SHOCKINGLY AT FAULT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8481, 16 July 1913, Page 10

SHOCKINGLY AT FAULT

DEFENCE SYSTEM RIFLEMEN WHO ARE UNABLE TO SHOOT STRAIGHT. In the opinion of Captain Asa Whitney, the defence system of New Zealand is shockingly at fault in that far too little attention is paid to training men in tho use of tho rifle. This opinion, Captain Whitney explained to a “New Zealand Times” representative in an interview, has been formed after a careful study of tho system here, and also of rifle shooting methods in certain European countries. He was in Europe recently, and came in contact with many men prominent in military circles, and tho lessons he learned in connection with rifle shooting were, as he says, indeed eye-open-ers. WONDERFUL CONTINENTAL SHOTS.

Though he found that European soldiers were not so accurate at match

rifle shooting, they were certainly very much more reliable marksmen than British soldiers. His experience taught him that every man in certain European countries could place every shot on the targets at moderate distances, while numbers were really wonderful shots at both fixed and moving targets. He saw Russians, Germans, Frenchmen and Swiss go to the ranges and not only hit a dummyman moving at four or five miles an hour, but they hit the object time after time with a revolver at distances up to 60 yards. In Britain’s next war the revolver must at the last crisis stop many an otherwise successful attack, but comparatively few- British soldiers knew anything about the use of this arm. Facilities for training were better on the Continent than in England. Of late, however, great strides had been made in England in training the soldiers and riflemen to become good shots. Shooting had been made verymuch more practical at Aldershot; that was, more warlike. Targets similar to those likely to be found on active service were used, such as moving targets, bobbing figures and crossing targets. The men were taught to swing their rifles, without which they would often be at a loss when called upon to hit an attacking enemy. WRETCHED RESULTS IN NEW ZEALAND. Wretched results were all that could be shown in New Zealand for the work during the three years that tho new system had been in operation, regarding the matter from the standpoint of efficiency in defence and in view of the high cost of training. The system had cost the country some £400,000 annually, and what was there to show for it? The training had cost about £3O per man for the last three years, yet the Territorial was unable to use his rifle with anything like precision. Time Was spent on drilling and similar matters, hut the really important thing -was almost neglected. THE SOLDIER’S FIRST DUTY.

“What are your . Territorials and riflemen for ?” asked Captain Whitney. “I take it they are to defend New Zealand in time of need. If this is so, surely the first duty of every man is to learn to use his weapon properly and at (as far as possible) similar targets and under the same conditions as will be found in war time. Our troops will be called upon to hit both stationary and running men from the time an enemy approaches our shores until they either surrender or are driven back to the sea. Practically the only men wo have who are anything like efficient shots are those who make a hobby of it, but rifle shooting has .certainly fallen off during the three years toe Defence Act has been in force. How many of our men have had any practice shooting at night? Few, if any; yet a night attack is probably the first action in which the Territorial and rifleman will be called upon to take part. Very many of the men have not had any practice at all at the butts, and others have had very little, while none have had anything like the annual rifle practice now considered necessary to turn out an efficient rifleman.

“In my opinion, the first steps in ■Braining should bo obedience, rifle shooting and musketry work, taking cover and keeping out of sight when required to do so. When these have been attended to, other matters can safely bo left to follow. In the New Zealand system the cart is put before the horse, for until the rifleman can shoot he is in war time not only a drag on his company, but a source of danger to all who depend ujDon him."