The New York herald., 1877-09-23
THE RIFLE.

SIR HENRY HALFoRD ON THE LATE INTERNA-
TIoNAL MATCH-THE BRITISH WILL CHANGE
THEIR TACTICS CONDITIONS FOR NEXT YEARS
FIGHT.
There be doubt about the fact that the British
rifle team when they landed these shores "a lew
short weeks ago, believed they would bear away the
Palma with them upon their return to England. A
few days practice at Crcedmoor side by sido with the
American team, convinced them OF the diH.
Gully of the task which lay before them,
and Sir Henry Haford, in his brief responses
10 oasts gwen at Bridgeport, Coma, ana in General
Dakn's tent on the ranges, frankly acknowledged the
msgvngs which he felt as to tho final result These
mssivings IN no way daunted either tho captain OF
the British team or the marksmen VINO acco panied
him and like soldiers who enter the field with fearful
odds against them, they resolved lose not single
point that nigh, either contribute toward bringing
almost unhoped for victory, or OF Iessening
the difference between them and the victorious AmerI-
cans. The tremendous majority OF nipoty.two points
by whicn the Americans won was what the British
tet particularly sore about. Sir Henry Haford said
q few minutes after tho match conc udcd, that
there use 10 conceaing their dsappo u tmcnt
at tho loss OF the contestthey did feel disappointed,
and bitterly, tco In doing their best to
they had lar surpassed anything that had thus
far been accomplished by any European rinomen out
they had Gone enough; and Sir Henry cX.
presses his belief that British team, will be organized
who can successfully compete with the Americans
He is also of opinion that tue phenomena shooting
which done by the Winning team ON Doth days Of
the late contest likely to DO cquallcd much less
surpassed, Tor a numbcr OF years 10 come Tins son.
victon is ai-o shared by many well informed Aneri.
can rinemcn who have expressed themselves on the
subject
SIR HENRY HALroRD's VIEWS.
The Captain OF the Brtisn team recently at tho head
quarters tent oi General DaAin repcd freely to
questions oi the writer relative 10 Tue recent trophy
match.
WAY Sir Henry, would not the Brit sh NatouaI
Rite Association send team to shoot Tor Cen.
tennla! trophy IN the same Held with irish wtn
SEQ. Gu teams ~
"Because We have already fought our own battle at
home ana Determined Tor .he year whiCu rs the best
team III the United Kiusdcm. The question OF
superiority among Brush rifle teams settled
Wimbledon III July last. lnc American contest takes
place later III The year. and II au IRISH a Scotch
team should win II would sometimes reverse the re-
suit OF the shooting IN the EichO Challenge Shield
match aud muddie up things good deal"
care these Tie ouiy grounds for your objections to
shoot In the international match with the scotch
the lrishY'
osrosirioS TO INDIVIDUAL TRANS
''By no means Ny strongest obJccu ons are based
upon national Reasons solely. As q member OF the
Council OF tho BRUSH Naouoi Rlne Association may
freely state my CONVICTION thai IL International
contest only ono team should nave the honor and
privege OF representing onc nag aud one nationality
|! We should put team IN the hed TO shoot
tor your trophy, with teams from Ireland and
scotlani We would then DO contcnding against
u
10 do. IL might be SAID that u we put three
in the field IN place oi one our chances OF success
would DO reascd. ThIs is not at all clear; the
contrary, by selecting three OF the best
team rvEi the different parts OF tue Kingdom We
wou.d be enabled To put before the butts a much
more iormiuaDo force than could be done by our con
scntlng with three teams Above all II rs only
the National Rife ASS cation Of Great Britain mat
lay cain " any right Of representing the Unicd
Kingdom IN al International matcn, aud a team from
association Is the only one tuat VIII be rccog-
ni-,d Official quarters III represrl tatvc capacity
Herc IN America, you have your Interstate matches
butit not TO Uc supposed that the National Khc
Association oi New YORK would recognize the rgnt oi
a team from Massach usetts or from Louisiana or any
other State to represent the American III an
In ernuiional contest with Great Brtain, any moro
than the horities at Wimbledon consent to see
Irish Scotch teams meet Their chosen repre-
scntatvcs ut Crecdmoor"
.'Bul from tho protest OF Secretary Renton, OF tho
Scottish Rhe Association, appears that North Brit
ain nj least, shows some pTctcnons 10 national tndi
vlduulIty III tn IS important matter"
scotland has national rule association, and Mr.
Rcnton belongs only 10 n private shooting club. l
may also to tho protess Ol many scottish gem
tleInen against tho protest OF Mr.. Rcnton who
does Dot this Instance represent the voice
OF the majority vi ms club. Colonel Hozcr,
President OF tho Scottish National Club 10.
gether with Mcssrs. Ross aud crgusson--ai
OF whom have disayownd tno conduct oI Renlon--
show That the sympathy OF tho scottish rlIlemoB is
with the British National Rife Association in It's