New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-03
NATIONAL GUARD AFFAIRS.
THE RETIREMENT OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE AS
ISOLATION FROM NETWORK STATE.

THE RETIREMENT OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE AS
ISOLATION FROM NETWORK STATE.
Reports from the State Camp speak favonbly OF the
| work done by members Of the 9th Regiment. and no
doubt Coonel Stewards will come back home WIZ
additional aurels 10 their credit. The week was be-
| gun with tragedy which threw cold water on the
spirits Of the during the first part OF the tour
but they went 70 work earnestly and the result Of
| their efforts was seen on the drill field. The 9th was
relieved by the 14th Regiment Of Brooklyn yesterday
| Colonel Seward's men were the last OF the New
Workers who will DO seen at the camp this season.
| The 18th will DO relieved by the 18th on next
| saturday, aud with the end Of Ire tour Of Colonel
Austen's men the especial Interest Of OF National
| guardsmen IN this city and Brooklyn in camp this
season will be dead For the rest OF the season
| the military post Will be occupied by PROVISIONAL
| bataions made up OF separate companies from INC
Interior OF the State.
The cadets OF the 1st Battery Will 60 into camp IN
Van Cortandt Park this morning and will remain until
Tuesday morning. They VIII be under the command
Of Lieutenant Schmidt, OF the battery. salute to The
Union will be fired at noon Tomorrow.
The National Rifle Association has finally wtthirawh
from this State and hereafter its field OF usefulness
will be limited TO Ncw-Jerscy Matters we're brought
10 head In the latter part OF the week Just passed by
n letter from General Whltlock to General George W.
wngae, president Of the association, asking for the
dates on which the association intended 20 hold It's
matches at Cretdmoor under the stipulation In the act
turning over the range from the association TO the
state which provided that the association should nave
ten DAYS In September in which to hold Its annual
| matches. Under the action Of General Whtlock the
association could not hold its matches, and General
Wngate gave notice to the general Inspector OF rihe
practice 10 that effect The correspondence on the sub
iect interesting reading and II Is given herewith to-
gcther with that by which the field Of the assocation
changed the field Of It's activity from New-iork to New
| Jersey:
| From General Whitlock 10 General Wingate under
date Of June 81
Sir: To enable me 10 date for the state and bril-
gade matches tho honor request what dates in
September National iuhe Association proposes
hold It's fall meeting. ct Crecmoor f.. l. reply by
| bearer, II convenient will much oblise me.
| From General Wngate In reply 10 the foregoing
Sir: receipt OF your letter Of the 2Sd instant
requesting statement las to what dates in September
National Rne Association proposed TO hold Its
annual meeting Creedmoor." in order enable you TO
! fix the dates for the State and brigade matches.
In reply have TO state that the oates assigned by You
for The practice N the National Guard at Crcednoor have
lcft no tlme unoccuped which could DO used by the Ma
tonal Association for rs monthly matches annual
meeting
IL has therefore decided 10 HON any H4sual
meeting during present year, ana the
National Rine Association will tarscr such meeting to
OF NewJescy whore It's eXcrtions I'm establish
ing rife practice have earned for It warmer
regard range IL created.
The fOlowing two letters refer 10 the transfer TO
New-Jersey:
Juno 81 1899.
Bird w Spencer. General Inspector Rine Prac.
| uce. s. n. J.. Passaic, NcwJersey.
General: 1 wish TO inquire Of you officially whether
arrangements be made by which matches
which the n. n \. hos been II the habit ~ shooting
Crccimoor DO shot upon the range Sea iirt, New
Jerseyt
The matches refer TO those FOR tho Hamilton Shield,
the Interstate Trophy. perhaps the Wimbledon Cup and
the Judd Trophy.
I. is not desired BY the ~ r. A to have any personal
management Of these matches receive any OF
but simply that they shall be shot part Of tho
programme the NewJcrsey Eine Association and
| range. under the supervision Of the y. r. 4.
We thnk that tho giving Of these matches at Sea Grt
will undoubtedly attOct number OF competitors TO IL
| who would 20, otherwise be willing cone.
GEORGE w. wINGATE., President n. II. 4.
State Of New.Jcr.cy,
Inspcctor'Gencr Of Rne Practice
Trenton. June -, 1899.
General George w wnaate. President National Rife
Association.
Dear Goneroi: Yours oath received. have had o
conference to-day with Abbtt and secured his
approval to your proposition therein outlined. We
shall be glad include matches in programme and
you may the completion OF the arrangement as
far gone you deem best The details shall ar
rngs later.
BIRD W. SPENCER, Inspector. General Rife Practice
General Wingate has also sent the following letter
shutting the National Rife Association out OF Creed.
moor:
New.Yorh June 10. 1892.
General: ft Is with the profound rcsrs, that
that the State has taken steps which have practically
resulted driving the National Rne Association from
Cree lmoor, and may result IN Us dissolution.
The association, Is well known, only maintains itsef
ny the receipts which Il gets from the monthly sharp
matches with which receipts II Is enabled
carry the match themselves lat which large numbers
Of Guordsnen qualify without the Sn,c)
aud provide the prizes which induce TIE mass OF tho
National Guard 10 in these competitions. The
small surplus LEFT and which constitutes It's only income,
enables provide the prizes and to carry it, annual
fall meeting which meeting always involves loss OF from
$500 10 1850.
refusal OF the general inspector Of rife pruc
,ice recognize heretofore. the made these
matches prevents hcr continuance, and. in consequence
prevents holding the annual meeting Crccimoor
even the assignments made by him Of the had no,
occupied entire which the matches and meeting
could be held.
Tho n. n. A. has therefore been compelled to abandon
the having annual meeting at crccdmoor and
20 close It's Office l put upon record earnest
protest against by The State, canrot but
IL rs calculated be destructive OF competitive
rife shooting the National Guard and as necessary
De injurious to all military rhc pactce
Tho efficiency OF the National Guard organizations In RHO
shoot,ne and the number who engage in IL Is IN
the elite, Of Ncw.Yok and Brookyn in direct proportion
m the efficiency Of their cgnnnta Trans and these teams
are developed and trimmed In the competitive matches Of
the r. r. A. Tho sharpshooters' matches did not inter-
fere free practice proposed by General Whitlock
No one Obliged them and those who did did
40 without expense 10 the State. Annual competitions In
military rife shooting such aose OF the N II. A.. are
fostrcd among citizen soldiers OF all Ennlrhspeaking
people OF great military value and am unable TO
sce why the authorities OF NewYorh State should upon
rho twct,tl year the establishment OF Creedmoor,
reverse all It's traditions and turn the association out OF
the range they created which Is the birthplace OF
,lre shooting in the United states.
cannot also but consider this action by the STATE
authorities IL practical breach OF fIh tow ard the National
Rlne Association. When recently donated Crecdmoor
10 the state I, with the express reservation OF the
right 70 hold annual meeting, and with the implied
,dea tia, We should b. permitted continue matches
there as previously under your administration 10 was
thought rhat possible that there might be In the
..ao.o fntrrn ndministrneon which might po.siby