The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-18
TO BEGIN SHOOTING TO-DAY.
MILITARY OPEN THE SEASONS
WORK At THE RIFLE RANGE.

Many improvements Under Way AT
the Grounds and Many COnve-
nieRces Added for the Benefit of
the Rinemen-The Visiting Mill
tary Men VIII See the Most Com
PIete Rifle Range in the Country.
The Rifemen Who VIII Fake Part
in the May Week Contests Hard
at Work.
The rife practice season with the milf
tary begins to-day. Members Of cOmpa-
mics \ and B Of the Guards will go out to
the range this afternoon. The interest Of
the military men in rifle shooting is on
the increase, and practice viii be kept
up during the summer. The military rifle
range at Avondale IS the property of all
the commands, and il is intended that all
should benefit by it equally.
The week has been divided out among
the companies, as follows: Monday, Cadets
and German Volunteers; Tuesday, Chat
ham Artillery, Georgia Hussars and Re
publican Blues; Wednesday, Oglethorpes
and Jasper Greens, Thursday, Savannah
Rine Associations; Friday, companies G
and ID of the Guards, Saturday companies
\ and of the Guards.
About twenty of the best shots in the
city have been practicing for the last
teams from all over the country will be
present to contest for the prizes and tro-
! phles offered. The twelve best shots Will
compose the team. Most of the men who
were on the winning team at Sea Grit, are
| practcing for places on this team. but
there Will probably be some changes, as
some of the fine shots VINO did not go TO
Sea Girt are also competing. Capt. w. w.
Williamson, who will be in charge of the
! team, is making no predictions as 10 what
he expects the team TO accomplish, but
| he Is making every effort 10 secure the
best material for it, The Savannah team
| viii have the advantage of being familiar
| with the grounds, which is OF considerable
| Importance.
A force of hands has been at work on the
| range for several days, and some marked
/ improvements in the appearance of the
! grounds and the conVenences and facili-
/ lies for the marksmen have been made.
! The grounds have been sown in oats, in
order to give green surface to relieve
| the eyes of the men from the reflection of
/ the sun on the bare ground. A grand stand
| has been built for the visitors and a mess
| hall erected with kitchen attached. The
mess hall has accommodations for about
! 40 men, and will prove a great convenience
/ during the May week contests when there
| Will be large number of marksmen on
/ the ground for several days. New targets
/ have been added a each of the ranges and
telephone connections provided between
the targets and the shooting stands. There
| are now six targets at the 200 yard range,
| four at 800, five a the 500 and five at the
/ 600 yard range. A large flag has been do
/ mated to the association by Capt. j. c. Pos
| tell and Lieut.. John NJ Bryan, which will
| be mounted on the flag pole recently do
| mated by the Savannah Volunteer Guards.
The officers of the Rife Range Assoca-
| ton take very active interest in its work.
| Capt. w. w. Williamson, the president de-
| votes a great deal Of time to ii, and he is
! ably seconded by the other members of his
| board. The other officers are as follows:
r Tlee capt ca Ncbo5 TSG
| Capt. Beirne Gordon.