72 TARGET PRACTICE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



The competition is wholly practical and consists of aiming the 

 piece six separate times at an indistinct target at 2,000 yards; 

 the accuracy of each laying is determined by an instrument. 

 Each trial is given a mark according to accuracy and time 

 taken ; to this is added the captain's appreciation of the man's 

 ability. The results establish the provisional list of gunners. 



After the target practice season, when the captain has been 

 able to judge of the gunners' abilities, he makes an additional 

 note to the list before made, and establishes the annual classi- 

 fication of gunners (first and second class) in the battery. 



In each regiment there is a competition at the close of the 

 target season among the first-class gunners chosen, one from 

 each battery. There are money prizes awarded, and also the 

 first three are allowed to wear a grenade embroidered in gold 

 on the left sleeve. All first-class gunners wear a grenade 

 in red cloth on the left sleeve. The names and grading of 

 gunners are published as in the infantry. 



ARTILLERY SHOOTING CLUBS. 



Another evidence of the fostering care of the French govern- 

 ment in the matter of artillery shooting is found in the 

 "societ^s de tir au canon" which have been formed of reserve 

 or territorial officers and even civilians. These clubs are 

 encouraged in every way; cannon and ranges lent them, 

 ammunition given or sold at nominal rates, prizes and honors 

 conferred, etc. It can not be said with any accuracy what 

 the practical results may be, but these clubs keep up an 

 interest in artillery shooting, and are an evidence of the 

 feeling on the subject. 



they can not be understood without a thorough knowledge of the sight 

 and the aiming mechanism of the 75-centiraeter gun, and are therefore 

 not reproduced here. 



The detachments are classified in order of merit. For every regiment 

 there are accorded 4 grenades embroidered in gold, which are given to 

 the pointers of the batteries standing 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the merit roll. 



Shooting-Competition. — At the close of the target season there is held 

 in each regiment a shooting-competition among the batteries. Each cap- 

 tain designates a detachment commanded by a sergeant to represent the 

 battery. The conditions are minutely prescribed, and the value to be 

 given to each result. Each detachment fires 3 shots, and the classification 

 ensues from the results obtained. The prizes are in money : first prize 

 about S6, second §4, third §2. The prize is di\dded among the men of the 

 detachment winning it. 



