The morning call., 1892-08-14

into all the States. Every town and city
soon had its rife club and range. A legion
oil enthusiasts material d. The CONVEX
sion of the Springfield rifle into breech-
loader greatly stimulated the interest. Ma
tionai Guard legislation was revised so as
to provide for the appointment of inspector
OF rifle practice, new staif position, for
appropriations for ammunition TO be ex-
pended in target practice and for sys-
tematic reports of the results. Ten
years later the War Department teii
into line. General Sherman directed an In
vestigation of the subject to be made at
Fort Leavenworth and an army board was
convened to devise q system. Inc creeu-
moor system was made the basis OF tue
plan adopted. Wingato's book was aim os'
bodily appropriated. Later another army
board Was convened and Captain Blunt
small-arms firing regulations adopted ana
prescribed. With their superior facllites
the regulars have recently been able to sur
pass the National Guard OF the country,
Nevertheless, vast amount of systematic
rifle practice is maintained by the militia
forces in every State. and many fine ranges
have sprung into existence.
TURNED OUT OF HOME.
Creedmoor. the cradle OF this, In fight
Ing sense. the most mportant and valuable
military reform introduced since the war,
has been taken away from the Natlonai
Rife Association. Owing TO the heavy cost
Of maintaining this range the association
made a gift of il to New York State win
but one condition. This was that 1t should
have the right to hold its monthly and an
nual meetings at CreedmoOr This year the
spector-general Of rifle practice Of New
York State, General WhitlOck. in assigning
the dates for the practice Of the National
Guard took care to leave no time unOccupled
which could be used by the National Rife
Association for its monthly matches or an
Dual meeting. This breach of faith pro-
"a frnt
gate, and tie National Rife Association de-
clded TO withdraw entirely from the range
which has been made famous by its eXertlOns.
The national association accepted the inVl-
tatlOn of the New Jersey Rife association
TO use Its range for its fall meeting TINS
year. and to make its meetings ambuatory
hereafter, holding them ia New Jersey one
year, Massachusetts, another aud IN the
Northwest another. Thus, as General VIM
gate remarks, "the competition may become
more OF national and less of State char
acjer, and the National Rifle Association
will be enabled TO ill the end for which II
was created"
A SINGING TAUNT.
As parting shot to the migrate holding
the office of inspectoT-general of rifle prac-
tice of New York General Wingate, the en-
inent leader in the cause Of rife practice,
closed his protest as follows: "Of course
General Nbitiock is entitled to manage hls
department. but / respectfully submit that
with all his experience IN regard to shooting
matters it IS not sufficient to justify upset
ting the whsle system and ignoring those
without whose efforts there would never
have been any such Office as that which he
occupies"
The sting conveyed in this adrOit tauns
will be better understood when II is known
that General Wngate first suggested the
creation of The Office and rank Of inspector
OF rifle practice. incorporated it in the bill
which gave il the force Of al enactment.
and was himself the first Inspector general
OF rifle practice in New York