The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-24
WANT THE CITY TO HELP.
MILITARY MEN THINK 1T MIGHT
MAKE APPROPRIATION FOR
CONTESTS.

Expenses of Rifle and Carbine COM
petition Next Month Will Be Heavy
and Aid From the City Could Be
PrOftabIy Used-As the Contests
savannah, the City Could Wen
Afford to Help-Tarpaulins VIII
shield Contestants From the sun
revolver Match the Latest Addi-
ton to Events-Range Officers to
De Announced.
It is not unlikely that an appeal will
he made to the city for financial assist
ance for the annual carbine and rifle COM
petition for Georgia State Troops to be
held here next month The contest will
draw the attention of the military of the
state to Savannah, and it is thought the
city can well afford to make a small ap-
preparation, say of $500, for the purpose
of adding to the attractions and increas-
ing the comfort of the contestants.
The expenses of necessity will not be
small and money must be had to accom-
plsh all the objects that are contemplated.
Il is the ultimate intention to make the
contests interstate in heir character. and
40 this end nothing will contribute more
than that the matches of this year shall
be carried out with perfect success.
The matter of asking the city for as
sistance was preached to Col George T.
Cam, inspector general of rifle practice.
on yesterday, when he was asked If he
contemplated taking such a step.
Il don't know that I shall" he an
swered. II dislike to ask for assistance
from the city, and to place either myself.
my department or the military of the
state in the attitude of a suppliant How
ever, IL the city should make such an
appropriation the money could be very
probably expended"
The matches are to begin at o'clock in
the morning and are to be continued as
long as the light lasts, on the first dav.
and, on the second day, until they are
concluded. In order that the men may
not suffer from the sun, tarpaulins are to
be stretched on frames above the firing
points so that they may do their shoot
ing with all the comfort the circumstances
permit This improvement, like others
already made or in contemplation, requires
money and it is for such purposes as these
that the appropriation military men would
like to have the city make might be used
revolver match is the latest addition
to the contests. The conditions under
which the prize in this match will be con-
tested for provide for ten shots at fifty
yards the contestants using regulation So
or 45-caliber revolvers. Capt, c. s. Rich
mond who has several times won the re-
volver match at Sea Grit, will be in spe-
cial charge of the one which will be decid-
ed at Avondale this year. For this match
r.Pfv f- 1nA 1rfr . !, l.
tunity for some philosophical citizen TO
show his interest in the military of the
state and their advancement in that
branch of the military art conceded to be
of the greatest importance
Col. Cam has now in preparation a gen
era order announcing the range officers,
scorers and others who will be in charge
of the contests. This will be issued with
in a few days and will be transmitted to
the various commands in the state who
intend TO enter teams.
In connection with this announcement
of range officers, it is rather singular
fact that the inspector general of rife
practice is about the only chief of de-
partment on the Governors staff who
has no assistants. Under the military law
the adjutant general, the quartermaster
gen raj and commi sary gen raj aye each
entitled 10 one assistant, and the nspec-
tor general to two, while the Inspector
general of rife prac ice, who, at this
juucture, probably needs an assistant
more than any of them, is entitled to none
at all.
AS the state makes no provision for the
pay or transportation or expenses of staff
officers on the public service. IL is decid-
edly inconvenient and expensive for them
to reach portions of the state remote
from their homes. Were assistants to the
inspector general of rifle practice provid-
ed he work of his office would doubtless
proceed more rapidly, and the military
of the state be brought to a condition
of more general efficiency in the matter
of mark smar ship. In this day of long
range. magazine rifles the ability to shoot
straight is of far greater Importance
than il has ever been in the past history
Gof warfare.
1t would seem and it is generally
thought that an amendment to the law
in this regard is a matter that might well
engage the attention Of the next general
assembly.