The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-13
a LEAGUE OF RIFLEMEN.
II Is Reported That One Is About TO
lie Formed.


Ridemen of Savannah viii be interested
in an editorial in the last issue Of Shoot
ing and Fishing" in which the informal
ton is given that the organization of a
league of military rinemen is about TO be
perfected. Attention to the editorial was
drawn by Capt j. C. Postell, who reads
widely obtaining all the information pos
sible about shooting.
Capt. Postell and other Savannah ride
men earnestly indorse all the sporting pa
per has TO say about the projected league,
believing il would be a great aid to Sa-
vannah and TO the sport Of rifle shooting.
In the United States there are but five
well equipped ranges, and the use of them
all alternately would mean that Savan-
nah would secure one of the big meet
ings every five years Following is the
editorial in ell of which Capt. Posteil con-
ours except the paragraph admitting CT
villains 10 competition ana that restricting
ammunition to the military sort:
There is about to be formed in this
country an organization to be known as
the United States League of Military RI
fiemen. The object of this organization
is TO promote and encourage proficiency
with military weapons; the Offering of
prizes for competition with such arms;
the organizing and managing of internal
tional and interstate contests; to have a
governing body which viii be truly ma
tional in scope, not dominated by state
influence, but managed by a board of d.
rectors composed of members from all
states interested in rife shooting and off,
GERS of the regular army; and the promo
ton and cultivation Of the spirit of fra
ternity and comTadeship among the mill
tary shooters of the country.
1T is proposed that the league shall
al
litia authorities of the several states and
the war department of the United States
government.
ITO hold a rifle shooting competition on
a different state range each year and I'M
der the auspices of The rife association
of the state wherein the meeting is held
provided that the state association can
show to the satisfaction Of the board Of
directors of the league that they have ia
cilities to properly run the meeting ana
take care of the visiting rifiemen
THE board of directors of the league Is
to be composed of the inspectors Of small
arms practice of the departments of the
army and the officers in charge of the de
partments of rifle practice of states hav-
ing an organized department, as far as
possible
"All moneys received for membership
fees, dues, etc, over and above the run
ming expenses of the league are to be ex-
pended for prizes, the expenses of inter
national teams and assisting as far as pos
sible such states as receive no assistance
from the state authorities, to send teams
to the annual meetings.
1.-THE league will not in any way conflict
with or oppose the meetings of other rifle
clubs or associations, but rather to help
them by pOpularizing the sport of rifle
shooting in a systematic and practical
manner. The extra prizes put in the field
by the league will be an incentive for the
marksmen of states to organize.
The war department will be asked to
cooperate with the league in the work It
has laid Itself out to do. The league will
encourage experimenting with military
arms and ammunition. Long-range shoot
ing will be revived and fostered
1t is understood that while the object
of the organization is to encourage prof
cheney with military arms and ammunI-
ton, it will not be necessary to be con-
nected with any military command TO be
eligible for membership in this league. A
civilian may become a member and con-
test in most of the matches but the shoot
ing must be done with military arms and
ammunition"