Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-09-04
Men Are Being Trained to Shoot True
with tho Regular Army RifIe--A
eeautiful Resort is Sea Girt-Every
Stitch Of Canvas is in use-National
Guard in Evidence.

progress on the New Jersey state range
: here. Every stitch of canvas belong
ing to the state of New Jersey Is
stretched to accommodate the visiting
riflemen, the regulars detailed here as
scorers and markers and the regular
army officers on duty in connection
with the tournament having brought
their own tentage. The total number
of marksmen in attendance is estimat-
ed at approximately 1000, which, II
should be remembered, are the pick OF
i the military rifiemen of the country
chosen after a process of careful Sc
lection in order that each Of the thirty
s seven teams, representing the army
navy, marine corps ana national guard
might be the very best which the or
ganizations mentioned could produce In
the contest for the national trophy
The National Board for the promo
ton OF Rifle Practice was the outcome
4 Of a concerted movement by handful
OF enthusiasts who recognized the de-
cadence Of the art OF shooting IN
6 America, due to the disappearance OF
game and the fact that an incentive
must be provided in order to stimulate
popular interest in sport on which
so much OF the nations welfare indi-
rectly depends. Basing their plea on
the proposition that soldier on the
firing line Is valuable only in proportion
to his ability to. hit that at which he
aims, the friends Of rifle practice-that
IL to say, practice with the official mill
atary rifle of the United States-secur-
ed from congress legislation creating
the national board, which, in connect
ion with and under the direction Of the
war department was to have charge OF
rife matches to be held under the aus
pieces Of the United States government
and which were to be open to teams
and individuals from the regular mill
tary and naval establishments, the
marine corps and the national guard.
In connection with this work the ma
tional board was charged with the duty
Of devising plans for national marks
mems reserve, and for providing rifle
ranges throughout the United States.
conveniently situated SO as to afford
practice for all those directly or indi-
rectly connected with the military and
the national service and in addition
such private individuals as wished to
attain a Familiarity with the use of the
national weapon without mourning adj
ditional obligations which wuld be en-
tailed by their joining the national
guard. Created in March, 1908, within
slightly more than two years, the ma
tional board, ably assisted by the ma
tlonal rifle associatin, has succeeded In
reviving the waning interest in this
sport until the meeting now in pro-
gress, although but the third held UNI
der ITS direction Is universally conced-
ed to be the greatest ever held in this
country, and one which compares very
favorabIy with the great English meet
held annually at Bisley.
At this time of year Sea Girt is at
Its best. Imagine a parallelogram
mile long and half mile wide with a
closely cropped green sward, almost
level as a floor and fanked on two sides
by hard sandy roads, on third by
miniature lake, and with the fourth
opening on the Atlantic ocean. Here
and there are groups Of tents assigned
as quarters to the range officers and
Others at the 200 yards firing line
is the Club house of the New Jersey
State Rifle Association; behind the one
thousand yards firing line the multi
tudinous tents assigned to the teams
OFF to the left, surrounded by vel
yetys lawn, always kept in prime con-
dition by the diligent use Of the roller
and the mower, is the cottage assigned
to the exclusive use of the governor of
New Jersey and his staff, who spends
q portion of each summer atsSea Girt
during the encampment of the state
troops. Alongside of the cottage,
which is known as the Little White
House. workmen are industriously !
engaged erecting, the New Jersey State
building which was located at the
Louisiana Purchase exposition, and |
which has been removed intact to
these grounds. The extensive grounds
together with the buildings, the splen-
did water works, targets, butts, ETC.,
represent an estimate conservatively
placed at not less than 100000.
Each year the state Of New Jersey
sends its five regiments to the range
by companies, one at a time, for rifle
and here each regiment goes
through It's regular assignment of
camp duty every second year. This
costs the state of New Jersey thou
sands of dollars in addition to its share
Of the annual congressional appropria-
ton for the National guard
The shots In skirmish firing are fired
Il
1T Silhouette targets representing an
Enemy kneeling with rifle pointed in
The direction of the skirmisher, and
mother alongside, representing a man
prone and shooting toward the skirm-
sher, the two being the positions most
likely to be assumed at the various
distances. Shots on the prone figure
where little more than the head and
shoulders are exposed, count five; Oh
he kneeling figure, which presents A
anger target, they count four. Begin
ling at 500 yards shots are fired slow
y. until. as the skirmisher approaches
learer the target, he enlpties his mag
zine although shooting at distances
which he is required to estimate.
Twenty seconds are allowed for five
hots which includes ejecting the emp
y shells, taking aim and firing. In ,
ii, twenty shots are fired. so that the
lishest possible score ON skirmish
un is 100.
That Americans can shoot is amply
'roven by the case of Private Dur
7ard Of the Massachusetts, volunteer
Militia, who won the National tndivid- j