The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-04
RIFLE SEASON OPENS
AVoNDALE RANGE IS NOW SCENE
OF DAILY PRACTICE.
MANY IMPROVEMENTS MADE.
OFFICERS LOOKING FORWARD TO
MAI. NASH'S VISIT.

Believes Tint Superiority of savan-
mains Range Will Be Plainly APP
parent to Assistant Inspector of
Rifle Practice-AvOndaIe Now in
Almost Perfect State of Prepare
tiOn-Much Money Has Been Spent
in ImprOvements-Man Changes
Made-COI. Gordon Speaks of Ad-
vantaEes of AvOndale over Macon
Range.
The rifle shooting season has started
off with a rush. Avondale Range has
been put i'll a state of almost perfect
preparation, and when Assistant In
spector General ]. VanHolt Nash, in
compliance with Gov. Terrel's orders,
comes to inspect the range, he will find
it the most perfect i'll appointment and
equipment that it is possible to con-
struct. The officers think that if his
favorable finding insures the shoot,
that there is no doubt that Savannah
will have both a state and interstate
shoot in August.
Crowds are out on the range every
afternoon. The Improvements lately
made are quickly noticeable. At the
firing points all of the electric but
tons have been put in repair and the
numbers are all properly arranged op-
posite each target. At the 500 and 600
yard firing points the ground is we'll
turfed, and the dial and flags are in
order. The butts have been raised
and are now capable of sustaining the
fire of the small calibre, long range
rifle without any danger.
Spells "AvondaIe Range"
The skirmish range is in splendid
condition. Thirteen groups of figures
may be used at one time. There are
three figures in each group. the num-
Der not yet having been changed to
conform to the mode of qualification
prescribed by the War College Board
because of the fact that the inspector
general of rifle practice has announced
that the mode of qualification will not
be changed this year. The discs above
the groups are new, and instead of be-
ing designated alphabetically as here
tofore, they are new designated by let
ters so arranged as to spell "Avondale
range has been recently cut and a per-
fectly level green field now extends
from the starting point to the group of
figures.
The 800 and 1,OOO-yard ranges are
practically ready for use, although
they have not yet been used this sea-
son. No other range in the South has
firing line arranged in such a way
that contestants can be shooting at
"a sa - H..
all of the ranges.
Every afternoon the various military
organizations may be found on the
range practicing diligently. Among
those who have already qualified as
sharpshooters are Lieut.. Col. Grayson
of the First Regiment. Lieut.. Col. r.
j. Travis, and Corpl. r. c. Thompson
of the Cadets. Capt ]. C. Tyson, in
spector of rifle practice of the First
Regiment, is making every effort to
qualify as many men as possible be-
fore the encampment. The other mil
itary commands, as well as the First
Regiment are practicing hard for the
state and interstate shoots.
Macon VS.. Savannah.
In discussing the visit Of Maj Nash,
Col Gordon said last night:
'Macon's principal claim to the
shoot is her central location, and the
fact that her citizens spent a consider
able sum in getting their range ready
for the last state shoot. The expense
of having the state shoot in Savan-
nah is very little greater than having
IL in Macon, and the citizens of Sa-
vannah have spent many times over
the sum spent by Macon in equipping
a first-class range.
1T is Savannah's time to have the
shoot and as the interstate shoot will
follow the state shoot Immediately
and will be held at Avondale Range,
it is only right and proper that the
teams from the various commands in
the state be on the grounds and be
ready to participate in the inters tate
shoot if they desire TO do so. By
having the state shoot at Avondale
Range a thoroughly representative
team from all sections of the state can
be procured to compete in the inter
state shoot, and 1t also may be pos
sible in this way to select a good team
for the National Trophy contest at
Sea Girt, If Georgia decides to send a
team.
After all the principal reason why
the state shoot should be held at
Avondale Range is the fact that that
range is superior in every way as a
range to the one at Macon. This con-
sideration should have more weight
than any other and should control the