The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-18
GERMAN BAD MARKSMAN|
Efficiency Of the 'Teutons
flinders Their Work
With Rifle.

like Frederick Palmer have generally
agreed that the German soldier is a
VIGOROUSLY poor rifle shot. Tommy
Atkins discovered this at Mons, where
the Germans. attacking in mass for
nation and in numbers far superior
to French's contemplate little army"
dropped like flies under the steady,
cool. accurate craftsmanship of the
British regulars, the finest soldiers in
the world. They can't shoot for nuts"
was Tommy's verdict. And ii seems to
be the correct one.
Edward c. Crossman, writing in the
Scientific American, explains why the
Germans are poor riflemen. Strangely
enough. the. basic reason for this is.
paradoxically, German efficiency. Says
Mr.. Crossman:
The Germans, never entering team
in any of the great International rifle
matches such as Bisley, Stockholm or
Camp Perry. and never following the
noble sport Of long range rifle shooting,
therefore could not shoot. When the
war broke out and the German infantry
turned out to shoot about as poorly
as the infantry of most other nations
not of Anglo Saxon breed, then the tic
killed. Britisher lodged few pecks of
shrapnel bullets, nicely placed, and ex-
claimed. I told you SOL!
"The German. with his intense desire
for efficiency and possibly a mistaken
notion as to what constitutes efficiency
in some lines. designed the rear sight
of his rifle so no man could do fine
shooting, or stand show in a long
range rifle match. even if the desire.
so foreign to the German, should enter
his breast.
The rear sight is so arranged that n
man, with enough intelligence to feed
himself and button his clothes could
set it instantly to any given range. The
sight then kindly locks itself into po-
| sition. 1t is strong, very strong. and
very simple. 1t Is devoid Of fine gim-
cracks such as wind gauges and de-
vices for making fine changes in elcva-
ton. Also, the most expert rifleman
in the world using one in front of
spectators in the epdeavor to make a
good score at 1000 yards, would speed
lily give vent to frenZied yells and as :
tsault the nearest solid object with the
poor rifle. AS a matter of fact, al
though sufficiently accurate for mill
ftary shooting, the German rifle will do
little more than stay on the 6-foot
target at 1000 yards.
| THE German rear sight like the rear
sight of every other nation outside of
England, Canada and the "a United
States, Is n bar with n large and gem
4 crous "V" cut in 1t. The elevating mr.
arrangement moving along a graduating
bed on the barrel of the rifle and rails
ing the arm on which the bar is fas-
tened. allows of no changes less than
100 yards At 1000 yards n change OF
100 yards on the rear sight moves the
bullet approximately 100 inches on the
target. and so the poor target man. hit
ting the 6-foot paper little low, would
have no alternative but leave the sight
where it was or else move it up 100
yards and go two or three feet over
the top of the paper There is no wind
gauge. ..s
Immensely practical this sight. but
not one to encourage fine shooting or
long range work such as is the delight
Of the American and the Canadian and
the Britisher-and lately of the Argen-
tino."
The writer then describes tho accept
ed German method of training the re
cruit In rifle shoeting-a system which
hardly goes beyond the preliminary
training given to American troops. 1T
bears all the imprint" he says. "of men
who have an. enormous number. Of men
to put through the course, and like
wise an enormous number. OF, men to
depend upon for volume of fire in case
of war The course is pathetic 30 far
as the higher points of rifle shooting
are concerned. SO = ,f-g.asa
Knowing the shooting ability Of the
Esodiers OF both races. knowing the
care taken in their training by the Off
Icers of both armies. and Knowing the
Ialmost inherited ability of the Anglo
Saxon to shoot well with n little train
ing. I would back the splendid regular
regiments of the British army of 1914
to whip handily the picked regiments
of the Prussan guard. numbers being
even and siege howitzers kept out of
ithe computation