New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-28
THE COMING RIFLE MATCH.
DETAILS OF THE CREEpM0OR CONTEST

spector OF Kne-fractce OF the Eleventh Brigade of
the National Guard proposed the establishment Of
an International Military Match. Through the e.
forts of General George W. Wingate, " no has not IN
aptly been dubbed "the father Of rife practice in
America" the suggestion was taken ND Nv
the National Rilo Association, and the Fall Pr1zs
Meeting Of 1873 at Creedmoor included an Inter.
national Military Match, open to teams Of twelya
men from the National Guard and militia OF each Of
the several States and Territories and the varl
Gus divisions of the Army and Navy of the United
States, and to teams from all other countries" For
four successive seasons this match has been shot A
CTeedmoor for the Hilton trophy, the emblem Of
championship and although each of the three dIv
sons has been represented by teams TO compets
with men from the National Gnard of half dozen
of the States, foreign country has been repre-
sented On October IS, 1881, there appeared in
The London Voiunteer Serrice Gazette n
proposition for international military match
At meeting of the National Rife Association D
rectOrs on November l. Major Farr again suggested
the deslrabilIty Of such match, and the subject
referred to committee of practical rfeloen
Assurance of hearty cooperation were received from
Connecticut, Ncw-Jersey, Massachusetts,. Pennsvl.
vania and this State.
Sir Henry St John Haford the chairman o. a
similar committee in En- gland opened an active
correspondence with the American committee aboat
this time in regard to such a match. Both commit
tees agreed to the terms proposed, and both sides
began TO prepare for the contest. IL was decided
that team of twelve men, selected from the Ma
tional Guard Of the United States, should
represent this country and compete with similar
team selected from the volunteer military forces Of
Great Britain The match is to cover two stages
a stage being composed of three distances, or ranges
In the first stage, the teams Will shoot at 200 500
apde arIo IL, no nj 1 A.,
yards-these distances, taken collectively, being
what known England as the Queens
ranges" The match is to be shot at Creedmoor on
September II and l5-the short and mdranges be-
ing covered on the first, and the long ranges on
second day. Competitors to fire seven
shots each at the several distances, or
forty two shots a man ttwenty-one each day. in the
two stages the highest possible individual score
attanable being 2l0 points, and the highest team
score 1920. The arms TO be used limited 10
breech-loading rifles, and there will not be any
sm all bore weapon constructed specially for long,
range target shooting From the first, the principal
anxiety with the American marksmen has been that
the team should get good gun TO shoot with.
Colonel II. Il. L1tchtield, OF the Army, and OF
the Committee of Arrangements, reported a
few days ago that at least good
weapon, a new Remington, had been found
which comes within the prescribed conditions Of
weight, uses cartridge containing ninety grains of
powder and the rear sight OF wnlon is graded
sights or wind-gauges are to be allowed.l new
Winchester rifle Is also approaching completion
which to be tested. The lltaTy character OF the
match is to be rightly adhered TO, it is believed
that whichever team is defeated, it will do much
to improve military craftsmanship as the original
Ameucan-lT Irish lOng-dlstance match OF 1874 at
CreedmOOr. did snall-DOre shooting. The real Oblec,
Of the match TO increase rifle practice among the
militia.
The positions to be taken by the marksmen are as
follows: Standing ut 200 yards prone or ting
800 and 600 yards, and any position, without
artificial rest, at longer distances.
The plan to be pursued IN the selection Of the
American team follows very closely the method
employed the organization OF the lOngrange
teams III the match for the Palma. The restriction
applied to he long-range shooters was that they
must be natIveborn citizens Of the United y ates.
In the o. the International Military Match,
the membership OF the team is restricted 10 Officers
and soldiers of the National Guard who have been
effective members tor not less than one year. 10
this end h of the several States and Territories
DESTROYS OF being represented OIL the team has been
authorized 10 institute competitions OF It's own,
those making an average of 90 points IN the first
and 81 in the second stage will be permitted to
enter into the final competitions at CreedmoOr
August 10 l6, II and Is for places upon the team.
Upon the conclusion of these competitions,
the fourteen competitors who shall make
the highest aggregat scores III three competitions
will be Seece ell IN order OF merit, To constitute the
team and reserves, the power being given 10 the
committee OF he National Rifle Association having
the match III charge 10 select two additional mon
VINO may or may not have shot ~ the competitions
The team will elect their own captain, who will
prescribe rules for their government aud practlce
aud decide 10 The final selection oil the twelve men
wDO 10 shoot II the mach. The plan Is alnlr
ably calculated to secure strong ana Trustworthy
team
lhe correspondence between the representative
committees of the two countries TcgarIlng thIs
matcn ana its terms has been prOtracted. II Was
first suggested that the America. slOu VISIT " i'm.
bedOu. and thlS VAS readily aSsented TO- providing
il WAS agreed send British team 20 CIeedmOOr 10
1888 Tor "a return contest. The latter condition
could not be Promised AID the difficulty was finally
settled by England Offering To send team to Creed
moor this yeal II the Americans would shoot re:
turn match at Wimbledon next year. Then followed
"A lengthy correspOndcnce with regard u the rite.
t. be used, the of sights and wind-gauses, and
tho cleansing Of the w,aron durl tlc matcn.
Every pOI.t waved ia the English maIkSlnens
favor and now nothing Is wanting save tle seivc
ton OF the team ana Iund OF about 3J,UVV, '" w
raised by popular subscription, 10 pay Inc
expenses OF selecting ana m .lntalning t1e Amer.
lean team, Tor ext, nuIDg suitable Hospitality " lAe
visiting Iilemen and tor the training and sea1ins
abroad Ol American representatives next summer
he National Rifle ASSOCIATION, having the manage
mrnt of CTeednUOT. finds that It's unds ore made
innate to meet suCh special expenses Colonel J. II.
Cowperthwalt. the treasurer, at No 10 flLe-st has
already received portion OF me required amount
from business men OF tnlS city, The match VIII 10
sn,s whether the money Is Forthcoming OF not
The question was asked OF General Noodwarj
few DAYS ago "Cau the American team WIN T. lie
answered, d" those who are well informed III re-
rur TO rife shooting confident OF tneir success
me outlook Is not nearly so dlScoufaging as tLs'
wnIcn confronted the Amateur hIfe iuD IN 1879,
when the challenge of the lrlSh nuemen was 50
pluckliy accepted. We have the men VINO can nOH
MILITARY Wlth the best OF Olunlects lutiiuoS
VIII be forthcoming, ANA shall De very aiucn mS-
taken If the system VI team practice aud coaching
which has carried Anne lean rltiemen u the iiVht
on every shooting ground where they nave con
tended does not prove potent IN putting up the
average OF muivIuuai efficiency 10 standard SUM
eleu 10 secure victory. But we must NOT lose sgbs
OF the .act mat the English nflemen are practising
ana are stralnIng every nerve 10 defeat the Amen-
cans IN tbs coming contest" 4,
1 he first notable international match when t"oA
place be sween rieInen on TINS slue of the Atlanu:
ana tnose across the water was that held IN lo'f
a, Creeulroor wnen the irish team, winch was mel
Nv the young rIuenIeu of the Amateur hine CiuD
was yanquisned. In 1875 the American team went
TO DoLl, mount and again defeated the lllsi Ilne-
men. IN 1876 the Americans were "a thlfu uu0
.r.I..A I'm nm Tan