The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-09-26
COMPU MENTS To
PALMA RIFLEMEN
The President and KIM Both
Congratulate Crack
Shots.

| OYSTER BAY. Sept. 9.-''In the war
OF the future, if wars there are to be
the individual rifieman will cue a muel
larger figure than they have in th'
wars of the past. Just such li1efnet
as you who won the Palma trophy a
Ottawa are vitality essential TO tnt
welfare of the country
So spoke the President today ID the
victorious team that woa FOR America
on Saturday against the best shots u
England, Australia AMI Canada. 4tt
rifiemen, seventeen in number, came
in on an afternoon train and were in.
troduced to the President by Genera
James A. Drain, president of the Ma
tionaI Rifle Association of America
The President received them informal
" In the library and expressed tht
greatest interest in the notable compe-
titton from which they had just re.
turned. He told the men OF the team
that one of the first things he did
when he left college was to join the
National Guard and a political club
as he believed it desirable for every
citizen OF this country to qualify him
self to do his own fighting and voting
He personally complimented Colonel
Tnurston, the captain of the American
team. upon the showing which the men
had made, and signalled out Sergeant
George Bryant, I'D New York Infan.
try, and Major Charles B. Winder, OF
the Ohio National Guard, for their re-
markable scores OF 219 each. These
scores excel any other individual scores
made in competition, and, while the
figures are equal, Sergeant Bryant $
ranks first on account of higher
score at 1000 yards.
General Drain, in commenting upon
the match, said:
The American team is strictly rep
resentative one. 1t was chosen after
a five days competition held at Camp
Perry, Ohio, open to every citizen of
the United States. The scores made
by the team in the match exceeded
those ever made in any other compe-
tition with a rifle for the distance and
the number of shots. Eight men shoot
ing made total score at all ranges
of 1712. The best previous score with
a military rifle was 1872. The best pre-
vious score with match rifles was 1865.
The British team, which finished last,
being 49, points below the American
team, exceeded the best previous rec
ord by 10 points.
The Canadian newspapers have as
cribed the victory of the Americans to
the use of the peep sight. It is true
that the American military rifle Is
equipped with the peep sight Gun
authorities have considered that form
of sight superior to any other for more
than fifteen years. Such advantage.
however, as might accrue from such a
sight in this match was largely offset
by condition governing the contest,
which allowed the use by the other
teams of an orthoptic eyepiece- This,
lnauestionably an advantage under
certain conditions of light, although
when used with plain bar sight, is
not considered a practicable device for
field use.
In the work which the National Rife
Association is carrying on for the pro-
motion of rifle practice, it is desirable
that every young man who handles q
rifle shall feel that he has chance
and an equal chance, with every other
man TO take part in one of these great
international contests. The association
expects 10 take up with the various
nations the question of another inter
national match next year.
If enough interest is taken and such
a contest. can be arranged it viii be
Interest in rifle practice in the Uni
ted States is increasing rapidly. This
is evidenced not only by the large num-
Der of men who enter the competition
for places on the Palma Trophy team
bur also by the fact that the national
matches held in August at Camp Perry
Ohio, attracted an entry list far great
err than that Of any other year. Inc
contests were not only more interest
ing. but all the scores were better.
Rife firing. particularly at long
range. is a most fascinating pastime
II has the additional recommendation
of nreparing a man who becomes an
adept in il properly 10 fulfil his ooli'
CATION as a citizen in the event Of war,
OTTAWA. Ont, Sept. 9.-The Gov
ernor General has received fr0n King
Edward the following cable dispatch
under date of London. September 81
please offer my congratulations 70
United States team on winning Palma
trophy with such record score. ~.
z Tribune.
II you are bargain hunter read
the advertisements in the classified
column today.