Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-02
HOW THE HAWAlIN
FARMER UsEsjVOLCANO''

i
rifle clubs among civilians, especially
in colleges and schools throughout
the country. numerous inquiries have
been received here concerning the
sale of rines ana ammunition by the
! government to private parties. In
general terms ii may be Said ahat the
| indlscrminate sale Of high power mill
tury rifles is not approved by the gov
| eminent and II is understood that no
| longer will the practice be followed OF
| disposing of condemned or absoletc
Ordance stores in bulk. With the Old
| Springfields are regarded as obsolete.
/ SO far as militar. purposes are con-
| erned, having been successfully sup
planted by the Krag and then the New
, SPRINGFIELD, they are yet formidable
| wea pons at short range, and the indis-
, criminate sale of the same at ridicus
lousy low prices through department
and other stores is not regarded with
favor. This has led to the feeling in
some quarters that the government Is
opposed to placing in the hands OF It's
citizens military rifles OF the models
now or formerly in use by the Army
and National Guard. Such conclu-
sion Is erroneous With the limited
facilities at hand the War Depart
ment Is doing all it can to encourage
rifle practice among civilians. as well
as in the Army and National Guard,
and to that end more than willing
that civilians should have Krags or
New Springfelds if they desire to
practice with the same. Proper re-
, striction must b. placed about the
sale of any such weapons, however.
and before making such sales the
War Department must be satisfied as
u the ultimate destruction Of the
GINS and the purpose for which they
are purchased. These sales must al
so be conducted in conformity with
the various acts OF Congress regu-
lating the same.
Under thesAct of Congress of March
3, 1905, sales OF magazine arms. am
munition, equipment and other ord
nance stores. may be made to rihe
clubs formed under the regulations
prepared by the National Board OF
Promotion OF Rifle Practice. The
Board has, with The approval of the
Secretary of War, prepared regula-
tons which provide that rifle clubs to
obtain advantage of 6s law. shall be
affiliated with the National Rifle AS
ISOLATION of Anne RIGA. Any such club
or member OF such club. as we'll as
Life Members of the National Rifle
Association, can purchase Krags or
New Springfields. The process is that
the secretary of the club shall notify
the adjutant general of the state or
territory in which the cult' Is located.
or the commanding general of the
District of Columbia. in the case of
Washington clubs, of the number of
rifles and the quantity Of other stores
desired, accompanied. Of course by the
money for the same. The Governor
having approved the reQuisition by
the adjutant general it Is forwarded
to the commanding-Ofhcer OF the
FrankfOrd Arsenal for small arms am
munition andits compOnents and to-
the commanding onicer Rock Island
Arsenal or commanding offfcer
Springfield for small arms and their
parts and APPENDICES.
The law provides that sales of this
character cannot be made for less
than the aetna! cost to the govern
ment OF the articles sold. For this
reason sales of Krag rifles are few
and far between. The War depart
ment has on hand about four hundred
thousand Krags, called in from the
army and National Guard, which have
been supplanted by the New Spring
fields. These Krags are excellent
guns and would be suitable for civil
ian and college and school clubs and
would IEobably be purchased II they
coud be sold at a lower price. say
five dollars each. There il reason to
believe that in order to encourage the
rife practice movement the War De-
partment would favor a proposition to
sell them under the restrictions gwen
at a reduced price II Congress should
give the necessary authority. Il is
recognized that the general distribu-
ton OF arms under The supervision OF
the War department, followed by Iro-
ficiency in the use thereof, would go
far toward securing the number OF
civilian marksmen regarded as neces-
~.hr to complement the army and
National Guard In time OF war.
Through the courtesy Of Gen. BIRD
". Spencer. l. 9. A. p, OF New Jersey,
the beautiful range ut Sea Grit has
been placed at the disposal OF the
National Rifle Association for the
outdoor Inter Collegiate rife contest.
which will be held June 10. The
of'icial entries have not been received
as yet but it IS understood there VIII
be more colleges and universities
represented than ever before. which
Is largely due to the increased IN
terest following the indoor Inter Col
leeiate shoot which was completed re-
Gently. Capt ". c. Harlee. u: 8. N.
C.. who will be captain Of the Marine
Corps team in the next National Rhe
Match. viii have his team at Sea Grit
in June, and has offered the service
o. his markers and scorers. and OF
his Officer as range Officers, for the