Evening star., 1914-08-01
RIFLE SHOOTING BEGINS
AT INSTRUCTION CAMP
Student-M Military Body Spends Long
Hours on Range, and Some
Are Making Records.
ENrs. MILITARY INsrRuo-

STUDENTS MILITARY INSTRUO-
TON CAMP. Burlington. Vt, August !.
The students at the students mill
tary instruction camp at Burlington,
VT began their 1--WE days Of rife shoot
ing on the range at Fort Ethan Allen
last Monday. This work involves long
hours and the cadets are away from
their comfortable tents all day. Rising
time in the morning is forty minutes
earlier than usual. at o'clock instead
of $40 o'clock. After a hot breakfast
the four companies of the battalion are
formed under arms. and by $50 o'clock
are well under way to the range. which
is about three and one-half miles
southeast of the camp at Burlington.
The students carry field equipment to
the range. They make light their bur-
dens. however, by singing different
popular marching songs.
The range Is reached in ABOUT an
hour and firing begins at once. Shoot
Ing at the 200. 800. 500 and 900, yard
ranges, at both slow and rapid hre, Is
included in the course, and the firing
covers both practice and record
among the students. Many are qualify
ing as expert rifiemen and as sharp
shooters, and a larger number az
marksmen.
Students Run the Range.
The students do all the work neces-
sary to run the range. Sergeants are
detailed as scorers. and the shooting or
each squad is supervised by its cor
poral. Each squad has its turn at work.
ing in the pits behind the targets.
Each company has four targets for
its use, and two men shoot on each at
~ lieutenant
company Is in charge OF each one OF
the targets.
Dinner is prepared on the range. and
the students form bread lines for their
mess with their field mess Kits. Their
only tables are the ground.
The companies start back to camp
about 4:30 o'clock and reach there IN
time for a shower and a good supper.
Retreat is omitted on these days. The
companies bivouacked in shelter tents,
commonly called dog" tents. last night,
partly for the purpose of saving time
and partly: to accustom the men In
their life on the long hike. which be-
gins today.
The Vermont National Guard is en-
camped alongside the range for ten
days The students may have some
field problems with the guardsmen be-
fore long.
Larger Area Necessary.
The lack of ground for the maneu-
vers has proved a great drawback to
the present camp. The commandant
has been hindered by the fact that the
ground Is not sufficient for the present
number of students, and the assured
growth of the camps in future years
makes much larger area neces-
sary Capt R. O. Van Horn of the gen
eral staff corps, who is in charge of the
of the camps. today said
that he was looking for more suit
able maneuvering country. He arrived
July 26 to spend several days with t9e
students He was known and liked by
many of the students here before TINS
summer, and he received hearty Wei
come.
A roster of the camp with the ad-
dresses and schools of the students has
been prepared by l. V. Coblelgh of the
Y. NJ. C. A. tent.
1i Fl. Davis of the J. M g A. tent
will take the weeks hike with the bat
TALON and will carry all the Y. M: Z. A.
tent conveniences possible. stationery
and daily papers will be among his
itinerary. A small branch of the post
exchange will also go with the stu
dents.
Mai Russell has been sent from
to give stereoptlcan lec-
lures on the Signal Corps. He gives
these in the University of Vermont, ana
attendance is compulsory. The com
panes are marched to the university
a bout 1:30 pm.
The field maneuvers were sadly inter-
fered with last week on account OF
rain. For this reason dril was con-
1ucted for the most part In camp. Fart
IF the work was instruction in tent
fire control and sub-caliber
rifle practice. one day was spent in
trench digging. This was interesting.
and was viewed from the standpoint
IF both enemy and friend.
The battalion will be mustered out
about August 6 lust after The hike.