The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-24
WILL HELP AVONDALE
LOCAL MILITARY MEN THINK
RANGE WILL BE BENEFITED BY
FINDING OF SPECIAL BOARD.
OF NATIONAL CON-
TESTS WILL STIMULATE STATE
MATCHES.

The Finding of the Board APP
pointed to Formulate Rules Gov
erning the National Contests Pro-
,ided for by the Dick Bill Was
the Chief Topic Among Military
Wen Yesterday-If Southeastern
Division Is Created 1t Is Thought
Contest Will Be Held at AvOndaIe.
Local military men are enthusiast
over the finding of the board. which
was appointed to formulate rules and
tests to govern the national rifle con-
tests. whose proceedings were made
public in the Morning News. The
rules and regulations suggested by the
board and approved by the Secretary
of War, are, they think, all that could
have been expected.
THE provisions are WISE" said Col.
G. A. Gordon. in speaking of the mat
ter, Restrictions were obliged to be
placed on the representation, and the
solution of the board seems to be en-
tireIy equitable. Each state will have
the right to send one team Of twelve
NEIL. II 10 up " SeSl SldlS W CuOOSS
the best men. Just how these teams
will be chosen is not prescribed.
There is no reason, with our facili-
ties, why we should not defeat the
regulars. The fact that the match has
been set for Sept. and 8 should re-
suit in additional interest in the state
and interstate shoots. In these con-
tests the men will have an excellent
chance of showing their ability, and
it is not at all improbable that the
records made in these matches will go
a long distance toward determining
who shall compose the team.
There will be meeting of the EX-
ecutive Committee of the Interstate
Rife Association in, few days, and
the date of the contest will soon be
determined It is probable that the
shoot will be held in July. The splen-
did prizes offered by the government,
and the great amount of bene-
fit to be reaped from COM
petition, besides the honor of
representing ones state in the contest,
should be an incentive which will ad-
vance the interests of rifle practice all
over the country, and induce a large
attendance at the state and interstate
matches.
The Sea Girt Team.
Other officers expressed themselves
as pleased with the finding of the
board, saying that there was no rea-
sen. under the rules governing the
contest, the fairness of which would be
insured by government supervision
that Georgia should not go again to
Sea Girt and bring back new laurels.
"a great deal depends upon our be-
ing equipped with the Krag at an ear
~ date" said Maj. Coney "The men
are anxious even eager, to begin prac-
tice with the new rifle. Many of them
do not feel inclined to practice with the
Springfield, knowing that the Krag will
soon displace it, and that there is con-
siderable difference both in the mech
anism of the two pieces and the rules
governing qualification with each.
THE interest in rifle practice was
never greater in Savannah, and 1 be-
lieve that the team which goes to- Sea
Girt will be composed to no small eX-
tent of Savannahians. Then there is
a team to be sent across the water
1t is an honor within. the reach OF
every crack rifleman from Savannah
and the distinction should be incentive
enough to induce the most strenuous
effort" ass. ...st..
Other officers commented especially
on what the finding meant to the
Avondale range. ....
VIII Use AvOndaIe Range.
THAT section which provides that
the National Guard and Militia be in
vited to shoot in the department COM
petitions should be of especial interest
to local marksmen,'' said one officer
In the event the southeastern diYi-
sion, which Senator Bacon is striving
for, is created by Congress, it is a sure
thing that Avondale range will be used
by both the regulars and the National
Guard within the geographical defini-
tons of that division, and the govern
ment would contribute largely to the
support and maintenance of the
range" .r- -tr-.s
The finding of the board provides
that the contest in 1904 be held in the
Central West. This is for the evident
purpose of making the point accessi-
Bile. 1t will be seen from this thai
the government contemplates holding
the national competitions at different
places, not combining the contests tc
Sea Grit. This leads quite a number
of the officers to believe that by a con-
certed effort a future contest could b.
secured for Avondale range, which
they submit is unequalled in the coun.
try.