The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-27
on For Sea Girt.


 The Alabama team for Sea Girt leaves this city this evening on the seaboard Air Line at 7:45 o'clock via Savannah, under the command of Cap tain w E. Mickle, Jr., of Mobile, ln- spector of Rifle Practice of the fst Regiment Infantry, who has paid the matters of rifle practice much or his time and attention and who Is in every way capable of successfully con- ducting the team work in the national match.
 The inspectors of rifle practice of the End and 3rd regiments, Captain H. B. Peacock and Captain W. A.McCaa, respectively, are members of the team. and it is expected that their com mands will be the beneficiaries oi their experience and information. cap l tain Herbert N. Coleman of Fort De- posit, for a long time captain or Company D of the 1st Regiment mas I a record in rifle shooting and mas hao experience also. having been a mem Der of the team to Fort Riley, Kan, two years ago He is the dispursing officer for the team. to Sea Girt this year as he was two years ago for Fort Riley and he has made all the necessary arrangements for pay, sup sistence and transportation, and a pleasant trip as well as beneficial week is promised at the match. The general orders giving details Of the shoot have already been published and all the members of the team will have an opportunity of familiarizing 1 themselves with them before they reach Sea Girt, where they are going several days ahead of time to avail | themselves Of the benefit of daily l practice on the range before the match 1 takes place. commencing on Tuesday, | September A.
 | The appropriation of Congress of | sum sufficient to build and maintain rifle ranges has revived interest in the matter and if the boys do not now become good marksmen it will cer- tainIy be no fault of the government Out of the appropriation, $2.000,0O0 a year, which the new bill carries, Ala bama gets $45,00o, which has been ap- portioned by the Secretary of War, $35, 900 of which Is given for arms and euipment. etc, and $1o.000 year for rifle ranges. This is a handsome sum for the purpose and with it splendid and suitable ranges can be built and I maintained at different convenient points In tho State.
 As has before been stated, the en-
 tire Alabama delegation in Congress were all enthusiastic for the addition al appropriation and gave much of their time and attention to securing action thereon, and in getting it through before Congress adjourned
 None of them was more earnest or en- thusiastic in it's support, than our l immediate Representative. Hon. A. A. Wiley, of Montgomery, who insisted at all times upon its passage, and who had a bill himself along the same lines. providing for ranges in the several Districts. While this would not really be practicable. under the 1 arrangement and location of com
 panies in Alabama, the bill was in-
 tended to call the attention of Congress to the great necessity of providing
 every means and facility for teaching
 the men how to shoot and handle the rifle, and Colonel Wiley was perfect Iy content to have tho law pass as it
 did and was rejoiced to know that he
 had aided in securing the entering
 wedge to much greater things in that direction.
 Those in authority in the Army and Fl Navy have long since arrived at the
 conclusion that 1t is the man behind
 the gun" who does the effective work.
 and to do that work in satisfactory
 and decisive manner. he must know
 how to shoot to hit and to that end
 there must be pract'ce--and a. great
 deal of It. Colonel Wiley was zeal ous and untiring friend of the militia | before he entered pupllc Hie, haNihs been member of Alabama National Guard a long time, reaching the po- sition of Lieutenant colonel of the 9nd Regiment When he entered the House of Representatives. He was at work all the while to help along the military establishment in the State; he used his influence in the Senate. his work as lawmaker in both branches always tending to promote Its inter est and bring the organization to the highest degree of efficiency and for his. lapors he and his fellow members have the thanks of officers and men of the Alabama Guard.