Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-06-27
Manu- Distinguished Men TO Attend
Camp Perry Matches.
SECRETARY DICKINSON INTERESTED
Head Of War Department and His Son
Both Expected to Witness Rifle
Shooting This Summer-Prepara-
lions on Big Scale.

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. June 90
More distinguished visitors are OK
pected at Camp Perry, Ohio. In Au-
gust next, TO witness the Nationai
Rifle Matches. than have ever attend
ed similar matches. A cordial IN
vitation TO visit the matches has been
extended to President Taft. Secretary
o! war Dickinson. the members OF the
Senate and House committee on Mil
itary Affairs, and other distinguished
men, by Gen. James A. Drain, Presi-
dent OF the National Rifle Associa'
ton OF America. The National Rifle
and Revolver Matches begin on
August 90, and will be followed inn
mediately by those of the National
Rifle Association. II is not probable
that President Taft will find 1t cor
venient to attend the matches. He Is
life member of the n. r. A., and
during his administration of the War
Department rifle practice made great
strides forward. In presenting the
matter to the President. Gen. Drain
said: IL seems sua- taa. your at
tendance for even a part of one day
within this period would add inn
mensely 70 the success OF these tru-
" National contests thus making for
greater rife efficiency and increased
power to our Nation as maker OF
ana preserver of peace for ourselves
and others.
In addressing the Senators and Rep
resentatives. Gen. Drain said, in yart;
These matches afford ;:ie Creates,
country to perfect themselves in the
use of the weapons which would be
placed in their hands for war. With
out the incentive thus afforded it is
doubtful If the widespread interest
in target practice which has been
rgowing in the United States for the
last five years could ever have been
created II it felt that in no
ether way can the safety of the coun-
try be better conserved than by the
instruction Of our men in rife prac-
aice. Such a course seems 20 promise
the most reasonable assurance or
power to the Nation to preserve to
ourselves and other countries"
Secretary Dickinson is greatly in
terested in rifle practice as is his
young son and it Is more than prob
able that both will be visitors to Camp
Perry during the matches. The
National Matches proper. as distin-
guished from those of the National
Rifle Association, are shot under the
direction of the Secretary OF War. the
rules for the same being prepared by
the National Board for Promotion OF
Rifle Practice. of which Assistant
Secretary of War Robert Shaw Oliver,
is president
The preparations for the National
Matches are on a larger scale than
ever before. Approximately one hum
bred regular army officers and 1000
troops will he stationed at Camp
Perry during the matches. Congress
has appropriated $4,000 for the mess
ing of the competitors during the
national matches and the prize money
will be largely increased From loo
to 1900 competitors will participate
| in the National, Matches and those
Of tine n A. r.. and many more in
| the Ohio National Guard Matches and
those OF the Ohio state Rifle Asso-
citation and the Department CT the
Lakes Rifle Association. which pre-
cede the National Matches. The con-
tests begin August 9th and run to
September 3rd when the Sea Girr
Tournament opens.