Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-02-13

WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. l2.-No
branch of the service is doing more
for rifle practice than the United
States marine corps. Major General
G. F.. Elliott. commanding the marine
corps, has taken an active interest III
the scheme of training the marines 10
shoot and the progress made by Inc
corps in the past few years Is large
" due 10 his sympathy and intelll-
gent direction, coupled with the act
i've cooperation of the officers and
men Of the corps.
The unusual interest taken by all
connected with this branch of the SER
vice mas been evidenced in many
ways, one of the most striking eX-
amples being in the disposition OF the
prize money won by the teams and
the officers. Whenever a money prize
is captured it goes into a fund 10
further rifle shooting. Thus, about a
year ago the marine corps was able 10
announce that from this fund, supple
mented by personal contributions OF
the officers, ii was able to present
10 the National Rife Association for
perpetual competition a massive soid
silver trophy costing over $1,000.
Since then more money has accumu-
lated and when the new marine corps
range near Indian Head, Maryland, is
ready for competitions there will be
sufficient funds to provide for several
trophies worth winning. This Cpirit
4 ha of
of the corrs. The men take great IN
terest in the work and some have re-
quested permission to pass around the
hat among the enlisted men for the
purpose Of providing a Marine Corrs
trophy for enlisted men. and il per-
mission is given the prospect ,s good
that a prize even handsomer than
the Marine Corps tropy will be Sc
curej
Careful Preparation.
That the marine corps has gone into
rife practice thoroughly was demon
strated last season by their careful
preparations. Early in the summer
more than one hundred enlisted men
were selected frcm the brightest and
mast apt of the rifemen of the corps
in all parts of the world and organiz-
ed into camp on the Sea Girt, n. j.,
range, where the New Jersey authori-
ties gave them all facilities. A num-
Der CT officers were assigned TO the
camp and the men were given a
course of instruction for three months
with the view of making them not
only first class riflemen but also in
structors and range assistants. Rigid
dic;pline was enforced and the men
were taught that their duties in this
work were regarded as of the high
est Importance.
At the end of the season these men
were distributed to posts throughout
the country and elsewhere, including
Hawaii. Panama, Guam and the Phil
ippines. They can net OILY shoot, but
instruct and are qualified to I'LL all
positions on a rife range short OF
those necessarily filed by commits
stoned officers.
While the school was going on ma
rines from New York, Philadelphia
and Washington, both. from barracks
and ships stationed at these ports,
were taken to Sea Girt for short terms
Of instructions and practice, and or
the 753 men firing, 101 qualified as
expert rifemen. 66 as sharpshooters.
The entire student class OF officers,
numbering Sc, was brought from Port
Royal. S. c., to Sea Grit and spent
month receiving instruction in the
theory and practice of rifle shooting
Promises Best Resuits.
In many respects this instruction
promises to give the best results OF
any attempted as these men will nee
esssrily go to commands in ali parts
of the world, carrying with them the
knowledge thus gained and the spir-
it Of enthusiast engendered In the
camp The qualifications Of the ma
rines from the ships and barracks
were carried on by the student OFF,
GERS and the class of enlisted men
who were in this manner given prac-