New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1915-08-25
two hits on three targets out of the shots

two hits on three targets out of the shots
fired during that nights attack.
Wednesday morning we had another
problem to work out, this time in
platoon defensive work. Instead of
taking shovels and digging ourselves in,
as they do on the Belgian battle front,
we saved time by filling canvas bags
with sand and throwing up temporary
breastworks. There were three groups
of targets coming up to attack us, from
what direction we did not know. We
had $40 rounds of ammunition to use
In this attack, and the score was COM
puted both from the number of hits made
and the length of time it took US to
deliver our shots.
I'm this work, directions are ex-
pressed in the form of the figures on the
face of clock. For example, twelve
o'clock would mean that the attacking
force was directly in front of us; nine
o'clock meant that the attack came
from our left flank. The officer in charge
would call out the direction of the at
tack, and then we were obliged to sight
the gun on the enemy, deliver our shots
and shift back into position behind our
breastworks. Sometimes we were out
flanked, which meant that the gun had
to be dragged out from our improvised
trench, trained first on one party and
then on those coming on from the other
side. Our record, which was the highest
made, was sixteen minutes, ten seconds,
and this included the time it took us
to throw up embellishments, get the gun
into position and then fire our $40
rounds at the enemy.
Got Acquainted With Gun.
Before we were put through our
PAGES on the range, however, we were
taught all the things we didn't know
and thought we knew about the machine
gun. Absolute precision is required by
the federal authorities in this kind of
work. The machine gun is made up of
mechanism as delicate as that of fine
watch. No one is allowed to use any
thing sharper than fine emery cloth
on any of the parts, and every particle
of dust and rust must be cleaned of,
otherwise the thing will kick worse than
superannuated Ford. If everything
is not adjusted the way it should be, the
gun is liable to jam in action, and that
means that it will have to be taken
apart which is scarcely convenient under
fire from ian enemy One of the other
Minnesota companies had a jam while
on the firing range, which exploded one
cartridge within the remains of another
one and filled the whole machine with
bits Of shell. If an accident like this
should happen in actual service it would
mean disaster for that part of the force
so that it is no wonder the government
is insisting on accurate work.
eve were also given our share of the
riding school. Here the horses used
are regular Federal Army mounts, who
know the army drill better than most
of the men. They are very sensitive,
however, and many accidents occur
from careless handling. There was one
detachment from Missouri that had
every one of it's men suffering from
some kind of bruise or broken bone be-
cause of avoidable accidents in the
riding school. In connection with this
instruction, we were given training in
the care of stables and sick animals,
and were shown the different ways Of
packing equipment.
Work Is Practical.
Altogether we put in seventy two
hours of hard work in the ten days we
were out there. The work was of the
regular army type, the instruction in
tensely practical, and the methods such
that many of those who were used to the
easy going militia tactics were rather
surprised at what was expected of them.
This encampment is the result of an
attempt on the part of the Federal
government to put the national guard
on basis of efficiency. There is a
danger now that these state organiza-
tions may be called out for active service
and no chances can be taken with slip
- Fl. :.