Bisbee daily review., 1908-07-18

The entry list in the inter-coleglatS
rife shooting match, which took
place at the Wakefield, Massachu-
sets, range on June 20, was some
what disappointing. Only four insti-
tutions were represented, Harvard
University, Massachusetts, Institute
of Technology, University of Penn
sylvania. and George Washington
University. A team had entered from
Yale but did not appear.
The question naturally arises, why
is it that so little interest is taken
among the colleges in this branch
of sport, and il does not take long 10
discover the main trouble. II is a
lack of facilities for practice. The
students of Yale must depend upon the
courtesy of the National Guard au-
thorities of New Haven for opportu-
nifty TO practice on the National Guard
range. As this range has been fully
occupied by the national guardsmen
for some time past the Yale team
was unable TO secure preliminary
practice to warrant their entrance in
the competition. The marksment Of
Columbia College, who won the
Collegiate Indoor competition
last winter have no place for practice
since the Creedmore range was
closed Consequently they were also
out of the game this year Cornell Is
in the same position since the issue
to their cadet battalion of the new
army rife The use of this arm has
been prohibited on their old range as
being unsafe owing to the increased
velocity Princeton had good rife
club and was the winner of the Inter
Collegiate trophy in 1905, its first
year in the competitions. They were
then using the National Guard range
at Princeton. This privilege was Ia
ter withdrawn with the result that
the Princeton Rifle club went TO
pieces and thus ended rifle shooting
in 'Old Nassau"
Another handicap to the colleges
and universities in excellence in
marksmenship is the difficulty in pro-
curing arms and ammunition, which
cannot be issued to them under the
law. II is, therefore, necessary for
the students to purchase their own
arms and ammunition, which makes
rife shooting to them an expensive
luxury.
It is doubtful whether the rife team
from Harvard University, the Uniyer-
sity of Pennsylvania and George
Washington University would have
participated in the tournament had IT
not been for the fact that a majority
of their members were also members
of the National Guard and received
their arms and their practice through
tais membership.
Wakefield match was won by the
George Washington University team
with a score of 725. Five points bet
ter than fours. The day of the match
was bright and sunny with the tenn
perature rather high, although this
was tempered by fitful gusts OF wind
across the range from the left. This
made holding very difficult, especially
at 200 yards. The winning team shot
with the Krag rife, and the Universe
ty of Pennsylvania team, which was
second with a score of 6S7, shot with
the new Springfield rife. Harvard,
using the Krag, came out third with
q score of 6S7. The team from Mas
saChusetts Institute of, Technology,
which finished last, was unfortunate
in having lost two of their best marks
men. who had departed for their
homes. They were also handicapped
in having the model Krag with the
1901 fat sight. They used Frank
ford reloaded ammunition, issued to
them by the government.
This match between the colleges
was inaugurated in 1905 by the Ma
tional Rifle association of America,
which offered a handsome trophy TO
be competed for annually. The cum
test was held that year at Sea Girt,
and won by the Princeton team. In
1906 the trophy was captured by tae
George Washington University team
There was no contest for the trophy
in 1907.
Several of the universities in the
West have, within the last year, or
ganized rife clubs and affiliated with
the National Rifle association, so that
il is probable that by another year
new clubs will compete in the inter
collegiate match which may result in
the trophy going to the West, for the
first time since it was established.
sSs
With the National Matches at
Camp Perry, Ohio, less than a month
distant. military marksmen through
out the country are daily practicihs
on the ranges in competition for
pIaces on the teams which are enti-
fled to participate IN this great mil
itarv tournament. If reports received
here can be taken as criterion, the
scores this year will be in excess OF
those at previous matches. From ar
most every range the news comes
that great numbers have quallhed as
marksmen and that the scores are al
most perfect. One Of the most re
narkable scores is that OF Captain
Stewart A. Wise, ordinance officer OF
the 6tl1 Regiment, Massachusetts Ma
tional Guard, who made seventy con-
secutive bulleyes at the Bay state
Range. At 500 yards he scored OIL
buIlseyes, and ten at 1000 yards ana
. AT SOC yards, all in succession. his
tenth snot at this last range struck
on the ground in front OF the target