Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-19
O|TY YGUARDSMEN ].
IN rifle PRACTICE
oksen Men Make Good Showing
at Mt. Oretna, but Their
Shoulders Are Sore
BAD WEATHER HANDICAPs'
By q sta6 oyvresrc~deSt


Camp retser, Ne. Oretnn. Aug. 10.
MANY members Of the Second Pro-
vibional Regiment, commanded By Lieu
tehant Colonel franklin p. Haller. were
nprring sore shoulders this morning fol-
lowing their first experience In firing
Nh -powered rifles.
The men Of the Philadelphia units,
comprising the First and Second Bat
ta)ions under command Of Majors John
M Center and John Q. Croft, went
ID the range Immediately after mess
y(sterday morning for target practice
The Third Battalion, commanded BY
Major George Blair, had It's target
p!hctice yesterday afternoon. The rifle
wtrk will be concluded today.
Few Of the Philadelphians had ever
g3n had a kick. The rifles will kill
al three miles and steel bullets leave
tfe muxzle with a velocity Of 200 feet
a Isecond. Each man fired ten shots
al 200 yards and q like number at 300
yards. Two thirds of the shots were
fited by the men while prone and the
rst while they were sitting.
Excellent Work Done
Though the guardsmen were green in
rife work a number Of them did ex-
c3lent work. In scoring, q bullseye
cdnnts five points and a perfect score
fof twenty shots would be 100 points.
Many of the recruits were erratic on
h1st shots, but after they had been
coached by expert marksmen the ac-
cskRcy Of fire showed distinct improve
nent.
tConditio ons were not the best for firing
IN the morning, owing 70 a mist that
ree from the ground, due to the. severe
r4ins Of the last several days, and to
the fact that the sun shone In the eyes
Of the marksmen. The men were eager
q make high scores, as the averages Of
TIE other recruits have already been
computed and the Quaker City boys are
trying to secure the range record for
this years practice.
Thorough instruction was given the
men before entering the range field re-
gardine proper posture, handling Of the
g1n, and proper firing. During the
course of their shooting United States
army experts were on hand to make
corrections and TO give the men any
possible assistance. When the guards
men completed their rife work, a special
officer was stationed at the end Of the
range to give the men instructions In
CLEANING rifles.
Colonel Kemp Pleased
Colonel George z. Kemp, commander
OF the Third Infantry, who was In
charge Of the rife work. said: II have
never seen a more orderly body Of men
Oh the range. Each company did Its
ranse work quickly and quietly and ex-
callent shooting was done by men who
hid had no previous experience
AFTER they had completed their firing
the different companies took turns In the
sandpits, marking up scores and repair
iug targets. This was a novel expert
eSce for most of the guardsmen to have
the bullets whizzing and whistllng over
their heads. An embankment Of earth
AID bricks prevented any bullets from
pSnetrating to the pits.
Yesterday afternoon the second for
nal parade Of the regiment was held
Major J. Q. Croft, commanding. Second
Httalion was headed By the Philadel
phia Police Band. Prior to the bat
7 tS1ion review formal guard mount wa.
hSld, Company G.. Of the Third In
f1ntry, relieving Company I, Of the Sixth
Regiment, Captain ]. Rose was the of
cef Of the day:
lieutenant Colonel Hailer has been
apprised that under tentative plans fol-
Ing the National Gusrd, every battalion
with have a machine gun company. This
VIII make three machine gun units "a
regiment instead Of one as heretofore
Each regiment also will have q howitzel
usit, q new fighting body In the army
The effectiveness of the machine gun ir
the world war will result In its mort
general use, officers say.
"A number of officers of the old Twen
tg-eighth Division in camp are plannint
to attend reunion Of the division off
cars, at the hunting lodge Of Colone
Theodore Boal, at Boalsburg. The re
Theodore Boal, at Boalburg. The re
uhion will take place August Is, q
and u. Plans for Twenty eighth H.
vision association, to include officer,
and men, are well under way. 1t Is ex
pected that the organization will have