Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-01
NATIONAL RIFLE MATCHES
Some Sweeping Changes Made in the
Competitive Conditions.
CHANCE FOR THE WEAKER TEAMS
Competitors Arranged In Divisions
According 60 skill and Trophies
for Each division Pre-
vided by Government.

vided by Government
WASHINGTON. Jan. SI-since the
action Of the National Board for the Pro-
motion OF Rifle Practice in making such
sU eeping changes in the conditions for
the national match. the rifle world has
been earnestly discussing the probable ef-
feet the changes made will have on this
event The national match was estab-
lished by congress in 1903 and a magnifi-
cent trophy was provided for it. to which
the National Rifle association added the
Hilton trophy and the Soldier of Mara
thon. Congress annually appropriates the
money for the prizes which accompany
the trophies and the match is shot under
the direction of the Wal department
Each state and territory and each branch
Of the regular service is entitled to repre-
sentUtion by d team of twelve shooting
members. together with coaches, range
officers. substitutes, etc. Last year there
were fifty competing teams ana the serv-
ices Of approximately 100 army Officers
and zoo enlisted men were required to
handle the match.
Heretofore there have been six prizes
which went TO the six leading teams, but
this year the national board, with the ap-
prevail Of the secretary Of war, has de-
cided to change the rules SO as TO make
three great contests in one. For this
purpose the teams will be diviaed into
three divisions on their record at Camp
Perry last year. In the first division will
come the United States infantry, United
States navy, United States cavalry, United
States Marine corps, Wisconsin, Massa-
chusetts. Naval academy, Pennsylvania,
District Of Columbia. Washington, Illinois.
Iowa, Oregon, Maine and Ohio. In the
second division win be Oklahoma, New
Hampshire, Colorado, California, New
York, Maryland. New Jersey. Minnesota,
Kansas, Missouri. Hawaii, Indiana. Michi-
gan, West Virginia and Kentucky. The
third division will include Wyoming,
Connecticut, Georgia, Rhode Island,
Arizona, Alabama, South Carolina. Ne
braska, Tennessee, Delaware. North Da-
kota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Arkanr7s,
New Mexico, Utah, Mississippi. Louisiana.
North Carolina and the remaining states
and territories which were not represented
last year.
Dividing the Prizes.
TIL prize for the first division will be
the National trophy, for the second division
will be the Hilton trophy and for the third
will be the Soldier of Marathon, in addition
to which there will be three or four money
prizes In each division. All teams will be
eligible TO win the National trophy, but only
the leans in the second and third divisions
will be eligible to win the Hilton trophy.
while none but teams in the third division
can win the Soldier Of Marathon. The same
rule Will probably be applied to the money
prizes so that the teams in the third d.
vision can compete for any of the prize:
offered, those in the second division will
be restricted 10 the prizes for the second
and first divisions. while the teams in tn,
first division will be eligible for only this
prizes in that division. II the plans laid
down are carried through there will b,
about 1890 in prize money for this match
the prizes being graded downward so tina
the highest prizes for the second and third
divisions will be slightly less than the low.
est prizes for the first and second divisions
respectively. The prize money last yea,
am ounted to only 1915. In addition IN,
members Of the winning teams will receiv,
appropriate medals. Under the rev plal
no team will be assured Of a trophy O
prize until the last shot in the match 1
fired. and the Increased prize money AM
Increased chances will have a wonderful,
? stimulating effect on the preliminary prsc
tice as well as on the match.
Change I'm
. AnoLntI important CLldnEe Will be the sub
s%titution Of the B target for the silhouette
=, IL the skirmish run. The silhouette grou-
, consists Of two figures representing a maj
kneeling and a man prone, the latter ex
. posing the head and shoulders. Hits OF
, the prone figure count five and on tn
n kneeling figure four. and shots strikini
elsewhere count nothing. The B target /
divided into q bulTs-eye with a ring an
parallel lines, the shots counting five. foul
/ three and two, so that the contestant wi
/ have a chance 10 benefit from what
known as a ''close hold" The change Z
" this rule will undoubtedly profit the stat
teams and greatly tend to equalize the ali
ference between them and the servic
G teams.
For years the claim has been made b
the manufacturers of ammunition. and b
many marksmen. that the government am
munition is inferior to the private product
e For the 1909 matches the ordnance depart
z ment will invite proposals from each am
d munition company to furnish I.OOO.O 900 round
e under certain specifications. among ther
being one that the ammunition must b
maohins loaded. The ordnance departmer
will also manufacture 1000 600 rounds ur
der similar specifications. An exhsustiy
test will be held In the spring, and IN
80
ammunition which is sdjudged to be IN
70 best viii be adopted whether Of private q
government manufacture, and will be /,
h sued for the preliminary practice. as we
as for the match.
Marine Corps Match.
le There will also be some important change
in the matches OF the National Rifle al
ISOLATION, which WiIl probably be shot Ga,
In advance Of the national matches. tn
officers OF the United States Marine corr
, have Joined to present a magnificent troph
for a new match 20 be known as n
Marine Corps match. 1t will be an Il
= dividual match, with two sighting sho-
and twenty shots for record at 600 and 10
" yards, open 10 everybody, any miitar
. rifle. any military sight and any amml
!. milton. All the money for entrance fee
/, less 30 per cent, is 10 be distributed
prize money. Another trophy has been O
y fered by Frank Stanton Of Atlantic Min
- Mich. for a new long-distance match
i,ao yards, the first in this country. 4
the recent annual meeting Of the Nation