Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-27

visit the Paris tournament this coming sea-
son. 1t is the writer's opinion it win repay
any on1cer or genuine American gentleman
with means to organize a team of expert
shots and attend the shooting matches to be
held in connection with the exhibition; the
cash prizes are 10 be numerous and val
liable. Having had experience in seven in
ternatfonal team matches, in all of which
the victory was with the American team,
speak with the confidence Of experience
when l say 1t Is time to take hold of this
matter at once, II we can find life enough
in shooting circles in this great country to
organize and back up a team of expert
shooters to win honors at the exposition
matches. Many marksmen of the District
join with the writer in asking that this
subject be taken up
Military Rifle Shooting.
Under the caption OF Encourage Military
Rifle Shooting timely and interesting
article has been published in Shooting and
Fishing, which is. in part. as follows:
1T has often been said that Americans
are a nation Of rifemen, and we like to
speak of our proficiency with the rifle. So
much of such talk has been heard of late
we have found ourselves wondering If We
Were rot rapidly drifting into state OF
supreme satisfaction thar cannot be found
ed upon facts: If we were not resting upon
an insecure foundation
AT the present time we have in the
United States many riflemen who possess
WOnQerful skill In rlre SnOOtlnS, out we
know comparatively little about our mod
ern national arm, though the chosen one
of our army and similar rifles have been
long accessible. For various reasons we
have drifted away from the main object of
rife practice, which is familiarity and
skill with the weapon as national defense
The aim of a majority of riflemen today
is to excel in craftsmanship, and many
sacrifices are made to attain that end.
THE desire to excel in craftsmanship
with the rifle Is not confined to civilians.
The volunteer militia of the United States
is today armed with a rifle which, though
once a good military arm, Is now of little
use but for target practice. At the present
time no advanced nation would use such a
rifle as the Springfield with black powder
in warfare. and If we mistake not, the
United States is the only first-class power
which arms its militia with the old-style
rifle and ammunition. Our volunteers hold
annual prize shooting competitions, shoot
Ing an arm which, from a military point of
view, must be regarded as obsolete In
view of the foregoing we can look upon
military rifle practice In the United States
among the volunteer militia as at stand
still.
Modern Military Arms.
'"The time has come when military rifle
shooting should be changed. This branch
of shooting should now be done with mod
ern military rifles that shoot the modern
government cartridge. The use of such rifles
the militia. The civilian should be encour-
aged to shoot with such arms and ammuni-
ton.
There could be much accomplished If
most of the matches now shot with the
Springfield rifle and black powder cartridges
were shot with modern small-bore military
rifles and the government cartridge. Aside
from the Krag-Jorgensen rifle. any strictly
military rifle such as the Winchester,
Rernington-Lee and Remington, shooting
the United States government cartridge.
should be permitted. This is specially
urged in all prize meetings of an interstate
character. All military matches, outside of
state matches. should be opened to all COM
ers. whether members of military organiza-
lions or not. Every civilian rifle club
should encourage shooting with such arms
and ammunition. making such shooting
part of its program. Every rifeman should
practice to some extent with such arms
and ammunition. :
What Would Follow.
Should the foregoing suggestions be car
ried out it is safe 10 say this would follow.
knowledge would be gained of the capa
which we now know very little.
Skill would be acquired with a weapon
with which the miltiaman now is unfa-
miliar, but which he would use II called
into active service.
The civilian would become familiar with
a practical military arm.
Our national strength would be greatly
increased and upon practical basis.
1T would make apparent merits or de-
fects in our military arms and ammunition.
TT would demonstrate the comparative
the same cartridge"