Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-22
OPENING Basket Ball Game.

The opening game of the basket ball sea-
son will occur next Monday evening IN the
gymnasium. There will be music and dane
ing after the game. which will be between
the Capron Cadets and the Naval Battalion.
The latter is the Junior team of the league.
The following players have been registered
for the season:
Urell Rines-Bateman, Loughran, Bopp,
Hunt. Post Earnest, Carver, Bender, White,
Graham, Prospect, Garner
Capron Cadets-Stull, Meyer Schmide' Ed
gar. Wilkinson. Methens, Strausburger, Bal
ley. Gregory, Miller. Baum.
Morton Cadets-Curran. Thompson Finn
Maekman, Pindell, Meagher. T. Caneheid'
L. Canefield. Goodall. Gregory.
Hearst Riles-Sullivan, McCormlck, Ma
honey Hare LeMat. Shaver, Macaloy, j.
Dennis. c. Dennis, Huth Ernest Farden,
Peck Conway, Withers, Ager, Gengell.
Ordway Rifes-Barker, Bonavairs Buriln-
game England Mace, Laudon. Loviday,
Robbins Lombardy, Harrington, Pratt,
Turner Scroggins, Amman, Long.
Athletic Association-Brown, Harringan-
Dean, Burke, o'Connell, Mccoy Artz Hop
kins.
meyer. Kelly. Darling. Tucker. Sherman.
Shredder. Adams, Mattocks, Hemming. HILL
Wilkerson, Little. Whelan, Bresnahan; Beal.
Company K-Mastin. Morlarity, Clark
Nais. Lucas Zell. DeVantier Sullivan, Rust
Tierney
Corcoran Cadet Corps-Handiboe. Drae-
ger. Boyle. Chism, Rice, Heffner, Fenton'
omi, Walters. Collins, E. Clark
Promotion of Rifle Practice.
What is expected to be the most impor-
tant meeting of the national board for the
promotion of rifle practice since that body
was organized under act of Congress sew
eral years ago is being held today at the
War Department. The national board is
composed of twenty-one members, includ-
ing five members from the regular army
and navy, eight trustees of the National
Rife Association and eight members from
the country at large. 1t was authorized by
Congress in order that the army and navy,
the militia and civilians interested in rifle
practice might be drawn into closer COM
munication and that ways and means might
be devised by which the interest of the
general public in rifle practice might be
stimulated. As an initial step in this direc-
ton Congress appropriated funds Tor the
purchase of national trophy. to be shot
for annually under regulations prepared by
the board. and fitted up range at Fort
Riley. Kans., where the shoot took place
last August. The meeting of the national
board is held at this time to pass upon the
awards in connection with the Fort Riley
contest The board was also instructed to
formulate plan for national marksman' S
reserve, which plan has been agreed upon
and approved by the Secretary of War.
At the meeting today it is understood that
steps will be taken for the preparation of d
bill to be submitted to Congress early in
December embodying. to some extent at
least the plans of the board. 1t is not
thought that Congress will act on all the
suggestions of the board at one time, as
the scheme for securing the marksman's re-
serve Is very comprehensive and begins
with the education of boys in military
schools and provides for the encouragement
Of rifle practice for both civilians and MEM
bers of the militia on a large and liberal
scale.
The board recommends the establishment
of shooting galleries and field ranges; the
distribution of arms and ammunition.
supervision and Instruction.; inducement for
practice. such as trophies, badges, etc. and
the publication and distribution of Htera-
ture bearing on this subject. AS an initial
step in this direction the board urges an
annual appropriation OF Sl,OOO,0o0 for hve
years. to be expended in the purchase and
equipment of ranges under the direction of
the Secretary of War. 1t also desires that
the standard military rifle in use by the
government should be made available for
civilian practice, and IL is probable some
provision to this end will be made in the
draft OF the bill which the board viii pre-
sent. Hundreds of inquiries have been re-
eeived from rifle clubs. instructors at mill
tary schools and individuals to how
this arm can be procured. and there seems
TO be little doubt that rifle practice would
be stimulated. especially among civilians,
by a distribution of the krag rifle.
Carbines for Military Schools.
The Krag carbines will soon be discarded
by the cavalry arm of the regular establish
ment and the national board will seek to
obtain possession of them for distribution
10 the military schools at the rate of about
ten pieces to each school where army Off
GERS are detailed as instructors. 1t Is also
proposed that one carbine for each twenty
five scholars should be issued to public
schools possessing indoor ranges and engag-
ing In rifle practice.
When the new Springfield rifle is issued
to the regular establishment. about one
hundred thousand Krags will be available
for distribution IL Congress Will give them
TO the board.
In preparing its recommendatio the
committee has given consideration to the
plan adopted by the civilized nations OF the
world for the purpose of encouraging rifle
shooting among their citizens. 1t Is believed
that IL the plans of the national board are
followed this country will In a few years
possess an army of qualified marksmen to
the number OF from five hundred thousand
10 one million men.
Our permanent military establishment or
regular army must be small" Assistant
Secretary of War Oliver Is quoted as having
said; and In the event of war with one
or more of the first class powers of the
world we must depend very largely upon
the militia and the volunteers for our fight
ing force. With the modern long range
small arm II is all important that the SOL
diers should know how to shoot and to hit