The Seventh Cvalry band played
splendid program of dance music,
while the Seventh Infantry was post
ed in the garden.
Dancing following the reception
lasted several hours, and a buffet
supper was served on the terrace.
VestaI Relieved.
MANILA, March 26.-Captain Sam
uel G. Vestal, who for the past two
years has been on duty in the mill
tary information division at Fort
Santiago was re1ieved vastardav b,y