The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-15
WILL SHOOT AT AV0NOALE.
REGIMENTAL AND COMPANY RIFLE
MATCHES ON LABOR DAY.

Savannah Military Rifle Range As
sociation Has the Matter Under
Achievement and VIII Meet to Ar
range Final Plans aud Details
RegimentaI Teams VIII Contest
for the DeRenne Trophy and Com
pany Teams for the DeSotO TrO-
phy-No Individual Matches Now
Contemplated Plan Designed to
Result Ultimately in Annual
Matches Mt Avondale.
The probabilities now point to gath
ering Of the narksmen OF Georgia az the
Avondale rife range on Labor Day, Sept.
8. when If predictions are verified by &C
tual happenings, the DeRenne and De
Soto trophies will be contested for by
teams representing regiments and COM
panies of the state troops
The matter has been under discussion
for some time, and was considered at an
informal gathering of some OF those most
closely interested yesterday morning. Col.
George T. Cam, state inspector general
Of rife practice. consulted with Col. A.
K. Lawton- who in turn went over tho
matter at some length with Capt. j. c.
Postell, inspector of rifle practice for the
First Regiment of Cavalry.
Col. Lawton is president of the Savan-
nah Military Rife Range Aesocia ton. the
corporation that owns and controls the
Avondale range, and under the auspices
of which the contests at the butts will
take Place. He has called a meeting of
the association for tomorrow afternoon.
at $3.50 o'clock, when the matter of holding
the contests will be discussed further and
details arranged. The meeting VIII be
held in the offices of Messrs. Lawton &
Cunningham.
As affairs now stand, matches for regi-
mental teams of twelve and company
teams OF six men are contemplated, the
DeRenne trophy being offered for the
winner in the regimental match
and the De Soto trophy for the
winner in the company match II is be-
lieved that to shoot these matches will
consume possibly two days, at least, this
is the estimate made by Col. Cam, ana It
is thought that this is quite long enough
for the first state rife contests TO last.
II the plan grows in popularity the length
of time given to the matches and the
number of trophies offered will be CORE
spondngly increased.
individual matches, because of the short
length Of time that can practically be
given up to rifle contests this year. Il
is hoped 10 have them when the annual
contests have become established factors
in the life and activity of the state troops.
The trophies offered will not be given
outright, but held by the winners for q
year. When the contest is again held
the successful teams in THAI of September
will have to return to Savannah TO defend
their victories.
Details of the contests are yet lacking
but very sket0hy outlines of what is in
tended having been drawn. The whole
plan will be gone over at length at the
meeting to be held in Col. Lawtons Office
and probably at other meetings to be helC
in the near future, and definite plans anc
arrangements made as soon as possible
As soon as il can be known just Wha
will be done invitations will be issued tC
the various regiments and companies o.
the state troops to send teams to repre-
sent them.
II is not known yet whether one or TIVE
days will be required TO complete tn
matches. Col Lawton seemed TO thinl
that one would suffice, while Col. Cam
basing his estimate on the number of reg
mental and company teams he thinks VII
be on hand, thinks that two days will b
necessary.
He anticipates that there will be two Of
more teams from Atlanta and teams from
Wsycross. Brunswick, Albany and. pos
sibly other citiee. besides half a dozer
or more from Savannah, who will tax,
part in the contests. II Col. Cams an.
ticipations as to the number of teams are
realized, his idea as TO the length OF tim,
requisite 10 complete the matches is proc
ably accurate.
nose w7o nave the matter or the con
tests in charge are enthusiastic over tbs
project, and believe that If the plan Is
carried to a successful conclusion, anC
that the contests OF this year will inau
gurste annual contests, that a very de
cided Improvement in the Workmanship
of the state troops will result. AS at
tendance at Sea Girt is now impossible
for Georgia men, who have the good o.
the service at heart, and a due regarc
for the honor and credit OF their repre-
sentatives of last year at the ranges there
some new field for the expenditure o.
the ekill with the rife Of the state troop:
IL almost essential to the attainment Of
anything like the proper degree OF eff
cheney. This field will be afforded by the
proposed annual contests here.
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