Arizona republican., 1907-11-16

rifle practice. S5OOOG0 is now annually
given to the states and territories for
this purpose. To handle the national
matches this year required the SER
vices OF considerably more than one
hundred regular army officers and two
battalions of infantry The import
ance of the national board has grown
with the tremendous increase of in
terest in the sport and in many quar-
tiers ii is felt that some steps should
be taken toward the organization of
/ at least a skeleton corps to handle
: the matches from year to year. While
the national matches have not increas-
ed in number the National Rifle asso-
citation is adding To its prize list each
year and the two series being shot on
the same range. one after the other.
an attractive program is presented
covering two weeks. II has been sug
gested that the prize list of the ma
tional matches be increased. not so
much in amounts as in the number of
prizes. especially in the national indi-
vidual match. which this year had over
100 entries.
In connection with the revived in
/ terest in rifle practice the war depart
ment is highly gratified at the pro-
gress being made in the organization
| Of rifle clubs throughout the country.
| including military and civilian clubs.
practicing with rifles and revolvers
| The National Rifle association. under
the energetic direction of Gen. James
\. Drain. its president. is especially
active in organizing such clubs. and
Lieut.. Albert :. Jones is now dcvoting
his entire time to the work Of the y.
r A.. of which he has been secretary
for number Of years. Affiliation with
this association obtains for the clubs
many favors in the way of reduced
prices for government ammunition
and rifles, medals and national marks
mems reserve buttons. etc. The Ma
tional Rifle associations permanent
headquarters are in New York City.
While much attention is paid to the
firing Of great guns in the navy. the
blue jackets are quite as noted for
their skill with small arms. To Com
mander Sims now naval aide To Pres
ident Roosevelt. may be ascribed
large share of the credit for the ex-
cellence in rifle shooting displayed by
the navy. as il was under his dircc-
ton that the work assumed its present
activity. In the national rifle matches
this year the navy won the team
match, Midshipman W. \. Lee or the
Naval Academy won the national in
dividual rifle match and the national
pistol match, and Midshipman II. 7.
Smith. also of the Naval Academy.
carried off the title of military cham
pion. The navy has a splendid range
at Guantanamo. Cuba, and utilizes
other ranges wherever available. Prac-
tice is expected at least once in each
six months and number of prizes
are awarded. the amounts depending
on the number of men qualifying from
each ships crew. The last available
report shows qualifications in the
navy as follows: SO sharpshootcrs
and marksmen: 37i first class; 1.019
second class: 1.793 third class and
5.312 as fourth class.
To further encourage rifle and re-
voIver shooting, especially on the SUI
perb range at Sea Grit. y. j., the Sea
Gift Tournament association has been
organized with Brig. Gen. r. Heber
BreintnalI president. Col. Charles A.
Reid vice president. and Brig. Gen.
/ Bird w. Spencer secretary and treas
urer In addition to the above the
board of managers will consist of Jus
tice Charles W. Parker Of the New
! Jersey supreme court. Lieut.. Col Will
4 liam Libbcy and Major Arthur Row
land. The new association will CO.
operate with the New Jersey State
Rifle association, one of the Oldest and
most influential of the state organiZa-
tons