The New York herald., 1876-03-14
THE CENTENNIAL RIFLE MATCH.

REPLY TO SIR HENRY HALFoRD-THE CREED
MOOR RANGE TO BE OPENED TOMORROW.
The Executive Committee OF the National Rife Asso
citation held meeting yesterday afternoon IN their
rooms at No % Nassau Street. Bennett Building with
General Alexander shaler in the chair The principal
business done was the agreement reply TO Sir
Henry Haliord, whose letter to the association
recently printed in tho HERALD. 1t decided TO
open the Creedmoor range the 18th inst. to-mor-
row. The associaton's reply to Sir Henry Haiford is
as follows:-
NEW YORK, March l3 1875
Sir Henry HALFoRD, Member OF Council National Rife
Association and Captain OF the British Team
DEAR SIR-Your letter OF February IA came duly to
hand delayed answering in order TO bring It before
our Board OF Directors at their regular meeting of the
present month, and write under their Instructions,
which have the honor to do
Your will better comprehend the position
of Board aud the reasons why We cannot properly
adopt your suggestion TO the course should take
in reference from the British Isles outside OF
England, when state the origin OF the proposed In
ternatona match, and briefly call your attention TO
the action taken by our Board In furhorance thereof
up to the present time IL was the desire of the
United States Cent ennial Commission to make rife
OF the features Of the Exhibition, and
ASSOCIATION was requested 10 undertake its manage
menL Accordingly at a regular meeting OF our Board
the following resolutions were adopled:-
Resolved That OF che steps already taken
centennial anniversary Of American Independence, and
this Association series Of rife matches be inaugn.
rated to place curing the summer of 1876
men Of all countries TO participate;
rnsmen q EnslnnS Ireland scotland France Germany
sSs and ali countries having rife or suss
Of the opportunity presented TO them to participate in the
competitions instituted.
Our president and secretary complied with the re-
quest contained in the foregoing resolution by sending
copy oi the same TO every rifle association and rife
club whose address could be obtained throughout the
world regardless OF nationality territorial location.
These resolutions were accompanied by an Official let
ter signed by president aud secretary cordially
transmitting the same, and stating, in substance, that
while thero would be matches at short dis
tnnoes Tor military and other arms, the prin-
cipal match ''would DO for the champion
ship OF tho world at long range, open TO
teams of eight from each country" VIC must there
fore assume that he Official communication described
above is IN the possession OF every known rife
association club strictly technical construction
OF the foregoing condtons-yiz, 'open TO teams OF
eight from each couutry'-woud undoubtedly require
Great Britain and ireland and the English Provinces
be represented IN the match question by team
only This was not our intention. We intended tho
match 10 be free 10 all, In the broadest sense We
mentioned particularly England, Ireland Scotland
and the DOMINION OF Canada, that each might have an
opportunity to send team In adopting this course
we had Ireland especially in mind. Remembering
contests with her Ia 1874 and 1875 and The pleasant
intercourse they Afforded and being also aware OF
fact that ireland, in holding the Elcho shield, stands
forth at present as champion OF the British Isles We
did not think we could with propriety-ard we know
we could not in justice our fcclings-nx such
conditions would necessarily exclude her from rep
Our telegram to you OF January 1s-"Any team you
organize VIII be acccpted-English, Scotch, irish or
mixed'-was not intended 10 give you the option OF
sending either one or three teams from England, Ire
land Scotland, but intended to give you, tho
deputcd representative OF the National Rife Assoca-
zion, the privilege OF bringing team OF any char
acer you 10 organize leaving Scotland and Ire
land TO accept or decline our invitation MS they might
elect No further or other action in the premiscs than
as above appears has been taken by association
II Scotland and Ireland, either Of them, not
disposed to acccdc 10 the propositions OF your
National Rife Association, we do not see what action
We could properly take that would force their com
pliancc II obvious that at this late day we cannot
recall our INVITATIONS can we change tho con.
ditions OF the match. scotland and the Dominion OF
Canada have accepted and shall deeply regret n
England does not also accept on her own behalf and
afford the pleasure Of meeting upon grounds
purely English team. Our invitation was not
designed to bear In anv aspect the appear
apcc Of challenge. We organize a match,
provide suitable trophy, invite all TO and COM
pete and propose TO call the winning team champions
OF the world IL is our judgment that single team
from England, Scotland and Ireland combined would
the chances for American success, simply be-
cause there would be two less the field Our
desire however, TO sec largo number Of competitors
exceeded desire TO win. Nevertheless, II England,
Scotland and ireland should agree together TO send
imperial team, we snail cordially welcome them
10 the matcn.
Please pardon the length OF my Communication, and
be assured OF my high esteem aud regard.
Yours very truly,
GEORGE s. sCHERMERHoRN, Jr,
Secretary National Rife Association