Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-21
ALPINE MARKsMEN.
Swiss Shooting Clubs and Musketry
Practice

Sapt. L. D. hott hlitafy Attaehe at PARIS, IN
the United States Infantry Journal.
The origin of the present Swiss shoot
ing clubs and of target shooting as a ma
| tfonal sport is unauestionably to be found
IN the early law, which, long before the
birth OF the modern conception of the
nation in arms" decreed that every
swiss citizen must be ready to defend
his country, and an effective coro1lary
to this law provided that he should be
given by the state a suitable musket and
ammunition for learning its use. Even
before this enactment a similar idea pre-
sided in the law which prohibited any
citizen from taking to himself a wife
until he furnished proof that he owned
q musket and could use it, This law only
disappeared some fifty years ago.
The actual prevalence of target shoot
ing as pastine in country and town, the
frequent and enormously attended shoot
Ing matches all over the confederation,
the existing laws for the encouragement
of shooting and many of the military
customs and regulations are the out
growth of these old habits and enact
ments.
system in 1874, creating a national in
stead of cantonal or state militia,
Switzerland wisely took advantage of
these old customs. and while proclaim
ing anew that every citizen must be
trained as soldier. added that his arms.
uniform and equipment furnished by the
state must be kept by him in his own
home. Thus was confirmed, if not ere
ated, the means whereby the poorest
peasant could practically own a modern
go rifle, receive some free ammunition
and get more on easy terms.
The enthuSiaSms and peculiaritieS of
youth were, moreover, remembered and
cadet corps ranging in age from eleven
to sixteen. and preparatory military corps
ranging in age from sixteen to twenty
were encouraged by law. The little boys
are supplied with safe and serviceable
light gun, and the big ones with the
regulation musket; army officers teach
them to drill and shoot and public ranges
are given them to practice on.
Any man who remembers how he felt
at the idea of owning and shooting rifle
when he was between fourteen and eight
cen years of age has little difficulty in
approaching the sound military policy
which dictates this encoura cement of
youthful spirit in the direction of shoot
ing by furnishing arms and ammunition,
Instructors and ranges, to boys at the
age when their tastes are being formed
and when to possess rifle is an un-
speaka bic joy. The influence is felt out
side the active members of the boys
corps which are by the nature of things
mostly confined to towns and to boys
whose parents are Il little easy, and there
can be small doubt that the example of
these proud youngsters goes far to shape
the ambition and form the taste of those
who for one reason or another are not
members of n corps.
We all know the effect produced upon a
town or a school by the possession of a
champion base ball foot ball team
every boy wants to play ball. Shooting
clubs in Switzerland take the place of
our base ball teams.
In 1904 there were nearly 1900 boys
between eleven and twenty years belong
Ing to these corps; emitting about 1900
or the youngest all were reported as fair
shots. Reckoning according to popula-
ton, if this system existed in the United
States there would be nearly 800, 900 boys
frt,1 tod I,,;JI
200, 900 of whom would be fair shots with
the army rifle
That target shooting is the great ma
tional sport in Switzerland is attested
by the eternal crack of the rifle which as
sails ones ears in every part of that
country, no less than by the evidence of
statistics.
In 1904 there were 1856 shooting clubs
under federal control or encouragement
with a membership of 21SS15 In 1902
the membership was 213, 567; in 1898. 21o,-
524 in 1894, 1885, Thus the CLUBS are
not only fully alive, but are increasing
in strength. The total population of
Switzerland is only about $500, 900 If
shooting clubs existed in similar proper
ton in the United States the membership |
would attain nearly 100000.
shooting club is formed voluntarily
adopts such statutes as it chooses has it's
matches as 1t likes and in general is Il
perfectly free and voluntary organization
just as such a club would be in America
The influence of the government is felt
IN three ways First, each commune in
Switzerland (there are 3241 communes
with population varying from so to 49,
900 each) Is obliged by federal law to |
maintain at public expense safe and
suitable target range of not less than |
300 meters; on this range all legally or |
ganized shooting clubs of the commune |
have a right to shoot. Thus the club is |
at no expense for it's range.
Second, the federal government offers !
substantial subsidy (maximum of four !
francs per member) to each club whose |
members have done certain prescribed |
shooting in the year.
Third, any soldier who during the year
he is not called out for service presents |
his target book proving that he has done
the prescribed military target practice
for the year with a club of which he is a !
member, is excused from summons to a |
military range that year. Thus most SOL |
diers, If merely for their own interest |
join clubs, for If they do not they are re- |
CURED to present themselves during the |
years they are not called out at the di- |
vision target range and do three days |
target practice. During these three days |
they are housed and fed but receive no |
pay and no indemnity for time lost. /
This ruling applies to company officers |
and to all commissioned officers ard |
privates armed with the musket The |
state pays for cartridges used by soldiers |
shooting their prescribed scores, but for |
oth