The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-28
T II E R I F L f..
Preparations Among the Sharp
shooters for Next Season.
MATCHES UNDER DISCUSSION.
Judge Gildersleeye and General Dakin on
International Contests.

The iull IN matters connected with rins shooting
which followed great contests last at Creed
moor is passing away, and rinomen are again bestir
ring themselves TO make ready for the coming spring
and summer campaigns. Fsvorite weapons are being
taken from the cosey hooks where they have lam
all winter and inspected with critical care by
the experts and the amateurs who will use them.
Sights are being rcadjustcd and ammunition tested
by delicate practical experiments, the result OF
which must leave little room for chance work.
Already tho National Rifle Association has ap-
pointed committee, at the head OF which Id Major
General John b. Woodward. to lay down programme
Tor tho spring prize meeting at Creedmoor. Next
Wednesday the American national rifle team OF 1877
will mect 10 decide upon the locality whereon to
Ihoot the next match for the Centennial Trophy.
Upon this subject the interest Is universal among
marksmon Tho team possess the right OF naming
Tho day and place .or tho next great international
long range battle. and to say whether il shall be
fought at Creedmoor, as heretofore, or on some
sneutral" field. very general feeling prevails
among foreign rAemen who have visited this coun.
try that tho Americans have decided advantage in
shooting at Creedmoor, whore the peculartes as TO
wind drifts, atmospheric changes and light and shade
SO well known to the Americans. II Is conceded
that therc may BIO some slight advantage in this; but
nothing that could explain away the overwhelming
defeat Of Sir Henry Haford's "United Kingdom
tcam'' last year, or the universal success Of the
Americans in past years Certainly 1t could not be
charged that they were we'll acquainted with tho
Dolymount range, where they defeated an Irish team
who. short time aiterward, won the Eicho Shield
from both England and Scotland. NJ the Wimbledon
annual meeting OF 1875.
WHERE THE MATCH TAKE PLACER
Tho conditions which govern tho nlennial Trophy
match lay down that the team holding it can name
the ground-in their own counry-on which to shoot
the next match for II. The Irish and the British
marLsmsn are anxious that the match should take
place at Wimbledon, Or il not there, ut some ''neu-
trail" range in the United States The BRUSH claim
that, as Wimbledon closed 10 practice excepting Tor
the short period OF three or tour weeks during tho
annual prize meeting there, 1t is in every respect
q neutral range, and, therefore. would be fair
ono which TO Worthy trial OF skill.
Tho Americans object to this for two asoDs:Frst,
because the conditions OF the match give them the
choice OF ground, and, second, because Of the ex-
psnss to be incurred by trip across the Atlantic In
addition to these reasons for wanting 10 stay ~ homo
there another good one TO be found in the absence
could hardly make, nor Americans accept PROPOSE
tion 10 pay the expenses OF an American team while
in EUROPE and tho lew s'na' w,%n,nSon
or IN ireland Scotland would in no sense be any
thing like an adequate compensatory Tor loss OF limo
ana money spent III going there. For these reasons,
and IN view oil tho well known CONVICTIONS oil the
The subject II is deemed saio TO say
that they VIII not 20 outside Of the Unned States 10
snoot tho international match this year; and II IS
equally sale 10 predict that they Will choose
CreedmOor Tor their battle ground.
CONCERNING A MATCH IL PARIS.
Letters received recently IRON Ireland by Mr.. L. c.
Bruce, Of the American team OF 1877 show that some
Of the irish ri1emen making great Efforts to get
up u match IN Paris during the Exhibition There.
