RIFLE RANGES.
[TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE "SPECTATOR.1
SIP.,—Yon invite opinion as to the reorganisation of our Army, and in your issue of December 2nd, a " Retired Adju- tant" speaks of the desirability of improved marksmanship, and of the necessity of securing long ranges for practice. On the latter point I cannot agree with him. I consider that men can be made first-rate shots on a range not exceed- ing two hundred yards, and that the greater part of their instruction can be carried out, and carried out best, in a gallery of, say, twenty or thirty yards, or less. But it must be made a sport, not altogether a drill,—position drill to strengthen the arms, and judging-distance drill by all means. If in every barrack-yard, and every country town and city, there were shooting galleries kept up at Govern- ment expense, with a sergeant in charge, ammunition gratis, and a small fee for the use of rifles, &c., and, in addition, as accessible as possible, a range up to two hundred yards for open-air practice, and these open to the use (under proper restrictions) of all Regulars, Militia, and Volunteers, you would soon have a nation of marksmen hard to beat, as were the English bowmen of Cressy and Agincourt. But there should be no hair-triggers or fine (unserviceable) sights ailowed. I do not say let there be no long ranges ; by all means have them where you can, but for competition more than for practice or drill. Experience has taught me that (given good eyesight) a man who is a good shot at two hundred yards is good at twelve hundred,—a few dozen shots at the longer range will put an intelligent man up to the difference (it is a thing, like swimming, that a man never forgets), and on service the unintelligent will always take their elevation, &c., from their officers or a more intelligent comrade, and besides the sport of being shot at in return will sharpen their wits. In these galleries I would encourage men to shoot for pennies, pots of beer, or love, at all times and seasons ; in fact, let them make a sport of it. I feel sure that if this system were carried oat, and the Volunteers a little undrilled and more disciplined, an invasion of England would be a very ugly thing indeed for the invaders, if in addition the Government and taxpayers are ready (after the excitement of this little war is over) to "pay, pay, pay" for a really efficient artillery, which involves a very different system of training from that required for light infantry. I think that I am qualified to have an opinion on musketry training, as I have handled a rifle from my youth up, both at game of all sorts and at the target, having shot more than once for the Elcho Shield.—I am, Sir, &c.,
AN OLD REGIMENTAL MUSKETRY INSTRUCTOR.
P.S.—Permit me to say that I think your scheme of a pen sion to men who have passed through the Reserve a most excellent one, and one that would do more to make the Army "a calling" than anything else.
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