The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-11-18
RIFLE MATCH
OF INTEREST
Special to The Jo,rnaf.

SpecIki 70 7 ne journal.
Washington, Nov. 17.-An inter1a-
| tional rifle match of UNUSUAL interest
will be snot this winter tnder the aus
pices of the Society of Miniature Rifle
Clubs of Great Britain and the Ma
tionaI Rifle Association of America.
Each country will be represented by
fifty men who will shbot ten shots
each at twenty-five yard with a mini
allure rife. The Americans Will
doubtless use the % caibre. as under
the termS of the challelge the calibre
of the rifles is limited to %, which
is comparatively unknown in this
country. The ten shot are to be fir
ed on what is know as a double
decimal target, which is really two
targets joined togethef, each with an
inch sighting bull ana an inner half
inch bull counting ten. Ten concen-
tfic circles one-auafer of an inch
apart divide the cent from one to
ten. Five shots ar to be fired on
each target the ten fhots to CONSTITUTE
ing the string alloYed each competi-
tor. One Kindred iArgets will be sent
to the NatonA Rms Association by
bearing the signature of the latter
sociation will be added and fifty OF
the targets returned to Great Britain.
After the shooting the two sets of
targets will be collected and exchang-
ed to verify the scores which will be
sent by CABLE.
1t is possible that this unique
match will be a tnTee-cornered affair
and that Auaralia will be drawn into
it, The British Society has provided
handsome trophy to be held for one
year by the Einning country and each
participant will receive a commend
rative medal Considerable prepara-
ton will be necessary for the match,
which will likely not take place until
mid winter. The National Rifle Asso-
citation will shortly begin selecting the
fifty shots 10 represent this country.
and as it BdeSired to secure the best
il is probtble that all the rifle clubs
affiliated With the association will be
invited To compete for the honor Oh
supplyinglmembers of the team. AT
ter the 'ty-outs" a team will be Sc
lected and when the match is shot !
the men chosen will shoot their |
strings On the ranges belonging to |
their own clubs. If possible the dates |
will be arranged so that the shooting |
will be done in both countries, or all |
three, ifI australia comes in, on the |
same date, though necessarily there !
will be some difference in actual time. |
The chsllenge provides that any RI |
fie not exceeding % caliber may be
u-ed. with any sights not employing |
glass, any ammunition and that any |
position nay be assumed. The Amer
leans VII probably. request that the |
latter ppvision be changed and that /
the position be restricted to off-hand.
1t is beloved the challenger" will |
agree t. this.
While % calibre rifle practice both
in and out of doors is growing in
favor in this country with great rap
idity, tna sport has not yet the popu-
larity or the support it receives in
England. Some of the greatest men
and wom,n of the latter country give
it their Hearty encouragement and
patronage For example, the Society
of Miniature Rife Clubs is under the
patronay of H. R H, the Duke of
Conna,lgit, while the two trustees are
the Duk of Norfolk (tne premier
duke of England and tne duke of
Westminster (the wealthiest peer of
that eountry). Associated with them
in the engagement of the society are
such diSinguished personages as the
MarckioneSs of Londonderry, the Earl
of Ainmarle, Viscount Colville, 1t.
Gen. sir Ian Hamilton, Major Gen.
Sir AIfred Turner. 1t. Gen. W. w.
BrisGe, 1t. Gen. F. Lance, Major
Gen. Sir r. B. Love, Major Gen. w
H. Hcginnon, Major Gen. A. C. Cod
ringt,p and many others. The presi-
dent Of the organization is none 9TH
er thsn the great Field Marshal Earl .
Robsts who has been SO active in ]
pro1oing the cause of miniature RI
fie br&tice as well as military and
ciyfias rifle practice il general
throus,out tae British Empire. The
onlr examination in this country
which approaches the support given !
the Dglish society Is the National !
Rise Association, which includes
au1ous its life members President Z
Rooseelt, Secretary of State Root,
JuSge Taft, and a number of Sena-t {
tor. representatives and governors, ]
as wd as leading men in the regular !
militsy service and in the national