Evening star., 1914-05-10

n LTHOJGH the rife range of the
N National Guard of the District
"A of Columbia at Congress
y Heights has been open for one
week only for the annual tar
get practice Of the guardsmen. it is re-
ported that the new plan Of allowing eacf
is proving successful.
Heretofore two days only have been al
lowed and it was necessary for the com
parly commanders 10 rush their mer
through their scores. many times I" the
,letriment of tho organization. FOR in re
GuirinE that he scores be shot in a hurry
If prevented some of the men from shoot
ing accurately and the organizations av-
crase was cut down.
However. il is believed that under the
rev plan of allowing three days there
win nc plenty of time and IL will not he
necessary To rush anybody, 1t is felt by
those under whose direction the scores
are shot on the range that the allow
ance ot three days will he shown in in
creased accuracy and that when the
% scores for the year are checked up more
men VIII have qualified in the grades OF
niarksman. sharpshooter. expert rifle
man. etc. than ever before
ON the whole. so far as the shooting
has gone this year the National Guard
officers having charge of this work be-
lieve that the results will more than jus
tify the extension of one day.
= In an effort to- assist the organized mi
-]itia of the country in bringing the Ma
iional Guard up to a high state OF eff
cheney the War Department has just pub
lished bulletin outlining courses of
study for various organizations compos-
Ing the National Guard. 1t is comprehen-
sive. giving the books and pages to be
followed in mapping out the various
courses. 1t also contains many sugges-
tions for National Guard officers in max
ing up their own courses of study.
u is specifically stated in the pamphlet
that the ideas contained in it must he
distinctly understood to be advisory only
and that details undoubtedly will have TO
he varied SO as to fit local conditions.
and that the entire scheme is 10 he con-
sidered only in the light of the guide
nile outlining the various courses in
the chnerent lines OF army work the bull
ietin points out that officers and men who
have passed through the study mapped
out should. in addition. be required to
take up certain postgraduate work i'm or
y
Ndnced requirements of the service
Any scheme that may lie devise d. .
SAYS the bulletin, mus: be based on
certain fundamental principles These
pr nciples are believed to he:
There must be in each state some
oetinite and continued system of inslrtic.
( ton. Every course of instruction should
embrace certain definitely prescribed sub
iects and b. for a definite period. in order
to unity instruction and prevent unneces-
In No Nl..-i. of
the prescribed course of theoretical in
struction. all study should not cease but
sufficient postgraduate work should fol-
low to broaden the students professional
horizon and Keep him IN touch with new
methods and ideas.
The efficiency of the squad. including
its leadership. is the basis of efficiency
and this efficiency in turn depends
the thoroughness of the training of in
dividual members of this unit.
The officer must know the duties of
the men under his command in addition
10 his own specific duties.
The efficiency of every command de-
pends on the efficiency of the units or
teams composing it. AS each team in a
large command must he under the direct
control of its immediate chief, il is evi-
dent that such chief should have all pos
sible charge of the instruction of his
team. From such a system there should
result not only suitable instruction of
the team. but also comradeship among
the individual members. pride in the team
as unit, and that confidence and habit
of command on the part of the leader so
necessary to efficient leadership.
The best instruction is that which is
practical and which is taught through
personal contact between instructor and
instructed Theoretical instruction is
justified only when practical instruc-
cannot he given.
Officers and on-commissioned officers
of each grade should be competent to take
M the duties OF the next higher grade.
THE ultimate object of all instruction
being field service efficiency. field ma
neuvers and field firing should he consid-
cred as the elimination of previous train
ing and the test of its thorouShness.
"The paramount object of instruction is
not to impart knowledge. but rather to
so train the soldier that he shall become
from year TO year more proficient in meet
ing the situations that face him on the
armory floor and in the field. 1t is be-
lleved that this desired development can
be secured by accustoming the soldier 10
investigate for himself.
..The applicatory method of instruction
should be used as far possible. This
method finds it's principal application in
theoretical instruction, especially in cor
respoudence courses. but its advanta ges
should not ne overlooked in practical
work.
There should be constituted in each
state an instruction board charged with
tne adoption Of a suitable course of prac-
teal and theoretical instruction and with
the supervision os the execution Of the
SANE IL is recommended that this board
consist OF the adjutant general, together
with a general officer Of the line, il one be
available. and one or more specially quail
fled officers from each arm. corps or de-
I,artment of the service maintained by ne
state. In addition all nspector-instruct-
atticfo members Of the board.
Plans for the dve-day encampment te
lie participated in by the National Guard
of the District of Columbia preceding the