Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-18
CHANGE M PROGRAM
FOX RIFLE MATCHES
Number Of Novel Suggestions Made
to the National Rifle Prae-
tIce Board.


for the National Rifle Matches Will
probably be made at the next annual
meeting Of the National Board for the
Promotion Of Rife PRACTICE. A num-
Der of novel Suggestions have been
advanced. all beng Intended to re-
leve the situation incident to the win
ming of the frst four places In the
National Team match by the teams
representing the regular service. so
much distinction In the rifle world
accompanies the winning OF these
prizes that the different branches OF
the services entered into the contest
with great spirit. The army. navy.
and marine corps collected their most
expert marksmen from all quarters
and spent months in selecting ana
training the teams which finally re-
presented them. The National Guard
teams feel that they are at disad-
vantage under the present rules. as
they are necessarily restricted both
as to time and ammunition, while the
regular service teams are not. Again.
the cavalry and infantry teams which
represent the army, are chosen from
nifty or sixty men who are regularly
instructed IN craftsmanship ara
whose pay Is increased In proportion1
to their skill with the rife. On the
other hand. such teams as those from
Oklahoma, Utah, Arizona. Wyoming
and other Of the States where the
National Guard are numerically weak.
are selected from . few hundred
men whose instruction and opportuni'
ty to practice are necessarily limit
ed. In many cases the states 90 NOT
possess ranges of over six hundred
yards and yet their teams are com.
PEELED to shoot against the cracks OF
the Army, Navy. Marine Corps and
Of such States as Massachusetts,,
New Jersey and Ohio, all OF wnicn
are equipped with excellent ranges.
The National Guard IL as q whole
willing and anxious to try CONCLUSION
with the army and other teams, but
there is q growing desire to see con-
di.ions adjusted so that especially
the weaker states will have q better
chance. Among the suggestions al
yauced Ia that two prizes shall be set
aside for the seriv teams ana tnat
four prizes shall be distributed to tine
National Guard teams, all to shoot At
the same time and place and under
similar conditions. II Is understood
that this plan is followed. tn English
matches where the volunteers are not
to cope with the reeuIaI'
or the reserves with either the vol
unteers or regulars.
Another plan which meets with con
siderable favor. provides for DIVIDING
the contestants into three divisions
the first two to consists of seventeen
teams each and the third Of the re-
mainder. At camp Berry, Ohio, this
wear. there we're fifty teams Of twelve
men each. entered In the National
Match. repdesentinE forty I've states,
ana territories, the army. navy and
marine corps. and the Naval Academy:
Under the proposed scneme the nrsi
seventeen teams would be entered
next summer and the nrt division.
the next seventeen in the second d.
yision and the remaining sixteen,
with an new entries. In the third
division. Prizes would be o6ered in
each division and there would be a
constant struggle among the teams
m each division and OF the teams to|
get from Che third into the second OF
the second into the first division
president Roosevelt has again given
evidence Of his strong Interest In
rtae practice By writing letters to|
serreaat A. Bret, Of the 18th U. 8.
infantry. La. A. n. ROthsock Ohio
Natjopsi Guard and 70. 1sut Q. A.
Harris. Isth L :. Infantry. cong.ata-
Isiins them on winning the Presi
dents match. the National Individual
Mstch and the NiIitary Championship:
rrxpectiyeIy. at The recent naftonai
dNe matches a, Camp Perry. Ohio.
The PRESIDENT match 10 sact under
the rules Of the National Ipdividusi
Match and the man mailing the high
e,t combined score wins the military
ehamp.ouship. Heretofore the Press-
dcn, s.neraily Confined himself TO con
.r.sulat,nc tho winner OF The Presi
.denrs Match shot uader the suspice.
Of the National Rifle Association. bot
this year he wrote 20 all three men