Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-13
MEADES CRACK SHOTS
WILL BE PARADE STARS


CAMP MEADE. Admiral Md. Feb. l3.
philadelphians who wedge their way
into Broad street on washington's Birth
day and participate in the noisy demon
stration accorded the visiting soldiers
from the Liberty Division may doff their
hats to the 3i2th Field Artillery as il
swings down the ribbon of asphalt
That organization. headed by Colonel
James +. Brady. Is simon.pure Quaker
City outfit and just \. little more. for it
is the hardest hitting unit in the division.
An honor? Just a Bit but the Quaker
artilerymen ar, entitled to it, for up to
date not regiment at Camp Meade has
equaled the record established on the
rife range by tre men of Colonel Brady's
command.
They can snt.ot and despite the fact
that they have ocen cast to play an i'm
portant role win big guns every man
in the regiment 3 acquiring a fund of
skill with the ne. The boys are on
the rifle range ID working with an en-
thusiasm that Il surprising
It is possible mat the scheduled visit
to Philadelphia which has been engl-
nccred by, the ledger, may have a
bit to do with l.. nut they are bowling
UP wonderful scores. and IL they repeat
Huns had better keep their heads under
cover.
Today they were up with the birds and
trudged over the seas of sand to the
rifle range five miles from the barracks.
With them went the men Of the 30ith
ammunition train. which is so per cent
Philadelphian.
\ description Of the picturesque Dixie
country is interesting. but conveys but
little information in regard to the shoot
ing ability of the men IN olive drab. Rec
ord sheets do. So just put on your spec
tacles and read the records o' "A few
boys from home.
The rifle pit is constructed on the lines
of modern trench system and across
the field of mud are the butts. Nature
provided a natural background for the
butts for rising abruptly from the open
plateau Is high and thckly wooded
bluff that rises in many places TO a
height of $50 feet.
on the 20O-yarJ range the conven-
tional target has been discarded and
in its place dummy Hun, or rather
the head and shoulders of a dummy
Hun. garbed In blue-gray uniform, is
used. The figures, and there are at
least Fifty of the imaginary enemy, stand
out in bold relief against the deep
greens and blacks of the woods.
General Pershing has impressed the
war chief in Washington that the most
essential thing in the training program
of the National Army is the work on
rifle ranges.
Teach them to shoot" is the gist OF
his advice. That this advice has been
accepted and is being applied to Camp
Meade is apparent for all work is being
subordinated to rifle practice. That Gen.
eral w. j. Nicholson has excellent timber
with which to build a crack-sho;
division Is emphasized when IL ma ajority
of the men go on to the two-hun-
dred yard range and make better than
four hits out of ten. Twenty-Five per
cert make better than five hlts ana q
good percentage bowl up scores that
range from six to nine hits out OF
possible ten.
Assured that they are going to Phila-
delphia to participate in the big patriotic
demonstration the boys in the 3l5th In
fantry and 3l2th Field Artillery are IN
! fine spirits To the last man they arc
anxious to go. and counting the days
from now until their departure.
The attempt Of the little glooms and
camp LillJOys to throw cold water on the
parade plans is resented by the soldiers
| and their officers. The only eXression.
Of disappointment that one hears con
| Germs the inability Of the city to enter
tain every Phiadelphian In the division