Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-28
CRACK SHOTS ARE
TO HAVE SPECIAL
TARGET TRAINING
sharpshooters at Camp Dodge TO Re-
( ceiye Instruction for Highest
craftsmanship.
TO LEARN TO PICK OFF FRITzy
SeIeetive Army Soldiers Who Show
Skill With Rifle VIII Be Edu.
Gated for Shipping.
fsnecial 70 The Argusl.

Camp Dodge, Ia, Nov. 2S.-Bring /
on your shafp-shooters!
They're going 10 be in demand at
Camp Dodge before very long. For
fellows who have no trouble hitting
the bull's-eye will be picked for snip
ers In the Eighty eighth division, and
will be given a thorough course in
training at the cantonment school Of
trench warfare.
Colonel Harry Cooper, who is super
vising the trench warfare lessons,
says that 1t probably will be some
time, yet, before the 'sniping lessons"
begin. Crack shots Will be selected
from each company and will be given
training 10 sharp-shooting Those
most proficient VIII be selected for
further training in the use Of telescop-
ic sights and in other instruction nee
essary for these eagle eyed snipers.
Lieutenant George Yates, who re
Gently returned from the school OF
fire at Fort SILL Okla, will be in
.charge OF the classes in sniping. He'll
teach men TO hit targets that most
folks wouldn't see at all, and it will
20 lard with those boches when the
Camp Dodge peppers get over there
in the trenches.
Maybe you think that sniper fell
low has an easy job, and that most
any person who ever shot squirrels
with an air-gun qualities for the job.
But it's one thing To aim at targets
on a rifle range or sparrows on a
wayside bush. and quite another to
pick your targets In an opposing
trench. These targets often are very
small. Sometimes an eye, or a finger
carelessly protruding, and regular
"nail-driving" craftsmanship is nee
essary 10 produce a good sniper.
"The main purpose OF sniping,'
Colonel Cooper says. "is TO break
down the morale Of the opposing
forces. BY picking of a man when
ever he leaves cover you keep the
enemy worried. He knows you're
watching him; that you're after his
scalp.
Assigned to Companies.
In time OF war. there are from two
10 four snipers in every company.
They usually are assigned to a pla-
toon sector. and observe closely all
movements OF the enemy Most Of
their work is done during the day;
their shooting is done through loop
holes, that they may be entirely con-
cealed from the opposing forces.
Never has this practice been so ef-
fectiyely used as during the present
war. At the beginning Of the Civil
war Colonel Cooper says sharp
shooters were on the JOB, popping off
men Of opposing sides at every oppor-
tunity. Then, through the tacit agree
ment Of the soldiers. this practice was
stopped, and between battles there
we're no hostilities Men Of the union
and confederate armies often would
converse in friendly manner be-
tween engagements. All that has been
changed in the present conflict. And
the object Of American forces today
the colonel says, is to train their snip
ers to do work more effectively than
that Of the German army.
ReprisaIs on Germany.
Were going to show them a few
things" Colonel Cooper promises. AT
the beginning OF the war Germany
promised to use no poisonous gas, tc
respect hospital ships, and to refrain
from air raids She has broken all OF
those promises, one by one. The al
lies are handing her two blows fol-
every one she has rendered
And those snipers from the Eighty
eighth division won't let anything ge
by them. Lieutenant Yates is COINS
10 pick the steadiest fellows at CAM
Dodge for those jobs. For in add
ton to being good shots, the sniper'
must be rather phlegmatic as to dis
position, and extremely patient. Colo
mel Cooper says that he has heard tn
most effective snipers in the British
army have been men who were hunt
ers Of big game in private life. Thei
patience. developed while lying il
wait for their prey, has made then
admirably qualified as snipers.
It's going to be quite job, tina
sniping.