Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 July 1915 — Life-Like Targets. [ARTICLE]

Life-Like Targets.

It is dull work firing at a bullseye target, so that it is not surprising that the old-time soldier made small progress with his marksmanship. But set before him a target which embodies a definite idea, and appeals to his intelligence as well as his skill, ?nd half the battle of good shooting is won. This is the secret—-with much practice and good training as well, or course—-of. the fine marksmanship of otlr men, for the bullseye is now only used in the elementary stage of rifle practice. An up-to-date target represents a soldier, a horseman, a gun. or a whole army marching or fighting, caled to size as it would appear at certain distances, and the soldier fires at it individually or in sections.

He begins by firing at a single target, representing the head and shoulders of a man lying down in the firing position, and some of these targets fall backwards when hit. He thus becomes familiarized with the appearance of different objects when .viewed from various distances, and he learns to shoot straight as well as to estimate distances. No longer is he a mere automaton, pulling his trigger when his rifle is aimed at an object which he is told is so many

yards distant. ' Most wonderful of all is the So r lano target, which represents a whole battle scene, with moving figures in theig proper size and even the haze Of distance allowed for. Ingenious devices provide other illusions which enable the soldier to become a perfect marksman. So it is with the artillery. There are dummy villages to shoot at—let us haste to say they represent positions held by troops—cavalry on wires charged across shell-strewn plains, and sham guns belch forth smoke and flame. When firing ceases it can be accertained how many of the "enemy” have been annihilated.—Answers.