US TAKGET PRACTICE IX FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



a shallow ditch, with pits under each balloon, so as to be able 

 by a turn of 180 degrees to throw the balloon entirely below 

 the surface of the ground. To prepare them for service they 

 are inflated by means of a bellows or air-pump; the inflation 

 is more or less complete, depending upon whether colder or 

 warmer temperature is to be looked for during the time they 

 will be in use. luflation keeps them erect, and when punc- 

 tured by a bullet they soon collapse, thus showing to the 

 firers the effect of their fire. Shot holes or other injuries are 

 repaired Ijy covering them with patches of rubber cloth fas- 

 tened on with rubber cement; temporary repairs may be 

 made with gummed-paper patches. The balloons are pro- 

 vided with a valve for deflation when not in use, and detailed 

 directions are given for their proper care and repair, which 

 is intrusted only to skillful, careful men. 



The advantage of seeing at once the effect of fire and the 

 illusion of reality they present at long ranges, render the use 

 of this style of target very desirable, but they are expensive 

 and troublesome. Recent military publications state that a 

 new style of target, having the advantages of the balloon tar- 

 get with the added one of cheajmess, has been experimented 

 with at the Doberitz camp and adopted for use in Germany. 

 The targets are thin pottery vessels shaped to show the out- 

 lines of the head or bust figures. When in position they are 

 filled with water, and on being struck by a bullet from a 

 modern rifle they are shattered by the explosive effect, which 

 allows immediate observation of the efficacy of the fire. At 

 the long ranges at which they would be used hits are infre- 

 quent and the cost to replace trifling. 



The figure target and its varieties are also used as, a dis- 

 appearing target by providing a pit into -which it may be 

 revolved out of sight. It is provided with holes for pins to 

 fasten the target to the base so as to permit such parts of the 

 figure to show as correspond to the head, bust, trunk, and 

 knee targets. When hit, or after a certain time, or at a given 

 signal, it is withdrawn from view. As it requires time to 

 install, and one man to work each target, this kind is used 

 only in exceptional cases on permanent ranges, for individual 

 and group firing. A less expensive and more easily operated 

 system of disappearing targets is arranged by sinking a post 

 in the ground, the top slightly above the level of the surface, 

 and having a vertical pin on which is pivoted a wooden piece 



