BRITISH SHARPSHOOTERS.
[TO me Boma or Tot .• SPECTATOR." J BM—Amongst riflemen of experience there is a strong feeling that the war on tire Continent is being waged at a fearful expense in officers killed and wounded, due principally to the German sharpshooter, armed with a rifle fitted with telescopic eights. Is it not possible to adopt a similar rifle, train a special unit of selected picked shots in each company or battalion, and allot to them special positions commanding the freed attacked (or defended) to pick off the officers of the enemy P There is a special rifle—hailing, I think, from Glasgow—fitted with a small and very neat telescope of about three magnifications that can be turned over for safety if the rifle is to be handled roughly, and very excellent shooting can be done with it. Even an orthoptic is a great help, and is admitted to be five per cent. better than the regulation arm with open sights. The Canadian "Ross" rifle in the hands of 'picked men would be better than the latest Army model for this work. Both these rifles are 903 calibre, and con- structed for the use of Mark VII. ammunition. We have improved our field guns since the war began. Why not wage war on even terms with the enemy in the matter of rifles ? Our men, as a whole, are better shots; why not give our best rifle shots the best weapon possible P—I tun, Sir, &c.,
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