Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-01
ONLY Fifteen Entries at Start.

the prizes they hoped to win:
Only Fifteen Entries at Start.
In 1904, the second year of the national
match, there were only fifteen entries. while
this year there will be forty-three entries
in the national team match. The rapid
strides made in this patriotic sport, it is
stated. may be properly attributed to the
liberality of Congress. The legislators were
somewhat slow to act, for very little en-
enlargement was given until l9OS, wnen
Congress authorized the national team
match the national individual match and
the national pistol match. and created the
national board for the promotion OF rifle
practice to conduct the competitions and to
exercise general supervision over military
rifle practice in this country.
At the last session of Congress the appro-
priation for the militia was increased from
s., 100000 to 100000 annually, and the
Secretary of War promptly set aside one
half of the additional 100000, to be de-
voted exclusively to rife practice. The mill
tia of the states and territories can draw
this money on no other account whatever
That the Congress will make further and
more liberal provision for rifle practice Is
the confident belief Of every one interested.
for it is said to be a self-evident fact that
as the nation depends on Its citizen soldiery
in lieu of great standing army, 1t Is abso-
lutely necessary that the citizens should be
taught to handle the military arm of the
country with skill and precision. 1t Will
be only a matter of time 1t is said until
the United States will be dotted with large
able for the use Of rifle clubs, SO that every
civilian will have an opportunity to famll-
iariZe himself with rifle shooting, without
necessarily joining the National Guard, and
at minimum expense to himself.
Open to Civilians.
A number of the matches in progress are
open to civilians, and more attention will
be paid to that branch of shooting In the
future. The results in the Leech cup match
are regarded as the direct outcome of re-
newed interest in rifle practice, which has
been stimulated by Congress through the
national board and through the National
Rifle Association of America.
The national board now consists of twenty
members, there being one vacancy. The
members are appointed by the Secretary OF
War, and serve without compensation, 9TH
tending the annual meetings. One OF the
most active members of the board is Brig.
Gen. George H. Harries, commanding the
District of Columbia militia, who Is also a
vice president and a director of the National
Rife Association of America. 1t was large
ly due to the efforts Of Gen. Harries that
the national board was created and that
Congress has so literally appropriated for
the promotion of rifle practice. Residing in
Washington, the national board has placed
great dependence on Gen. Harries in con-
nection with legislative matters.
Members Of National Board.
Gen. Bird w. Spencer, who is the in
spector general of rifle practice Of New
Jersey, has been for many years president
Of the National Rife Association of Amer
lea, and is probably the best known Of any
individual connected with rifle practice In
this country. Gen. Robert Shaw oliver,
assistant secretary Of war. Is president OF
the board, and has given 1t every encour-
agement possible in connection with his
high position. Brig. Gen. William P. Hall,
U. s. army, of the military secretary's Of
flee, is noted for having devoted the greater
part of his attention to rifle practice in
the army.
Another member Of the board Is Maj.
Gen. Charles F. Roe, who commands the
National Guard Of the state of New York.
Brig. Gen. George w. Wingate of New
York, who received his title during the civil
war, is affectionately referred to as 1.-The
father Of rifle practice" Although more
than seventy years of age Gen. Wingate' s
interest has by no means waned. and only
recently as president of the athletic league
of the schools of New York, he succeeded
in securing a number of subcaliber target
machines for use in the high schools, to-
gether with prizes for matches open to
school boys only at both Sea Girt and Creed
more Brig. Gen. Lawrason Riggs of Bal
timore, commanding the National Guard
of Maryland, lis another member-at-large.
He Is well known in the District OF Co
lumbia.
Activity Of Gen. Drain.
Brig. Gen. James A. Drain of the state
of Washington. who is known from one
end of the country to the other as a de-
voted follower of rifle shooting, is regarded
as one Of the hardest working members Of
the national board. He spent the greater
portion of last winter in Washington where
he had charge of the bill increasing the
appropriation for rifle practice in behalf
Of the Interstate National Guard Associa-
ton, as well as the national board.
Mr.. ]. A. Haskell Of New York Is at
present the only untitled member of the
board He has always been a liberal con-
tributor, and several notable matches have
recently been instituted largely through his
efforts. The other members of the board
are Capt Grote Hutchinson Of the army
general staff, Lieut. Commander William
B. Sims, representing the navy, and Maj.
L. ]. Magill, representing the United States
Marine Corps; Maj. Gen: ?. F. Wanser,
commanding the National Guard Of New
Jersey; Maj. D. 8. B. Chew Of Pennsyl-
vania, Brig. Gen. Carl A. Wagner, Brig.
Gen. James A. Frye, Col. E. c. Young,
Col w. E. Coney, Lieut.. Col. Thomas F.
Critchffeld of Ohio.
District Rifiemen Will Rest.
The members of the District of Columbia
QetaCnmenC Will rest COmOTIOW, preparatory
for the arduous work Of next week. Church
services will be held on the range and
recreation may be had by visiting the near
by coast resorts.
Lieut.. John Doyle Carmody of the LIST Di-
vision, Naval Battalion, accompanied by
his brother, Col. Francis Carmody of the
staff of the governor Of Minnesota, have
arrived at Sea Gtrt.
Lieut.. Lewis Clephane Of the Naval Bat
TALON figured prominently in the masque
fete at Asbury Park Thursday evening. He
impersonated Romeo.
Capt Horace M. Bell. son of Maj James
E. Bell, is visitor in the camp of the
District detachment. Capt. Bell is now q
resident Of New Jersey.
NEW STYLES CHOSEN.
IL n>li NH