Evening star., 1902-08-04
ALL EYES ON SEA GRT
Rlaemen Of the World Inter-
ested in Events.
PRESIDENT EXPECTED
REGULAR SOLDIERS TO BE REP
RESENTED IN MATCHES.
England, Australia, Canada and States
to Send Teams-The District
Marksmen.

Mihtary rlhemen, not only of the United
States. but throughout the world Just at
present have their gaze centered on Sea
Glrt, N. j. The annual meeting to be held
there. opening the latter part of this month
under the auspices of the National Rifle
Association of America and the New Jersey
State Rifle Association, promises to be the
most elaborate and important in the annals
OF target work with the military firearm.
Among the competitors will be an English
team two Australian teams and Canadian
team, one infantry and one cavalry team
from the Department of the East, and pos
slbly teams from he artillery and engineer
corps OF the L. army. team representing
the United States Marine Corps as well as
teams from Maine, Massa chusetts, Con-
necticut, Georgia, Rhode Island New York.
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio,
illinois and the District of Columbia The
PRESIDENT of the United States, it is an
nounced, will visit Sea Girt one day while
the meeting is in progress.
Inc nope is entertained that early next
session Congress will pass the BILL favora-
oly reported at the last session, to encour-
age military rifle shooting in this country
In that event the manner of conducting the
meetings at Sea Girt will be materially
changed. Therefore, the chances are that
me competitlons that will open the end of
ms Is among the causes of increased gen.
eral interest In the coming event.
The District Marksmen.
The national apital has earned an enyia-
BILE reputation for expertness in rifle shoot
ing by reason Of the energy and the unsur-
passed work in that line of the District of
Columbia National Guard. District Ma
uonal Guardsmen several years ago took
stand IN the very front rank of. the sharp
shooters ard have persisted in remaining
there The most important event in con-
hectlon with the Sea Girt meetings is the
compel tlt1on for the famous Hilton trophy
Several years ago the District brigade team
established the record in the Hilton match
the high score being 1,097 out of a possible
Loo AT the meeting last year the District
again captured the Hilton trophy and in
cldentally smashed it's own record by roll
ing up total Of 1,09S
Each team shooting for the Hilton trophy
consists OF twelve members Each man is
required to fire seven shots at 200 Yards
seven shots at 500 yards and seven shots
at 600 yards. The Krag-Jorgensen-or army
rlne-and government ammunition are used
by all except the foreign teams competing.
"A detachment of marines has been in
camp at the Ordway range for several
weeks past, engaged in diligent practice be-
lore the targets. From this party will be
selected the team to represent the Marine
Corps at Sea Girt. From the large number
Of competitors it would seem that the Dis
trIct of Columbia is confronted with quite
a task If 1t hopes to again capture the Hill
ton; and that is principally what it is going
after.
Friendly Match at Ordway.
For the benefit of both organizations a
friendly match was shot at Ordway last
Saturday afternoon by a team made up of
twelve of the marines and by a team picked
from the nineteen men who are going to
Sea Glrt as principals and alternates of the
Districts brigade rifle team. The condi-
tlons that govern the Hilton match were
followed closely. The District rifemen left
the marines far in the rear by scoring the
remarkable total Of 1,122 The marines
score was 1,033. OF course the weather and
other conditions at Sea Girt are much more
unfaVora BILE than they are at Ordway but
nevertheless the excellent results of the
shooting Saturday have given rise to the
nope that the District detachment at Sea
Girt this year will again capture pra actically
every prize In sight. Several men who are
considered better shots than some of those
who participated in the ma tch with the ma
rines are Of the brigade team contingent,
but they were unable to be at the range
Saturday. The scores of the District s
twelve follow, 1t having been possible for
each man to have scored 35 at each range,
or total of 105 over the three ranges: