NEW BRITISH RIFLE RANGES

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 15 April 1901, Page 4

NEW BRITISH RIFLE RANGES

Swiss Methods to be Adopted With Reorganisation. After a careful examination of the shooting ranges, butts, and organisations of Germany, Switzerland and Austria, he English War Office has decided that tne system at present in use in Switzerland is most suitable for English requirements, and, writes the ''Daily Mail" Geneva correspondent, it is to be adopted in England very shortly. The rifle ranges at Albisguetli, near Zurich, have been chosen as models, as they have been recently constructed, and are provided with the latest improvomsnts full particulars and plans of which have been supplied to the War Office.

The special features of these targets are that moving soldiers and mounted men replace the old stationery targets. These dummies suddenly make their appearance from behind hidden trenches, and are fired upon at various distances. All the conditions which are likely to be experienced in actual warfare are carefully carried out. The infantry are trained to attack strong positions held by an equal or inferior force, special attention being paid that tho men should avail themselves of cover- The men are aWtaught to dig trenches.

As the Swiss pay special attention to long-distance and independent firing, tins will be one of the chief items in all rifle practices in future, and volley firing will be done away with. Each recruit will be obliged to slioot at least forty rounds of ammunition in the course of the year and to obtain two-thirds of the tola! marks in the final competition before he will be considered an efficient marksman. To ensure proficiency and attendance each town will be supplied with convenient rifle ranges, and rifle clubs will be encouraged, as in Switzerland, by being allowed"a subsidy from the Government for the purpose of constructing rifle ranges and buying cartridges, which will be supplied at a little below cost price.

These are the innovations which are to be shortly introduced into England, and are likely to revolutionise our present military system.