The Jersey City news., 1902-06-10
'|PLUGS TO VANISH SEA CIRT PRIZES
Bill in Congress to Appro-
pirate $4,000 for
Annual Rifle
Shoot.

Especial to sThe Jersey City News.'
TRENTON, June 10. 1sO2-If bill now
before Congress passes. the rifle range at
Sea Gfrt will have a national fame far
in addition TO that which it now enjoys
on account of the accommodations and
conveniences of the States range and its
equipment for carrying out the purposes
of the bill.
The bill was introduced through the eff
| forts of Bird W. Spencer, president Of the
| National Rifle Association of America,
and has been reported favorably by a
committee
It provides that for the purpose of fur
nishing a national trophy. and medals
and other prizes to be contested for an
Of War, the contest to be open TO the
army, marine corps, navy, and organized
militia of the several States, and for the
cost of the prizes and the payment of
necessary expenses of such contest, the
sum of $4,000 shall be annually appro-
priated.
It has developed by recent experience
that the ability to hit mark is d very
large part Of the value Of the instructed
soldier. When conscription is not possi-
Bile, the encouragement of rifle firing as
a military sport affords the the govern
ment OF a free country the opportunity 10
give to the male citizen fit for military
service at least part of the training
1 which is necessary in war.
/ How important this part is can be
shown by numerous instances cited from
history in the Iast century, where good
shots without discipline. have been able
to Withstand the finest troops. 1t is also
! a part of the soldiers instruction which
requires much time, labor and expendl-
ture.
To qualify a regiment of volunteers as
marksmen, each man to fire 100 shots
with range having ten targets. it will
require at the rate Of ordinary shooting
two months or more In the haste Incl
dent to the time of war, when troops are
/ cient time for target practice is rarely tc
be had. In 1899 several United States vol
unteer regiments fired not more than fif-
teen shots per man before going intC
action.
1t is assumed that the proposal OF Gen
! eral Spencer, for government aid to tn,
National Rifle Association, is with a view
of inaugurating in this country an in
terest in target practice which win event
ually produce a system of voluntary fir
sing similar or equivalent to that whicl
now exists in Switzerland
The appropriation of $4,000 will enabl
competitions to be held which will CLAIM
the attention of the country, and b.
awakening popular interest make the de
velopment of this military sport, which /
really military instruction, more general
1t will be entirely in accordance with tn
traditions of our country, which frs
showed what the rife was capable of am
which gained its independence largely b.
familiarity of our citizens with its use
There can be no doubt but what the eff
fectiveness of troops in modern warfar
depends very largely upon their marks
Hanship. In the war in South Africa til
success of the Beers in repulsing attack
by vastly superior numbers and in in
ficting great punishment on much bette
drilled and organized troops was largel.
due to their knowledge and expert use 0
, the rifle.