SNIPER IN WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 143, 18 June 1940, Page 5

SNIPER IN WAR.

FOREMOST A HUNTER. HIS STALKING QUALITIES. WHAT BISLET EXPERT SAYS.

In August, 1914, the Germans had in 1 each infantry battalion a number of 1 trained snipers. In the armies of the J Allies there was no such organisation, j and the whole subject, together with the best methods of training, had to be learnt and organised from experience, writes the Bisley correspondent of "The , Times." To-day the Germans are i reported to have over 30 snipers in i some battalions and a considerable 1 number in all. The Allies also have i their sniping organisation, and behind i them is all the experience gained dur- < ing 1914-18. 1 Among those unin9lructed in the art there still exists a fallacy that ail that is necessary to produce a sniper is to ■ take a battalion or company shot or, i if possible, a King's P r ize or King's Medal winner, and equip him with a rifle fitted with a telescopic sight. In fact, though expert marksmanship is a necessity in a sniper, it represents not more than about 30 per cent of his required mental and physical equipment. He is first and foremost a hunter, and both in open warfare and for work in no man's land the art of stalking has to be developed to a high degree. A Battle of Wits. The sniper with any sort of static position from which to work may, and does, construct a hide just as does the bird photographer, and, like him, he may occupy that hide with infinite patience for many hours before getting a change of a shot. On the other hand, like the big game hunter, he may have to go after his quarry, pitting his wits against the enemy, suspecting and watching every unusual appearance in the ground or vegetation and using his eyes, ears and nose all the time.

The '.cork of the sniper is closely- allied 1 to that of the scout. In most armies he is part of the front-line intelligence organisation, and part of his duty is the gathering of information. There is, however, this difference. The scout is solely concerned with information and getting it back in the quickest possible way, whereas the sniper will usually act on his own information if he can do so to the discomfort of the enemy. If, for instance, he can discover a machine gun nest or the whereabouts of an enemy sniper he will do his best then and there to put them out of action. The scout, with similar information, would send it back at once for the use of others. Must Be Enthusiast. One of the chief tilings the sniper has to learn is the art of concealment. His dress must enable him to match with the country through which he is moving. He dirties his face and hands, for in almost any light flesh shows tip in a surprising manner. He dirties his Ttfle, aso, and takes care to hide the object glass of his telescope by means of a long cover. ; He leams to stay absolutely still for ; long periods, and to crawl an inch at a i 'time, using only one hand to pull himself , along. He learns to make hides so i cunningly that he has a wide arc of view i from something that looks like a natural feature of the landscape. > A good seout is not of necessity a ; good sniper, but a sniper must be a tirst- ! class scout. The best snipers and also ■ the best scouts are usually country-bred men, but men from the town do develop , a flair for the game, and often become : second to none at it. I To be of any use the sniper must be an enthusiast. Detailing men to sniper duties as one would do to the cookhouse js fatal. Snipers must be chosen from ? those who wish to do the work and 'have proved' themselves capable of it under B instruction. ,