The Washington times., 1905-06-08
RIFLE PRACTICE
PLANS PERI FECTED
Marksmen Will Begin Work
June Is.
DAILY PARADES NECESSARY
Have to Do Marching Stunts to Over
come Defect in Law-Numbe1
of Teams Doubtful.
DAILY PhRADEs NECESSARY

Rife practice for Che District Ma
tional Guard viii be begun on Thurs
day, June To-. and will continue each
day-except Sundays and Saturday, July
22-to July "a inclusive The purpose
of this extensive competition is to de-
eide upon the best men to represent
the District at the annual national
championship shoot at Sea Girt. on
August "a. 25, 26, g.. and %.
June IL and July /, s. 15, 22 and %
will be set aside for the completion of
the sharpshooters' scores and the scores
necessary to qualify as expert rifemen.
The regulation field uniform, which in
cludes campaign hats and ieggins, will
be worn.
Where They Form.
1t has been arranged for the compa-
nies OF the Second Regiment, the Sec
ond, Third. and Fourth separate Battal-
ions, and the companies of the First
Separate Battalion to form at Ninth
street and Pennsylvania avenue prompt
: ]y at o'clock a. m, on the dates as
signed for the parade Of each. Street
cars will be in readiness to convey them
to the rifle range in Con greSS Heights.
The Naval Battalion VIII form at
so'clock for its parade and will take
! cars for the range at foot OF Water
street southwest.
These daily parades are necessary to
permit the soldiers to shoot. The
statutes require that Government em-
ployes who are members of the Nation
al Guard shall be given leave with pay
on days when paradeS are held by that
organization. Rifle practice is not pro-
vided for, thus the parade is necessary
before any shooting may be done.
Saturdays Open
On Saturdays the range will be thrown
open for voluntary practice. In view Of
the fact that the brigade was unable to
file its qualifications scores for 1904, by
reason of lack of range facilities, the
officers have been instructed by General
Harries to make special efforts to Ok
tain on the range the attendance of
every man qualified under General Or
ders, No. 20, 1904, remembering that the
efficiency of a soldier is measured by
his ability to shoot straight" Sharp
shooters and the best markSmen in the
Guard vii, be appointed to instruct
those not so well up in the use of fire.
arms.
Heretofore regimental and company
teams Of the District National Guard
have been sent to Sea Girt. their trans
portation being paid out of the District
appropriation. The number of teams to
go this year will depend on the money
appropriated for the project; The
known until Saturday a week. Cen
eral Harries is inclined to be liberal
wherever rife work IS concerned, and
1t is hoped that the usual number of
teams will contest for the national
championship
Big Sea Girt Shoot.
The coming shoot at Sea Girt, if indi-
cations can be relied upon. VIII he the
largest ever held in America. Already
over forty teams have been entered, rep
resenting the Navy. Army, Marine ser
vices and West Point and the National
Rife Association.
A change commended by E1arksmen
the country over has been made for the
coming shoot. For the first time the
individual matches will be shot before
the National competition. This change
has been made for tie practice 1t VIII
afford the men preliminary to the Ma
tional match. Several of the States
have not enough money to send complete
teams. These Will dispatch individual
marksmen 10 the New Jersey range.
Thus. they viii be. enabled to compete
camp OF instruction.
Many Prizes.
Twelve prizes are offered for compe-
tition in the National Individual Match
and additional prizes are offered for
matches of a lesser Importance. A gold
medal and cash prize OF $40 viii be
given to the competitor making the
highest aggregate score in slow fire,
which requires that the contestant fire
one shot minute. The same induce
ments are offered for the person making
the best aggregate score III rapid fire,
the highest aggregate score in skirmish
fire. There must be at least thirty-six
entries for these events,
he ciC CF %l,r Tot,
August 26, the National Rife Associa-
tion will start its competition, which
lasts through August 2S and 20
For many years past District riaemen
and revolver shots have been prominent
factors in the big matches. The strong
team of last year is Intact and is ex-
pected to bring home more than one
prize.