The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
PLANS FOR RIFLE PRACTICE
MARINE CORPS AND NAVAL ACADEMY
AT CAMP PERRY.

II is an interesting fact that the Nation
al Guard of the various States and Ter
ritories are equipped with better rifles
than the United States navy and Marine
Corps.
The former, Ike the army has been
armed with the model 1903. popularity
known as the new Springfield, while the
navy continues to use the Krag. This is
not. however. the fault OF the naval au-
thorities. who would be only too pleased
10 change to the new rifle. but. alasi there
is no money available II would cost
about 81, ,00O.O00 TO equip the navy and Ma
rine Corps with new Springfelds. and as
Congress did not appropriate the money
and no other fund is available. these
branches Of the service will continue
using the Krags
The teams from the navy. Marine Corps,
and Naval Academy which will shoot in
the national matches at Camp Perry,
however. will use the new rifles, the de-
partment having purchased a hundred Of
them from the War Department TO be
used in the trials now in progress and in
the matches. There is a warm but gen
erous rivalry between the army and navy
over these matches, and extensive prepa-
rations are being made by both services
20 win the national trophy
! The army brought from the Philippines
a dozen of the best experts stationed
there to compete for places on the in
| fantry and cavalry teams, while the navy
| has detached from the fleet now I'm Pa
cific waters the following: Ensigns
/ DOrtch. Doherty. Wilcox. and White and
/ Midshipmen Osborn, Lewis. Woodward.
/ and Amsden. They will proceed 20 An
napOlis. where the contests for places on
I the naval and Naval Academy teams will
be held.
| Early next month both teams viii 80 10
/ Camp Perry. Ohio. where they will prac-
! tice constantly until the matches. The
army teams will be trained al Fort Sheri-
dan and Fort Ethan Allen and then pro-
! coed 10 Camp Perry. Last year the navy
/ team won the trophy and a midshipman
won the national individual rife and the
national pistol matches. The army pro-
poses 10 carry OF the honors. II posi-
/ bic, while the navy intends 10 hold them.
!
! II IS not likely the naval militia will be
/ equipped with the new army rifles for
some time 90 come. Occupying a some
what anomalous position. they cannot
be equipped from the regular fund avail
able to the land forces. and the total ap-
/ preparation for the naval militia is only
/ 10000. which must be divided among
nineteen organizations according 10 their
strength. Should the commanders desire
/ f.. however. it is understood a portion of
/ the quota 6r their commands may be
used for this purpose.
The State Of Ohio Is making elaborate
! preparations 70 entertain the crack mill
| tary shots Of the United States at the ma
/ tional matches in August. the more so as
ii will probably be some years before the
matches are again held on that range
J There viii be almost a thousand team
members and substitutes in attendance on
/ the national team match alone. represent
/ ing almost every State and Territory and
/ all branches OF the regular services. to-
gether with team from the army IN
/ Cuba.
There will probably be 500 entries in the
national individual rifle match and half
as many or more In the national pistol
match In addition. there will be hun
| dreds Of marksmen who are ineligible
/ for these matches. but who viii contest
/ in the matches Of the National Rife As
! sociation and the Ohio State Rife Asso-
ciation, shot during the preceding two
weeks. Approximately 100 army officers
will be detailed 70 supervise the national
matches. together with = regiment OF
regulars to act as markers and scorers.
/ The State has purchased sixty-six acres
/ Of additional ground TO the west OF the
range, which viii admit OF firing at all