The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-01-28
GOOD SHOTS
NEED FINE RANGE
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT CON-
TEMPLATES -REC0MMEN-
DATIoNS ARE MADE.

WASHINGTON, d, G., Jan, D.,
In the report OF Lieut., Col Robert X
Evans Of the army general staff, eNr
ecutive 0fhfiicer Of the National Ri
ile Matches OF 1908, there Is much
interest to all concerned IN this Ma
tional sport, Col Evans has for two
years been in charge Of these great
events and will probably be selected
as the executive officer for 1909. which
promises 10 be the greatest shooting
year this country has ever seen, His
observations and recommendations
are therefore worthy Of the weighty
consideration which they will receive
at the hands Of the War Department,
the National Board for Promotion Of
Rifle Practice, and the National Rifle
Association, all Of which are so deep
" concerned with the success OF the
rifle shooting movement.
Colonel Evans makes most careful
resume Of the rules as they exist and
gives his recommendation for chang
es therein, which are mostly too tech
nical in character to be Of general in
terest. His observations concerning
the National Matches as a whole, how
ever, are Of great importance because
of his experience, the facilities he has
had for discussion with riflemen Of
all classes and the manifest care and
thoroughness which he has devoted
to the report.
Prominent among his recommends
tions is one for the acquiring Of Ma
tional Rifle Range. The country is
one Of the few, perhaps the only one
using high power rifles as means Of
defence and offcnse. which does not
posses what might be termed in the
true sense Of the world, a National
Rifle Range The Army, it is true
has several more or less adequate,
but none Of them can touch in extent
or equipment the great navy range at
Guantanamo Several OF the States
have ranges worthy Of the name, as
that Of New Jersey at Sea Girt and
that Of Ohio at Camp Perry. But
when the United States government
holds its annual matches for the Ar
my. Navy, Marine Corps and National
Guard, the only sporting contest un-
der the auspices of the government
and the greatest interstate sporting |
event Of the year, it Is compelled to |
borrow the use OF rifle range from
one of the States. Col. Evans recon- |
mends that National Range be ac-
quired Immediately and suggests the
purchase Of the Camp Perry range.
for the reason that It is believed not
% be in keeping with the dignity OF
he United States to be under obliga-
ions to State for the loan OF a range
or a great national event under the
of the general govern
nent." Col Evans points out that
he maximum number OF teams which
AN participate in the National Match .
'eing one from each State or Terri
ory, and from the Infantry, Cavalry, .
Navy, Marine Corps and the Military
nd Naval Academies, is fifty six.
LAST year fifty teams participated !
which were accommodated on the !.
camp Perry range But he urges that
he National Range should be large .
nough to accommodate all teams
aving the privilege OF competing, and !
sixty targets in a bank at
hort, wide and long ranges, with suf.
icient intervals between to admit of :
imultaneous firing on two adjoining
anges, He recommends eventually !.
ange sufficiently large to permit of :
Ield firing under service conditions, :
eing at least five miles square. Such !.
tract would comprise rs square miles !,
r 10000 acres and Col. Evans :
lentions the fact that Germany with =
n area less than that of Texas, main
lins twenty such ranges designed to
llfil the conditions Of having each
imension greater than the range of
le rifle.
"The time is now ripe" says Col. ,
vans, "when the government should J
;quire such ranges and institute l
Iatches under service conditions, for
le purpose OF practically demonstrate