Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-08-03
War Departments Plan for Form
ing a National Reserve of
Qualified MarkSmcn.
MEMBERS MUST Be CITIZENS,
All Belonging to National Rifle Assn,
Aud Allied Organizations Eligible
What 1t Would Mean.

Special Correspondence.
Washington, d. c., July 80, 1904
Under the authority of the war depart
ment the national board for the promo
ton of rifle practise has announced the
plan adopted for the formation of
national reserve Of qualified rinemen.
No step in military circles within the
past decade, at least, has been fraught
with the significance that attaches to
this effort to induce all male citizens Of
the United States capable Of bearing
arms to famlliarlze themselves with
the use of firearms, and especially the
government weapon which will be em-
poyed in time OF war. 1t Is estimated
that there aSe at least 10,000,00O Ameri-
cans who would be eligible to a draft, OF
which only a small percentage know
anything about rifle practise.
Skill with The best weapon has al
ways turned the scale in favor of the
nation employing the same even with
inferior numbers. The Victories Of the
English with their broadcloth arrows
at Poicters and Angincourt Of the
leans, and the more recent ones of San
tlago and Manila are directly ascrib-
able to the craftsmanship OF the VIC
tors. Consequently, the effort TO arouse
the interest OF the great mass OF citi-
Zens Of the republic in rifle and pistol
practise and to equip them with the
knowledge OF the use of firearms that
is absolutely essential to the soldier
regular volunteer or cOnscript-is one
which should and Will command the
respectful attention OF everyone who
has his country's interest at heart.
The national board has prepared a
plan for the national reserve, the main
points of which are as follows.
All members Of the National Rife as
ISOLATION and OF affiliated organizations
are eligible to compete; they must be
citizens between the ages OF is aud 45
the United States magazine rifle or
rifle viewed and stamped by the Ma
tional Rifle association must be used,
together with the United states service
ammunition or private makes that
come within the rules all those who
qualify Will receive national mark
mans button
In introducing this subject the board
pointed out that as our permanent mill
tary establishment or regular army
one or more of the first-class powers OF
the world we must depend very large
Nv upon the militia and the volunteers
for our fighting force. With the mod
ern long range small arms II is all i'm
portant that the soldier should know
how to shoot and to hit what he shoots
at If he can not do this the chances
are ten to one that the shot Is lost
"By the plan proposed" says the re-
port of the board. 1--WE believe that the
United States VIII within few years
have more than one million OF men
who will have for practical purposes ON
the line Of battle nearly all the require
ments for the most efficient soldiers In
the world, That is. we propose
TO educate our young men and boys
over Is years of age to be an army OF
expert rifle shots To those VINO
are accustomed to the use of firearms
we believe one thing is evident beyond
all question. and IT is that high degree
of skill In rifle and revolver shooting
and the confidence which a knowledge
of this skill gives will make a timid
man brave and a brave man more cour-
ageous,"
The board proposes to encourage rifle
practise "in the state militia where ne
cessary," "in military and other
schools" and among those individuals
who may be called upon TO serve IN
time OF war"
Under the last heading the report Of
the board points out that II IL especially
desirable to induce practise by the
Younger men. because by far the larger
part of an army IN the field Will be
made up of very young men, so That ev-
cry endeavor should be made to carry
on more particularly the practice or
young civilians.
This IL recommends, should be done
by means Of shooting galleries and
field ranges, and suggests, In treating
of the former that In erecting armor-
les for the national guard, additional
range facilities can be provided at lit
tie additional cost. AS for outdoor
ranges the report says: 1T would APP
pear TO your committee that most
careful study should be given, and at
once, TO the matter of eventually es-
tablIshlng sufficient range facilities to
permit of quite general civilian rife
practise, and for the purpose Of this
study there should be assumed an ac-
tive rifle practise by say 500 600 10 1900
600 individuals, and a definite plan
should be formulated, which Will even
tually provide facilities for the num-
Der of men above named"
The plan above briefly set forth was
devised by a committee Of the board OF
which Assistant Adjt. Gen. w. p. Hall,
Cen Bird w, Spencer, president of the
National Rife association, and I. A.
Haskell vice president OF the National
Rifle association, were members, and
after being adopted by the national
board. Of which Assist Secy, OF War
Robert Shaw oliver is president, at lie
! 4 al
| by Secy OF war Taft and Officially pro-
| mulgated by the war department as
| circular No. 20, copies of which can be
obtained by addressing the Office OF the
military secretary, war department,
Washington D. c.