Those letters express confidence that eventually
meeting OF rIhemen representing different nalicnal-
tiles will lake place this year the French capital
In America considerable difference OF opinion exists
NJ 10 Tho chances OF tournament over TIERS France
and Toe European countries outside OF Great
Britain aud Ireland have paid but little attention TO
long range shooting; aud Is hardly TO be expected
that the Exhibition Commissioners would get up
match n which They think they have reason 10 be-
leve their country men would not siand so we'll
ms under other circumstances they might. should,
however, any prizes oil sufficient magnitude be OIL
icrod 10 form adequate consideration TO repay time
and trouble, the opiuon Is that an American team
While this is the case 1t Is also true iha. tho riae-
men OF America would not accept the results OF such
q match as in any way settling the question oil the
worlds championship. They believe that the Cen
tennia match OF 1876, wherein i've teams competed
for the "Pamah uecded that tho holders OF this re-
nowneG prize must be considered as the worlds
champions. England dssentcd IRON this con.
did compete in that match; therefore
shc sent such a team last year, aud Sir Henry
Halford and his men went home fully convinced that
tho Americans had all respects earned their title TO
the rifle championship Hence, II the marksmen oil
any country are disposed to question this, tho Amcr
Gun team viii IN time aford them an opportunity
10 try conclusions Oh SUBJECT But America, 1t is
SAID. could not consent to look upoa any new match
that might be settled at Paris elsewhere us affecting
their we'll earned title to superiority.
CHANCES OF AN INTERNATIONAL CONTEST.
As to The chances for al International contest this
year 10 decide once more the possession Of the
"Palma," pretty general opinion prevails tnat u
will como on 1t is believed that, even II England
perscvcres in her expressed intention TO Keep out OF
ine struggle, II Ireland and Scotland be not barred
from ore or botu OF The other Two countries will
hav. team IN The held. Tue question oil excluding
Ireland aud Scotland from mo international match
ednely settled last year against England aud can
again came up Tor discussion, 20 that II the last
named Power soates herself rather than shoot here
against the men whom she meets every year at VIM
bcdon. American rlcmcn will regret her action, but
change tho conditions OF the Cen trophy
match TO SUIT her views Upon many important
points concerning tho chances Of great match during
ihc coming season. the opinous oi good authorities
rife shooting, which are given below, Will be read
JUDGE GILpERsLEEvE's OPINION.
Jrdge II. 4. Gdcrsleeve whom every body rcmem-
beers Us tho successful captain vi the American rifle
team Of 1875, based his opinion on general knowI
sdgc OF autecedents IN the case. He believes that
lhcrc will be match this year al Crcedmoor Tor the
'rropby" He observed in letter Of SIR Henry Hal
Iord which appeared some ime ago IN the polunteer
Service Gazette, that sir Henry making efforts 10
harmonize all RHO interests III Great Britain
and Ireland; ana judging from his conciiiatory
tone It Is not TOO much 10 expect that he
will succeed ia getting the renen over there TO ION
In team they did last year Ii he eau succeed
In this he VIII come over but u not We need not ex
pect him. From what Tue Scotch are dong It may be
inferred that In the absence oil a "United Kingdom
team" they will put IN an appearance, and tue lrsn
may also DO hero their own account The Ameri-
bound 70 appoint day Tor tho shooting even
II Que only appears TO compete with them II sir
Henry Haiiord DC not able now 70 unite he British
and the Irish riacmen, they viii come together at
future time. particularly II We continue 10 be
victorious. judge Giidcrslecve did not think that
union OF the three conflicting interests would augment
British chances OF success because team made up
OF IRISH, Sco,ch and English must necessarily be
drawn together from n considerable dust ncc-s fact
which would iDJurc Its effectiveness. There would
be- IN II that intimate knowledge OF each otirer
among tho members, nor as perfect harmony or
united zeal as might 10 looked Tor IN team maze up
exclusively oil English, IRISH or Scotchmen. Il be-
hevc," SAID the Judge, THAT IT is almost impos
sibic to overcome entirely the feeling of rivalry
which the representatives Of those respective coun-
tries are likely TO feel toward each other The
question Of guLs also comes Ia 10 create an additional
rivalry between them, each nationality Gaming
for tue weapons OF It's own anuacture superiority