Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-31

for a great national event under the
management Of the general govern
ment." Colonel Evans points out that
the maximum number of teams which
a participate in the national match
being n from each state or terri
tory. and from the infantry, cavalry,
navy. marine corps n the military
and naval academies. is fiftx-six. Last
year fifty teams participated. which
were accommodated on the Camp
Perry range But he urges that the
national range should be large enosgh
TO accommodate all cams having the
privilege of competing. and suggests
sixty targets in a bank at short, mid
and long ranges. He recommends
eventually a range sufficiently large to
permit OF field firing under service
conditions, being at least five miles
square. Such a tract would COM
prise 25 square miles. or 5000 acres.
and Colonel Evans mentions the fact
that Germany, with an area less than
that OF Texas. maintains twenty such
ranges. designed to fulfil the condi-
tons Of having each dimension
greater than the range of the rifle.
The time is now ripe" says
Colonel Evans, when the government
should acquire such ranges and insti-
tute matches under service conditions,
for the purpose of practically DEM
onstratine the difference between
range firing at known distances and
under artificial conditions--all favor
able, and firing at unknown distances
under service conditions
Continuing. colonel Evans points
out that at the last match there were
present for duty in manning the range
less than 40 officers and $50 en-
listed men to mar il, aud on the other
hand, the general government has the
officers and men, but does not own
n creditable rifle range on the entire
Atlantic slope, ana finds it more diff
hcult from year to year TO acquire
suitable sites for them
Among other interesting recommen-
dations is n that the service teams
shoot in q separate class and that the
match be shot as a militia match,
service teams equalling or exceeding
the score of militia prize winners TO
receive an equal amount OF prize
- y . 3A'' AiAf ' AIoIlAi'E - - ~
the highest teams. irrespective of
whether serice or militia. This would
be 4 similar arrangement to that pur-
sued with the Officers and enlisted
men i'm the small arms competitions.
Because of the injury to the time
honored trophies, the National, Hilton
and Soldier of Marathon. from ship
ping and reshipping each year, Colonel
Evans recommends they be deposited
in the capitol or national museum. or
some other fitting place, n a bronco
medallion commemorative of the vic
tory be given to the winner. and n du-
plicate deposited with the trophy.
Colonel Evans calls attention TO the
splendid showing made by the cadets
from Annapolis, who finished seventh
in a field of fifty, aud says: THE
absence of the team from the United
military academy. was again
the subject of adverse comment. This
academy furnishes a large number
OF the officers who are TO teach the
subject of shooting to our army, and
they cannot begin too early to learn
the subject which will most occupy
time after they become officers
He also recommends that if the row.
eminent furnishes the Officers and
to man the range for the matches
of the National Rifle association, they
should be under the management of
the executive officer of the national