The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-09-17

much slower, making a slow "pup-pup-
pup-pup' report, while the English
fires very rapidly the sound being
similar TO that OF pneumatic riveter
The Germans, no doubt. being over
fed on efficiency, have figured that
three machine gun bullets through a
man will stop him Just as quickly as
seven or eight, with a resultant saving
OF ammunition.
The American soldier being the
crack shot OF the world, which fact has
been proved in many international
matches, will after a while rank as first
in the art OF sniping Shipping as used
today on the western front, takes US
back hundreds Of years 10 the methods
of the American Indian. Sniping is
simply the art OF scouting-that is. Of
seeing the enemy without being seen,
and picking off anv who expose them
selves. Being a fair shot, | nut in
about six weeks at this work while IN
the trenches but could not stand the
strain. To me il appeared quite all
right 10 get" man in the heat OF bl'-
ilc. but to lie houus and days at a
time, waiting for an enemy TO cNnoSe
himSeli-then to plug him. 1prcared
20 me a little undcrhanded. Aier see
ing two men in the enemv lines droD
before my rifle. felt sick in the Stom-
och and requested to he relieved from
'he detail NV nerve had gone, and aS
4 nervous Sniper is practically uS"'e's
to the army nv renuest was readily
Granted Still II the enemy iS active
in SrA,iSG we have lp other alternative
than 10 he twice n active
Sniping Defined.
SnlperS are divided into squads, gen
orally in charge of an officer or non
commissioned officer. These squads
number from four to sixteen men Each
has successfully passed a three weeks
course in spniping behind the lines
This course is very thorough, the men
being trained in methods OF discussing
themselves. range finding, pot. shooting
and scouting.
The Sniper'S eQuinment usually con-
Sists Of telescope rifle, a powerful
set Of field glasses and a range finder.
When practicable he is also given a
maxim Silenoer 10 he used on the rifle.
Shippers very seldom take station in
the front line trench as the ground be
hind the lines offers better observation
and concealnent. Shippers will observe
the enemy lines for da1s at a time
without firing a shot. drawing maps
and noting low and exposed portions.
; They have a clever system OF setting
their rifles. after getting the exact
range OF the spot where the enemy has
been exposing himself. They fix 'Ntir
rifles in such a manner that no SiOhtiuo
is necessary hit will he registered
by simply pulling the trigger Some
times as many as six rifles are secure
" fastened 10 a board or log the 'rig.
oerS are connected So that the outline
Of string discharges the six rifles ST.
mulianeously.
One rainy day while acting as run
ner or orderly for my machine gun OF.
iicer, instead OF following the commu-
nication trench decided to chance ii
by going "over the top as the trench
was almost knee deep with sticky, gluey
mud Dawn was just breaking and al.
though | took the risk OF being potted
still | preferred tina, to plowing through
the communication trench. Running
% along | stepped on what appeared to b,
muddy rise in the ground. | nearh
dropped dead with fright when thi
mound OF earth calculated why in 'el
2 don't YOU get a periseope IL you Gavin
= see where you're bloody well going
/ II was sniper lying in the wet mud
G Right now ] bet he is in a hospital! II
4 Blighty cursing old man Rheumatism.
SniperS sometimes work from benin,
o cleyerly concealed loopholeS in IN
{ iront-line trench. but these sooner o
c later will be sniped by the enemy an,
70 the sniper becomes a casualty. Sniper,
days are generally numbered.
To Make a Ruse.
A good ruse for locating a trouble
i some enemy sniper is to place DUNN
head so that II is exposed TO view owe
! the top OF the trench Go into the mex
{; iirebay, having previously prepared
:, loophole through which you can easil
2 observe the enemy lines. The Snlpc
= will fire at the head. Listen for tn
y report Of his rifle and carefully watc
x for the tell-tale dust where he fire
from the opposite trench n after fir
% ing several shots yau cannot locate hir
p IN this manner, warily examine Nj
lc dummy II will he an easy matter ,
u ascertain, by the angles Of the bull,
J holes which have passed through III
y head, the direction from which Ii
" ' shots were fired.
y After you have located him commun
~ y cate this information to your office
W " lie will get busy and notify the ar,ille,
" observation officer and il will not
" long before a eounle of shell, dron q
or so close IN Fritz that he will pack n
, and gallop for Berlin, the city Of ku
w tuf