Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-21
NATIONAL RIFLE MATCHES.

NATIONAL RIFLE MATCHES.
Camp Perry, O., to Be Scene Of Bin
Shoot-SchooI Teams Will Compete.
| washington, d. c. July 20.-(Specian
-lhose VINO propose to attend the rifle
ihatcnes at camp Perry, Ohio, this YEA
VIII be interested in knowing that n
| larger attendance of visitors is prom.
| lsed than at any preceding match
Secretary of War Dickinson himself q.
good shot with both the military rife
! and the shotgun, will be at Camn Per-
ny Tor several days. Chairman John A
L. 1ull' Oh the House Committee on
Niltary Affairs, will probably spend
Two or three days on the range while
the entire membership of the Senate
committee on Military Affairs is ex-
pected at the range for one day. The
committee will be making a tour of in
spectlon of army posts at that time and
the itinerary will be arranged SO as to
prlng them to Camp Perry for one dav
II possible. Gen. William Crozier. chief
OF ordnance, Rep. l. r. Sherwood. Sem
ator Dick, of Ohio, Rep. Edwin DENNY
OF Michigan, Captain Learnard. of the
General Staff and Captain Kerth. assis-
tant chief of the Militia Division. will
De among the distinguished visitors. It
Is matter of regret that President
la1t VIII be unable to arrange his Wes-
tern trip to take in Camp Perry. He is
HE member of the National Rifle AS
soclatlon whose matches will follow the
National Matches. and as Secretary of
war was greatly interested in the work
or the N. r. A. and the National Board
Tor promotion of Rifle Practice. of
which Assistant Secretary Robert
Shaw Oliver is President. President
Taft will write the winner of the Indiv-
idual Military Championship OF the
United States personal letter of con-
graduation. The title goes to the
marksman who makes the highest rec
ord In the National Individual Rifle
Match and the Presidents Match COM
bined. a.
For the first time the Regimental and
Company matches of the National Ri
file Association which will be shot at
Camp Perry, O.. in August next, will be
thrown open to Cadet Corps. The
progress made during the preceding
year with shooting in the educational
institutions justifes the belief that it
VIII be only few years until they are
well represented at the National
Matches. Culver Military Institute, of
indiana, sent a team to Camp Perry
last year for observation and practice
and this year will have a team on the
ground ready to meet all Corners. Ca
dets who be'ong to rifle clubs affiliated
with the N. r. "A. will be admitted to
all individual matches and their teams
VIII shoot in the Inter-Club Match.
Teams from Princeton, Harvard and
similar institutions, not having Cadet
Corps, will not, of course, be eligible to
shoot in the regimental and company
matches, but individuals from such
clubs can shoot in a large number of
Individual matches. The success of the
young marksmen in late years gives
the impression that if teams from edu-
catlonal institutions take to attending
the matches they will make the older
marksmen look out for their laurels,
IL is probable that not more than for
ty-f1ve teams representing the states.
territories and the regular service, will
be on hand to compete at Camp Perry
this year. This will be decrease of
five from the number last year.
number of states which do not have
ranges, or which have ranges which
need improvement, have reached the
conclusion that for the current wear
they can do more with their money by
improving their ranges than by sending
team to Camp Perry. In many in
stances they are hard at work prepar-
ing for next years contest. OF the 81
"oO,o"o appropriated by Congress for the
National Guard. 100000 is set aside for
rlDe practice. This sum is apportioned
among the states and can be utilized
Tor the purchase and equipment of
ranges. In a few years it is hoped
that each state will have at least one
hrst-class range.
"a difference of opinion exists as to
the probable purchase by the U. s
Government of the Ohio rifle range at
Camp Perry. It's purchase is advocat-
ed because of its central location and
because it is well equipped. has a north
light and requires no artificial back
stops. On the other hand there is a
well defined expression of opinion that
National range should be established
near Washington. The u. S. Marine
| III po iioS lcCcHtly SECURED l,WU acres
of land at Indian Head, about thirty
miles down the Potomac from Wash
ipgton, which will be utilized by tina.
branch of the service. A number of
sites in Virginia within easy reach of
Washington have been inspected by
army boards with view of acquiring
sufficient land for maneuvcring and
artillery fire as well as rifle practice. In
addition to fixed rifle range the army
is DESTROYS of obtaining sufficient land
to permit of rifle practice under service
conditions. Eventually tract of some
1900 to $1,000 acres may be purchased.
In this case it is not likely that the
government would care to buy Camp
Ferry range.
At special meeting of the trustees
of the Macarthur Library association
Biddeford last evening, Percy L. Tate
was elected superintendent of tho u.