Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-01

or District of Columbia in this match who
does not present to the executive officer
certificate from the adjutant general of the
state, territory or District of Columbia to
which he belongs. showing that he has done
10 per cent of military duty during the pre-
ceding year. By the term military duty
referred to is meant DaradeS drills, en-
campments and other duties of similar
nature.
The distances are 200 600 and LOCO yards
ten rounds each man at each distance.
Positions Standing at 200 yards, prone with
head toward target at GOO and 1.000-yards.
Rife-Service. Ammunition-As issued by
the government.
In all other particulars the rules and reg
ula tons of the national match will govern.
To the team making the highest aggregate
score the Dry den trophy, to be held dur
ing the year by the head of the corps, or
ganization or state whose team may win 1t,
will be presented. The trophy must be re-
turned to the New Jersey State Rifle Assoc
citation at the expiration of the year. In
addition. the winner will receive $50. To
the team making the second highest score.
500 will be paid, and to the team making
the third highest score, so.
The match was won in 1903 by the U. s.
army infantry team, and in 1904 by the
New Jersey state team.
Gen. Wingate's Proposition.
A novel proposition has been advanced by
Gen. Wingate of New York. popularity
known as the father of rife practice in
America. Gen. Wingate was interested
spectator on the firing line and during
lull in the shooting made the following
observations:
1T is my opinion that something should
be done to give more popular turn to
rife practice and to make it interesting to
the spectator. Rifle shooting now con-
Quoted is. at best, dry work, and there is
No a,yipp for no atcba
were made more attractive to the fair sex
there would be greater interest displayed
in them by the men Consequently, 1 pro-
pose that hereafter there should be at least
one match conducted on these lines: The
teams, representing various organiZa tons
to be composed of at least five men, at
distance of, say, 100 yards. toy balloons be
stationed, attached to strings of sufficient
length to enable them to float above the
ground at the height of a mans head, each
of the balloons being numbered from l to
D, to correspond to numbers assigned to
members of the team The object of the
match would be to puncture the balloons OF
the opposing teams and. as each balloon
was punctured. the range officer could
touch the man bearing the number
responding to that balloon the shoulder,
and he would Immediately eliminate himself
from the contest, the victory being award
ed to the team having the most members
in line at the conclusion of the firing of
five shots
Discussion of the Suggestions
While this would scarcely be in accord
ance with the prevailing ideas of military
rife practice, the suggestions of Gen.
Wngate are receiving attention. In discuss
ing them last evening several members of
the District of Columbia team expressed
doubt to the ability of a marksman to
puncture toy balloon, even though the
latter might be captive. Consultation, how
ever developed the theory that although the
cushion of air in front of the Krag -Jorgen-
sen bullet in notion would be enough to
turn aside such light object as a toy bal
loon, the velocity of the bullet would be
sufficiently great at that distance to over
come the effect of the air cushion. In other
words, as Capt. Summers expressed it. the
bullet would travel so fast that the ball
loon could not get out of the way until
after the bullet had passed through ii. A
New Yorker, First Lieut.. X. K. V. Casey,
one of the most noted shots of the country
who has tried the balloon piercing expert
ment at Coney Island with target rifles,
maintains that there would be difficulty
in puncturing balloons, although in firing
at a sheet of paper attached only az one
end the difficulty would be much greater
and could scarcely be overcome
Gen. Drain Settled the Bill.
Gen. Lawrason Riggs of Maryland and
Gen. James A. Drain of the state of WASH
ington are great personal friends. They are
both members of the national board for the
promotion of rifle practice, and in many
ways they have striven most Conscientious
ly to advance the cause.
There was great rivalry today between
the teams representing the state of Wash
ington and the state of Maryland in the
skirrnish run, and Gems. Drain and riggs
fairly haunted the Office of the statistical
officer in an effort to get the official scores
at the earliest possible moment. Gen RIGGS
made out the score of his team. and when
Gen. Drain received the score of the Wash
ington team it was discovered by compari-
son that Washington was slightly in the
lead. The two generals shook hands and
adjourned to the club house for light re-
freshments. Scarcely had the same been
ordered. however, at the expense of Gen.
Riggs, when Capt. Burlington, the statisti-
cal officer entered and called attention TO
the fact that Gen. Riggs had made a slight