SERVICE RIFLE SHOOTING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8079, 6 April 1912, Page 6

SERVICE RIFLE SHOOTING.

SOME TIMELY SUGGESTIONS. (To the. Editor "N.Z. Time*.") Sir,—ln some of the newspaper reports cu the Trcntham rifle matches a statement was circulated to the effect that the "service championship” covered all that a man might be called npon to do in the service under war conditions, with one exception, that of taking cover. Unfortunately, though the service championship is a most excellent match, in many respects the most essential features of modem warfare are absent. In war, shooting must generally take place at distances which are quite unknown to the rifleman, whilst the distance of the target is' known in the service championship. The expression "dodging targets” is rather misleading. The word more properly applies to target* which are moved to and fro and pass out of sight behind cover, or are made to mechanically disappear while moving from place to place. Running targets, which must constitute one of the chief features in the defence of an. are 'not included iu the service championship, and in the running man match, targets are moved across the range, and thus permit of mechanical means (which cannot be detected by the range officer) of shooting, instead of the targets being advanced and retreated sinuonsly on to the firing point, and the rifleman thereby compelled to learn to swing his rifle. It was at my instigation that the world's first running military targets were erected more than twenty years ago in Sydney, but it has since been found that crossing targets travelling at an even speed can always be easily calculated mechanically and hit, hence many Continental ranges have adopted targets which frequently travel sinuously, viz., at varying angles and distances with the firing point. The service championship match does not provide practice against attacks which to be up to modern warfare must be stopped by the magazines or automatic rifle and pistol fire at the last two or three hundred yards. Cavalary and bayonet chargee, as we hear of them at Tripoli, are suicidal (unless the defending troops are very few, or have run out of ammunition, or

arc not armed with up-to-date weapons), they arc simply ancient history, now that any well trained rifleman should bo equal to at least twenty-five either cavalry or infantrymen attacking a defended position. If anyone challenges this statement I am prepared to substantiate it by actual results at targets which operate in. the same manner as an attacking force. The conditions could be arranged by General Godley and myself, and bo somewhat as follows: —

Fifty riflemen might advance at the double from a distance of two or three hundred yards on to the defended trenches (which two of us will occupy), and they will fire as best they can. at a (safe) position containing our dummies: whilst wo two fire in a (safe) direction at advancing targets, which travel at exactly the same rate of speed and directions up to our firing line as that taken hy the attacking riflemen in their advance upon our two dummies. Troops may be well trained in pushing an attack, but the same troops may be found, and are found, of little or no use in defending a position. Bisley, Williamstown, Trentham, and other such ranges are excellent coaching grounds, but they reed to adopt the actual of shooting which every soidier and rifleman will have to face in actual warfare. Many shooters who are so much against moving targets need have no fear, for fixed target-shooting at known distances will- always tie the first part of a rifleman's training. He should bo able to find tho target regularly at two and three hundred yards before it is any use his taking up running target practice.—l am, etc., „ , A. WHITNEY. Vice-President of the Victorian Rifle Association. Auckland, March 29th.