The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-02-04

making such sweeping changes IN ehe
conditions ior the National Match
the rifle world has been earnestly
discussing the probable effect the
changes made will have on this event,
The National Match was established
BY Congress in 1908 and magniti-
cent trophy was provided for it to
which the National Rifle Association
added ;he Hilton Trophy and the
Soldier Of Marathon, Congress an
nuaIly appropriates the money, for
the prizes which accompany the tro-
phies and the match is shot under the
direction of the War Department
Each state and territory and each
branch Of the regular service is en-
titled to representation by a team of
twelve shooting members, together
with coaches, range officers, substi-
tutes, etc. Last year there were fifty
competing teams and the services Of
approximately one hundred army Of
ficers and 700 enlisted men were re-
quired to handle the match, Hereto
fore there have been six prizes which
went TO the six leading teams. but
this year the National Board, with the
approval OF the Secretary Of War, has
decided to change the rules so as to
make three great contests in one.
For this purpose the teams will be
divided into three divisions on their
record at Camp Perry last year, In
the first division win come the U. S.
Infantry, U. S, Navy, U. S, Cavalry,
u. s. Marine Corps. Wisconsin, Mass
achusettes, Navy Academy, Pennsyl-
yania, District Of Columbia. Washing
ton, Illinois, Iowa, Oregon, Maine
and Ohio. In the Second division
will be Oklahoma, New Hampshire,
I Colorado, California, New York,
Maryland, New Jersey, Minnesota
Kansas. Missouri, Hawaii, Indiana,
Michigan, West Virginia and Ken
lucky. The third division will include
Wyoming, Connecticut, Georgia,
Rhode Island, Arizona, Alabama,
South Carolina, Nebraska, Tennessee,
Delaware, North Dakota, Texas, Yer
mont, Virginia, Arkansas, New Mex
leo, Utah, Mississippi, louisiana
North Carolina and the remaining
states and territories which were not
represented last year.
The prize for the first division viii
be the National Trophy, for the sec
ond division will be the Hilton Tro-
ply and for the third will be the Sol
der OF Marathon, in addition to which
there will be three or four money
prizes in each division, All teams vii
Ibe eligible to win the National Tro
ply, but only the teams in the SECOND
and third divisions viii be eligible tc
win the Hilton Trophy while nont
but teams in the third division cal
win the Soldier OF Marathon. TIL,
same rule will probably be applied tt
the money prizes so that the teams ii
the third division can compete for an.
Of the prizes ordered, those in tn
second division will be restricted II
prizes for the second and first divi
sins while the teams in the first divi
sion will be eligible only the prize
in that division. II the plans lai
down are carried through there Wi
be about $4,000 in prize money 10
this match, the prizes being grade
downward 50 that the highest prize
/ for the second and third divisions wi
: be slightly less than the lowest prize
for the first and second divisions re
spectively. The prize money las
year amounted to only S875. In ad
dition the members Of the winnin
teams will receive appropriate medal
This action of the board cannc
fail OF hearten those states which fc
, one reason and another have felt tn;
they were out Of the race before the
: started. Under the new plan no teal
; will be assured of trophy or priz
] until the last shot in the match
: fired. and the increased prize none
9 and increased chances will have
: wonderfully stimulating effect on II
/ preliminary practice as well as on II
/ match.
7 Another important change will |
I the substitution Of the B target f
/, the silhouettes in the skirmish ru
|, The silhouette group consists Of tW
!. figures representing man kneelir
Q and man prone, the latter exposir
I the head and shoulders. Hits on Il
!, prone figure count five and on Il
ii kneeling figure four, and shots stri
K ing elsewhere count nothing. The
tarnet Is diuided into 4 hnlls-eve vi