The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-03-19
NOTES ON MILITARY RIFLE PRACTICE
BY THE COMMITTEE on PUBLICITY

ceremonies, the presentation speech
being made by Mayor Mcdonald, Of
that city.
The Army and Navy Rifle club of
McKeesport, Pa, has decided to en-
ter the rational individual matches
at Port Clinton, Ohio. The organlza-
ton will be represented by a squad
of five Of the best rifle shots in that
city. They will also contest in the
matches Of the National Rifle associa-
ton to be held at the same time.
The Indiana State Rifle association
has inaugurated contests between the
national guard and civilian teams, and
arrangements have been made by
which certain amount of ammuni-
ton is allowed to such teams COM
peting with teams from companies of
the national guard.
The National Rifle association is
appointing state secretaries. Those
acting in this capacity become assist
ant secretaries to the general secre-
tary. In working out details in con-
nection with the formation of govern
ment rifle clubs and state associa-
ton, in arranging for the use of rang
es, in the dissemination throukh the
local press of information regarding
the aims of the association and the
government, and in the collection Of
statistics and information, the state
secretaries are expected to pay due
regard to the opinions and plans of
the adjutant general of their state.
Rifemen contemplating the use of
ammunition of private manufacture
in the national matches next August,
as permitted under the recent action
of the national board, should bear in
mind that such ammunition will not
be purchased in the open market, but
will be manufactured under specifica-
tons and under inspection Of govern
ment officers. To assimilate war con-
ditions as nearly as possible, the var
ious manufacturers will be required
to- observe the same specifications as
for ammunition previously manufac-
tured for the bureau of ordnance un-
der contracts.
The report of Gen. George w. WIN
gate and Gen. A. B. Critchfield, of
Ohio, on rifle practice in the public
schools, among other things shows
that there are in New York alone
three training schools, 10 high schools,
400 elementary schools, two truant
schools and one nautical school, a
total of SIS. The registered number
enrolled in these schools is about
100000. or as many as the entire pop
ulation Of st. Louis, the fourth city
in the union. Half Of them are boys
of which about 10000 attend the high
schools. The college of the city of
New York has about 1000 male stu
dents. For the purpose of interest
ing these children in athletics certain
gentlemen interested in philanthropic
work organized the Public Schools
Athletic League, and during the year
1906 there were 100000 entries in the
games conducted by this league. In
1905 the league undertook the work
of interesting the children in rifle
practice and through the benevolence
of certain prominent citizens it had
established ten subtarget machines in
as many high schools. Since then it
has been able to equip all the high
with the ordinary Krag army rifle and
an electrical attachment is made with
the target so that when. the rifle is
aimed and fired a record is made of
where the shot would have struck had
the rifle been loaded. Thus there is
absolutely no danger attached to this
practice. Having become interested
in this manner in rifle practice, it is
not surprising the boys want to go
out on the range. The theory of rifle
practice and preliminary instruction
is given on the machines, and compe-
tftions are held between the schools.
Mr.. Harry Payne Whitney has pre-
sented a beautiful bronze has relief
reproduction Of Donelly's Battle of
Lexington" for annual competition. In
1906 Captain G. w. Corwin, inspector
of rifle practice, list regiment, New
York national guard, served as gen.
eral inspector and competition was
held at Creedmore. A we'll known
newspaper presents badges to the
boys qualifying as marksmen at the
schools and an arms company last
year gave a rifle to each of the six
schools whose teams lead in the COM
petition.
At the competition at Creedmore
there were about $50 boys present,
none of whom had previously fired
cartridge. Although they were there
fore somewhat nervous the average
score in first practice was 60 out of
100, and the second score averaged
80. A handsome bronze trophy was
presented for annual competition, and
bronze figure of rifeman as the
second prize. De Witt Clinton high
school won with score of 220 out of
a possible $50. The high schools
which are equipped with subtarget
machines have organized rifle clubs
and are holding interscholastic con-
tests in the armories of the different
regiments of the national guard,
shooting with % caliber ammunition,
and are displaying great proficiency.
There are over 1000 boys now being
instructed on this machine in the New
York high schools.
The command at Madison barracks
under Col. Reade. 23d infantry, is