Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-23
R I F LIE PR A G T [ G. E
MA. OR BELL WRITES INTEREST
INGLY ON SUBJECT.

Maj. James E. Bell inspector general of
rifle practice, District of Columbia Militia,
is the author of an interesting article on
Rifle Practice" In writing the same he
concluded that a retrospective view of rifle
practice might in part contain as much, if
not more, of interest than any attempt at
a presentation of personal views concern
ing the subject from the viewpoint of to-
day.
1T is doubtful if any subject connected
with arms and armies is more in evidence
than that of the perfection of the soldier in
his ability to shoot straight and to hit the
object fired atm fact, it may be said to
be uppermost as how best to accomplish
this end Maj. Bell says. The most sur
priSing feature developed in considering the
subject the failure of the authorities of
long ago to keep pace in the development
of rifemen with the improvement of fire
arms by proper system of instruction in
their use 1t appears not to have occurred
to them that they were made for the pur-
pose of firing at an object with the idea
of hitting it.
Previous to the Introduction of the
breech-loader, using copper cartridges, the
arm was seldom fired except by the retiring
guard. This may have been due partly to
the difficulty experienced in keeping the
rifles and musketS clean, and when the car
fridge was capable of being removed with
duced to still less frequency Naturally
the army, from its formation contained
more or less born shots officers and men,
who could fire with great skill and ac-
curacy, and their influence was felt to
considerable extent, but it did not permeate
beyond their immediate surroundings"
Greatest Match of the Age.
After reviewing The history and progress
of rifle practice and matches. Maj. Bell con-
cludes his article as follows:
''The greatest rife match of the age is
that for the national trophy, which is held
under the auspices of the national board for
the promotion of rifle practice and the man
agement of the Secretary of War.
'The dignity and Importance of this
match was much enhanced by the CONSOLE
dation with it of the historic Hilton and
interstate trophies, but criticisms prompted
more by sentiment than logic, have arisen
adverse to permitting them to occupy
second or third place in any rife contest
They are surely accomplishing to the full
est degree the purpose for which they We're
donated. and neither of them loses dignity
by occupying second or third place. as
ISOLATED with the national trophy, which
bears the stamp and approval of this great
government. The writer is chiefly response
BILE for the consolidation which thus far has
met with favor from the rifiemen of the
country. TO separate the trophies and null
tiply contests would render it possible for
disposal, to win all of them, a result which
would be far from encouraging to rifemen
in general, and particularly to the teams
not fortunately situated in regard to
time AS at present arranged no depart
ment or state can win more than one prize,
and this. it appears, is a source of satisfac-
ton; while. on the contrary, one winner of
all of the principal trophies would create
dissatisfa ction and a consequent loss of in
terest. The contest would be much more
interesting We're trophies provided to go
with each prize in the match. as each win
ming team would feel that ii had something
to fight for and protect at the following
meeting rather than to think of separating
or reducing them. On one occasion, when
the brigade team of the District of Column
bia took every prize worth having at one
of the Sea Girt meetings, Gen. Spencer re-
marked to Gen. Harries. who was at that
time the team captain: I am much obliged
to you for having left us our range Could
there be a more eloquent argument in favor
of one great national match, and a trophy
for each of the six prizes?'