The San Francisco call., 1908-03-15
Many AtOSb Depart on Tours to interior Points Of interest
Army RifIen1en Look
TO Camp Perry
National Matches viii Take
Place Topard the End OF
August

W1SIINGTON. March l4.-From now
on the principal topic OF conversation
between military rihemen viii be the
national matches to be held at Camp
Perry. The states are rapidly being
equipped with the new Springfield. and
every rlfeman will have an opportunity
10 try out the new weapon and demon
strate his fitness for the teams when
spring permits the use OF the ranges.
II is difficult to see how a larger at
tendance than at the matches last sum-
mer can be expected for those this
year. yet such is the case. Several
states and territories not, hitherto rep
resented are expected TO send teams
and the attendance OF individual rifle
men and OF fife clubs Will be greatly
augmented The war department will
have on. hand more regular troops
than ever before and possibly more Of
ncers- 1t IS probable that every state
and territory. with one or two eXcep-
tions. viii be represented, together
with the various branches OF the SER
vice and the colonial possessions. More
prizes win be offered than ever before.
the range facilities will be greater and
the attendance Will undoubtedly be the
greatest in the history OF this country.
The national matches VIII begin
August p. with the national team
match, to be followed by the national
individual and the national pistol
matches. The National rife associa-
ton viii arrange its program so that
its matches can be completed the day
before the two days allotted for prac-
tice for the national matches. Just be-
fore the National rife association
matches will come those of the Ohio
state rife association, including the
contest for the Herrick trophy, one Of
the handsomest IN the world. 1t is
probable that the New Jersey rife as
sociation viii follow with its matches
during the first week in September, as
usual As II is not likely that the ma
tional matches Will again go TO Camp
Perry for a number OF years. at least,
Ohio viii do its best TO properly care
for the visitors. transportation facili-
ties VIII be greatly improved. and ar
rangements win be made for subsist-
ence which promises TO improve the
cuisine New rifles and new ammuni-
ti3n viii be tried for the first time
in 2 national match, and the marksmen
are looking toward the information
10 be thus secured with the greatest
eaEerness. The coming meeting prom
ises TO be the most important as well
as the largest ever held in this eoUn-
try.
The distances for the national team
match at Camp Perry next August
remain unchanged. but an important
change has been made in the order OF
Ere. The skirmish run viii come in
as the fifth stage. being preceded by
the 200 yards slow. the 200 yards rapid,
the 600 and 500 yarss stages. and fol-
lowed by the 1000 yard stage In the
national individual match the skirmish
run viii come first, as last year Eight
additional gold. silver and bronze med
ais, p IN all. win be given in the
Individual match, the cash prizes re-
naming the same. The ammunition in
the national matches IS confined to
that manufactured by the government
but ammunition from private manu-
facturers can be used in most of the
matches Of the National rife associa-
tion.
The cartridge for the new military
rife has a bullet Weighing $50 grains
which has a bearing surface Of .33 OF
an inch. The charge of pyrocellulose
powder used imparts TO the bullet mug
zle velocity of 1850 feet per second
This powder was developed to decrease
the erosion accompanying high ve-
locity. With the old powder develop
ing 2.750 feet, the life Of gun was
reduced TO about ] 600 rounds, while
with the new powder the ordnance de-
partment reports the life Of a barrel
to be between 5000 and 5000 rounds
While the friends OF schoolboy rife
practice. who include the members
OF the national board and the board OF
directors of the National rifle associa-
tion. regret that the proposition to sci
aside 100000 for the promotion ol
schoolboy rife practice was not favor.
ably received by the house committed
on military affairs. they are by M
means discouraged. The results OBJ
tained from efforts already made by tn,
National rife association and private
individuals 10 encourage the student.
at high schools and colleges to study
the military rife and TO practice will
IL have been most encoura ging. A
large number of instances have beer
reported where the boys, becoming in
terested while at school. have entered
the militia after graduating and il
this manner the militia is acquiring
young men of excellent caliber who
promise 10 develop into surprisingly
good shots. Shooting requires a cleal
eye and a steady hand, incidental L
correct habits, and the boy who takes
up the rife in earnest while young and
whose interest continues through young
manhood is much less likely 20 cuIti-
vate taste for either tobacco or drink
than If he should have his attention
turned TO pool playing or similar
amusements. Many of our best rife
shots are men who would cut a sorr,
figure in a baseball or football game
but are powerful with q rife in theil
hands. Rife practice keeps its devotees
out Of doors, provides them with z
clean and harmless sport and gives
them exhilarating competitions con-
Quoted on the squarest possible basis
Within the last FIVE years ii has had q
tremendous growth and the future ii
big with promise.