New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1918-01-23
TARGET PRACTICE
KEEPS men BUSY
CAMP DODGE MEN LEARN THE :
ms AND OUTS OF THE
ENFIELD RIFLE
MORE THAN A THOUSAND MEN
IN HOSPITAL FROM
ILLNESS

ILLNESS
With the passing of zero weather ac-
tive practice both with rifles and artil-
lery began in dead earnest. 4At the
rifle range the entire membership of
the 35Oth infantry, under command of
Col. Harrison R. Price. took their first
lesson in the handling of the famous
Enfield rifles. These guns are the last
word in rifle construction. They are
shorter than the Springfield rifles that
the soldiers used in the war of the re-
bellion and they are also much more
Intricate The ammunition chamber
holds five charges and with the proper
elevation it will shoot to kill distance
OF two miles. Graduated sights en-
able the operator to estimate the dis
lance of the target and practice de-
velops great accuracy. If anyone is
laboring under the impression that
anybody can handle one of them at the
first Introduction he is mistaken. This
is intricate mechanism to become IA
miliar with and then the system of
finding the target by means of the
sighting apparatus is no easy task to
a beginner. Major Smith Brookhart,
of Washington, Iowa, is the instruc-
tor and he is rated as one of the best
marksmen in the service. He repre-
sents the ordnance department of the
army and has a number Of officers UNI
der him. Capt. c.. v. Schmidt, of
Mimi eapolis, who constructed the
rang Wis rendering valuable assistance
in supervising the tests. All Of the in
fantrymen will be given intensive train
ing in rifle practice and reports from
the range sound like battle was raging.
Artillery practice was opened on the
artillery range by officers Of the Three
Hundred Thirty-eighth field artillery.
The guns used are the regulation three
inch field pieces which are similar to
the famous French 75s. The range of
about two miles was used in the initial
target practice with explosive shrapnel
shells. Several larger guns are now in
camp, these being the Ats which are to
be used by the Three Hundred Thirty
seventh artillery. Most of the target
practice will be done with the three inch
guns which have a range of about 4
miles. The At inch guns will shoot
$4,000 yards or nearly seven miles and
the range is hardly large enough to per-
NIT their use. Several artillery officers
who have attended the school of fire
at Fort Sill will aid in the instruction
of the men who have had comparatively
no training in actual artillery fire, and
as soon as the officers have worked out
with the guns instruction of the regiment
by batteries will begin. The ammuni-
ton limbers, just received, are brand
new, and each includes two sections,
the rear Of which has compartments
for 100 3-inch shells. The shells them
selves are about fourteen inches long,
and both shrapnel and solid shot may be
used in the field pieces. The roll Of the
artillery fire awakes the echoes along
the Beaver Valley and can be heard for
miles. Guards are stationed at safe
distances from the targets to warn
people to keep at safe distance in case
inquisitive observers should wander upon
the forbidden grounds.
Hospitals Are Crowded.
The extremely cold weather aggra-
waited sickness at Camp Dodge and over
1000 men are confined in the hospitals.
The base hospital can only accommodate
around 500 men but by tie use Of inn
provised facilities it has been made to
serve a larger number. Two barracks
belonging to the 339th field artillery
near by have been converted into hos
pitfalls and another barracks is ready in
case Of an emergency. Lieutenant
Colonel J. r. Shook, division surgeon
says the increase in sickness was expected
by medical officers and that it has not
reached alarming proportions. It prob
ably will be three months before the
additions to the base hospital authorized
by the war department, can be COM
spleted, according to Col. Shock. The,
lumber has TO be shipped to the camp
from the south. In the meantime
workmen are busy preparing hospital
facilities at Fort Dess Moinee IN. ac-.
cordance with war department plans.
Leonard Smith Hesin, Alabama, member
|of the 366th eolored infantry regiment,
died il the base hospital from spinal