Evening star., 1933-04-02

Lieut.. Oswald H. Milmore Of Battery
B, 260th Coast Artillery. has been
highly commended by Maj. Gen. John
w. Gulick, chief Of Coast Artillery OF
the Regular Army, and Maj. Gen. Anton
Stephan, commanding the local Militia
Brigade, for development Of a device
for the training Of anti-aircraft spot
ting details.
The letter received last week from
Gen. Gulick by Gen. Stephan says:
1.-THE battery commanders narrative
report pertaining to the report OF the
target practice of Battery B, 260th
Coast Artillery, held at Fort Monroe,
Va, on August 20, 1882, contains a de-
scription of a very ingenious device de-
signed by First Lieut.. o. H. M1lmore,
26Oth Coast Artillery, for the training
of anti-aircraft spotting details.
"This Device" the letter continues,
undoubtedly possesses considerable
value for armory training, with the
added advantage that it can be con-
structed locally by any organization
commend Lieut. Milmore for his pro-
fessional interest and zeal as manifested
in the development Of this device, which
Artillery Corps as a whole"
In transmitting the commendation to
Maj Walter w. Burns, commanding the
local artillery unit, Gen. Stephan said:
1.-The commanding general is much
pleased with the commentator OF
Lieut.. Milmore and congratulates him
on his thoughtful application to duty in
such manner as to warrant the COM
mendation Of the chief Of Coast Ar
tillery."
Emphasizing, in an order, that the
121st Regiment of Engineers must and
will attain a rating Of superior in rifle
Workmanship this year" Col. John w.
Oehmann, commanding the regiment,
has issued detailed orders for co-ordi-
mating the training along this line for
the current year. The qualifications
must take place prior to October 81, as
that is the date fixed for officially
closing the target season. 1t is pointed
out that National Guard personnel are
allowed only one opportunity to fire
record practice with the rife during
any calendar year.
Recruiting and unqualified personnel
must first qualify over the modified
small-bore course before they will be
permitted to fire on the outdoor range
All officers on duty with troops and
having less than Is years of service
are required to fire the rifle. All en-
listed men armed with the rifle, II pre-
viously qualified, will be excused from
firing for record during the two target
seasons Immediately succeeding the sea-
son during which the qualification was
attained. All personnel armed with
pistol including officers on duty with
troops, and with less than Is years of
service, will be required to fire.
Qualification as marksman or better
with the service rifle is declared to be
an absolute prerequisite to firing the
automatic rife.
1t is pointed out in the order that
the primary purpose of all known dis
tance firing is preparation for combat
| firing. When q unit or organization
has demonstrated its proficiency in the
use of its primary weapon and has at
| tanned thorough knowledge Of the
| principles Of musketry, it may be con-
sidered as being prepared to progress to
| combat firing. This fundamental idea, 1t
was said, has generally been overlooked
in the National Guard and men have
| been permitted to engage in combat
| firing without qualifying and without
even Semblance of musketry training.
This practice is declared to be uneco-
| nomical and dangerous from the point
| OF view of safety. Hereafter. 1t was
said, only men who have actually quail
fed will be permitted to engage in COM
~ e4e~eA0g