The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-10-23

biennial shoots. For the small states to
use a greater portion of their allotment
of the militia funds for rife team Sc
riously hampers the improvement of the
guardsmen. For the big states, that get
a large portion of the appropriation,
which Is allotted according to the
strength of the different state commands,
there is little drain in supporting rifle
team and paying it's way to the annual
national shoots.
Unless 1t is decided not to hold another
national rifle match until 1912 the match
next year will probably be held at Camp
Perry, o. Unfortunately the government
OF the United States does not possess a
rifle range of sufficient size and equip
ment to provide for national matches. IL
lis, however. constructing new range
at Sparta, Wis, in connection with the
artillery range there. On this range IL
liz possible that the national matches can
be accommodated. 1t is doubtful, how
over, whether the national rife associa-
ton matches could be shot there, as there
will probably be only one bank of tar
gets. 50 in number, so that only one
stage of one match could be shot at
time.
The range at Camp Perry has more than
200 targets and 1t is possible to shoot sew
eral matches simultaneously. Sparta IS
not very accessible and the national
guardsmen do not care about going
there. according to their officers. New
York is building range wnich u hopes
to have completed by 1912. In that year
1t Is expected to be a formidable bidder
for the national shoot
The need of a government range, one
located near Washington, Is yearly en-
phas sized by army officers in their recon-
ulendations to Congress. To purchase
the land and equip q range. 1t is estimat-
| ed, would cost at least 100000. 1t Is ex-
pected that Congress will make provisions
| for such range. but the time Is believed
to be far distant by army officers.
The National Board for the Promotion
of Rifle Practice has recently restored
the United States marine corps team to
second place In the great national team
rife match just 'shot at Camp Perry. In
class A, the marines finished second to
the infantry team of the army. The
United States cavalry was third, the Iowa
National Guardsmen fourth. and the
United States navy team fifth.
The skirmish run is the last stage of
the match. and generally speaking, the
final standing of the teams depend
greatly on their shooting at skirmish dis
tances. For years the United States ma
rnes had devoted time and spent much
money In rifle practice, having a modern.
up-to-date range on the Potomac river.
near Washington. The efforts of the ma
rne corps to capture the prize, their
gameness in defeat as well as In incl
dental victories and their readiness to
help competitors In every possible way
has gained for the officers and men of
that corps an enviable reputation. On the
last day of the national match the ma
too hoa {t1ot cto ~ in,
it's skirmsh run. As the first shots were
fired at 600 yards, Lieut. Randolph Coyle.
U. 8. N. c., who was team spotter and
who was seated behind the line looking
at the targets through a telescope, sprang
to his feet and in an excess of enthusi-
asm over the good shooting being done
by the members of the team called out
loudly Good wind.''
BY this Lieutenant Coyle meant that
the rifle experts had gagged the direction
and velocity of the wind with accuracy
as told by the scores being made, which
he could observe through the telescope.
while the members of the team remained
in ignorance of the condition, as the tar
gets were too far away for them to see
when the bullets struck and the shots are
not marked up until the firing ends.
The rules governing tho national
matches are strict. One of them prohibits
coaching. Lieutenant Coyle's exclamation
was called to the attention of Col. r. X.
Evans, U. 8. A., executive officer of the
national matches. He held that 1t was q
violation of the rule against coaching
and penalized the marine corps by elm
mating their score made on the skirmish
run.
The elimination of the marines gave the
cavalry second place, the Iowa guards
men third and the navy rife experts
fourth place. The cavalry team, however.
believing that an injustice had been done
to the marine corps team, filed q protest
with Acting Secretary of War Oliver. who
Is president OF the National Board for the
Promotion OF Rifle Practice. 1t was
what might be termed in court a friend
ly suit" The national board, In special
session, reversed the decision Of tho ex-
ecutive officer and gave the marine corps
team second place. This action eliminated
the navy team from the list Of prize win
ners in class A.
One of the reasons which actuated the
board in restoring the marine corps to its
proper place was the fact that had it
been left at the bottom of the list 1t
would have been pitted against the other
teams in class at the next annual tour
nament--teams that 1t easily outranks.
The practical effect would be to deprive
these teams of any opportunity to win the
first prize in their class. which is the
Soldier of Marathon. accompanied by $500
In cash. At the matches last year the
Naval academy team was penalized for
an infraction of the rules which dropped
them from class A to class b. This year
their excellent shooting landed them In
sixth place~in class A, and incidentally
won for them the first prize in class B.
which is the time honored Hilton trophy,
together with $3.50 In cash.
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