The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-21
KRAGS ARE SILENCED
MIR. s. p. SHORTER STOPS SHOOT
ING OF REGULARS
ON THE AvoNDALE RANGE
COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO LOOK
FOR NEW SITE.

Deadly Missiles Fell Thick and Fast
on Mr.. Shelters Permissible
Went to Executive officer of
Range and Asked That Firing BE
stopped at Once-ReGUest Was
Quickly Granted-Fort Screven's
Soldiers VIII Not Shoot Any More
This Week-krags Will Not Be AL
lowed on Range.
The sharp cracking of the Krags on
Avondale range was hushed yesterday
as the result of a complaint lodged by
Mr.. S. P. Shotter with Capt. w. G.
Austin, executive officer of the range
and the annual target practice of the
soldiers of Capt. Whitney's command
but just begun, was brought to an alb
rupt ending.
Several days ago Mr.. Shotter in
formed the range authorities that if
the bullets from the Krags continued
to fall upon his premises. he would be
obliged to take steps to stop the prac-
tice of the troops. The missiles began
to whizz about the premises and pen
citrate the outbuildings yesterday morn
ing, and he went at once TO Capt. Aus
tin and asked that the firing be discon-
tlnued. This request was complied
with at once, and shortly after the
noon hour. the order was sounded to
cease firing.
Have Threatened InjunctiOns.
For some time complaints have been
made by residents of the coun-
try contributary to the range, and
within range behind the entertainments,
and injunctions have been threatened.
Believing that a modification in the
firing regulations would remedy the
evil, the shooting was allowed to be
continued. The missiles continued to
fall on the premises, and, in accord
ance with an agreement reached be-
tween the parties, to the effect that if
the modification in the firing regula-
tions did not result in an DEVIATION of
the trouble the firing would be stopped,
Capt. Austin stopped the practice.
The members of Capt. Whitneys
command will remain at the range I'M
til the end of their tour of duty on
Friday, but there will be no more fir
ing. The time will be spent in prac-
tice marches. The Executive Com
mittee of the Interstate Military Rifle
Association has issued orders against
the use of the Krag-Jorgensen gun on
the range until further orders. This
does not preclude the use of the
Springfield rifle.
Fault of the Krags.
The trouble does not lie in the poor
craftsmanship of the regulars. There
are many fine shots in the artillery,
and their shooting is as accurate as
is that of the local troops. The whole
trouble lies in the use of the KraS.
There has been little complaint when
the local troops were shooting, but this
is because they do not use the Krag
rifle. The mode of qualification with
the Krag is different from that of the
Springfield, and it is during what is
known as the rapid-fire practice that
the injury is done. In this practice
the men are required to shoot a speci-
fled number of shots in a given Time
and accuracy is a much harder propo-
sition than when the marksmen is al
lowed to take their time.
There was a meeting of the Execu-
tive Committee last night to take &C
ton in the matter. At this meeting
there was presen Col. Cam. Maj. Will
hanson, Cap. Austin, Capt. Postell
Capt. Garden and Capt. Stephens. 1t
was decided to appoint a committee to
investigate new sites, and to inquire
into the feasibility of adapting the
present range to the use of the Krag-
JOISSIlSSH IlllGs AL CI15AAlCCA Will NC
employed to make surveys, in order
that it NAV be determined what sites
will be available.
Will 60 to Washington.
The committee also agreed to request
the Governor to pay the expenses of
an officer to Washington to make ar
rangenents for the Krag rifles to be
used by the team which will represent
Georgia. After going to Washington
it is the idea of the committee to have
the officer go to Frankfort Arsenal,
Philadelphia, and selected the rifles.
1t is believed that the Governor will
readily accede to this request, as he
has promised to do everything in his
power in the interest of the team.
S-4-S--