The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-05
BETTER MARKSMANSHIP
BILL TO ENCOURAGE PRACTICE
 WITH RIFLE.
National Board Has Completed Com pFchensive Draft of Measure
 Which Has Been Approved by the Secretary of War.

Washington, Dec 4.-(Special )-The Committee on Legislation of the Ma tional Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice has completed a draft of a bill which will be presented to congress at the coming session. presumably through the Secretary of War. for the carrying into effect of the plan drawn by the board in compliance with the act of March 2nd, 1903. More than a year was consumed in the considera- ton of the general subject by the National Board. and a most comprehen- sive plan was at length drafted and has bcen approved by the Secretary of War. The bill will be entitled "A bill to en- courage rife practice and excellence in craftsmanship amongst citizens of the United States so as to render them quickly available for efficient service in time of war"
 Tho title clearly indicates the pur- pose of the bill, which is to encourage markmanship among the citizens. giv- ing them instruction and affording facilities for practice without 1t being necessary for them to belong to -mili- tary organizations, although suitable | provision will be made for rifle practice | by the National Guard, the army, navy, | and the marine corps. The Board will ask for an annual appropriation of $1,- | 100000. to be expended under the direc- ton Of the Secretary of War. for train | ing in rifle practice such citizens as de- sire to be efficient marksmen; for the construction and equipment of shoot ing galleries; for the acquisition, equip- ment and maintenance of National target ranges: and for the issue of arms and ammunition to schools and clubs. etc. To enable civilians to practice in the shooting galleries and on the national ranges and to obtain the benefit of the provisions for the is- suing or rifles and ammunition, clubs are to be found of not less than ten members each and the shooting galle- rfes and ranges will be open to such | clubs as well as to the army. navy. marine corps and National Guard. To reach the schools. both public and pri- vate. the age limit of membership to the clubs has been placed at fifteen years. Not exceeding one rife may be Issued to club for each ten members thereof, together with five hundred Iounos or ammunition per piece. After l the nrst year. not exceeding fifty rounds of ammunition for each nuaIiN- cation as marksmen may be issued free. | All qualined marksmen will receive of- nciai badges and their names and ad- dresses are to be filed in the office of the Military Secretary of the Army so that complete roster will be on hand or all the men in the United States who are familiar with the handling of the national arm and who are able to use
 enec.iVeiy Such information would oe extremely valuable in case of war.
 reports from nearly all civilized countries as to the work which i: pelng done in those countries in the olrection of rife practice, have been SC cured containing valuable information which will be presented to Congress fin support of the bill. It will be pointed out that In estimating the military eff. nclency of soldier in battle, if we con. sider ten points as a standard of per 1ection. at least 1-2 of these points are skill in rife and revolver shooting In the Santiago campaign the troops O, our regular army engaged In that cam. paisn was perhaps the finest body ol expert rihemen In the world, while thu spanish troops had received little or nc instruction in target practice. and wer' very poor shots. While the Spaniard! were protected with rife pits with tn, ground in front of them clear in som, instances for three-fourths of a mile the American troops marched ove' these open places. captured their rife pits and sustained comparatively few casualties. In commenting on this, number of experts who participated fl this campaign have said that had ou
 men been behind the enemy's rife pzts we could have killed at least ten time
 our own number out of any troops at
 tacking them as we did the Spaniards The lack of rife practice on the par of the Russians Is contrasted with tn
 care and attention given this subjec by the Japanese, and Is held largel! responsible for the success of the Ja panese in attacking and carrying forti