The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-13
RIFLE SHOOTING
WILL Be. TAUGHT
As Safe Guard to Nation,
Young Americans Will
Be Instructed.
~ JONATHAN WINFIELD.

Washington, Feb. 13.-FollOwing
the publication OF the report of Sec
retary OF War Dickinson that this
country would be at the mercy OF a
first class power should war occur ef-
forts are being made by representa-
ives In congress TO put the United
States In "A better condition OF pre-
parcdness for war. To this end num-
bers OF patriotic societies have join
cd hands. Possibly one of the great
est movements In this respect Is that
fostcred by the national rifle associa-
ton which for the past thirty years
has been engaged in this work. The
principal idea OF those who have
yearly subscribed to the association
Is to teach the youth and citizens of
the country how to shoot with the
rife.
In 1908 congress passed bill pro-
viding for prizes to be given in ma
tional shooting matches. Senator
Root, of New York, then secretary of
war. created the national board for
the promotion of rife practice. It's
first official act was to recommend the
encouragement by the government of
rife practice through clubs composed
of those who would be available for
service In time of war. The recon.
mcndatlons especially charged that
this work be taken up in the schools.
The post OF improving national marks
manship was taken up by the national
rife association.
Prizes Are Offered.
The Workmanship over the indoor
course for preparatory schools pre-
scribing that each boy below nine
teen. shall fire ten shots standing and
ten shots prone at fifty feet at "A tar
get with "A one-inch bullseye. using the
30 caliber rife. To every boy making
not less than thirty.eight points stand
Ing and ~ prone, or u total of eighty
points out OF possible hundred. a
silver lapel button is presented. and
the boy becomes n Junior marks
man" Practice is had several times a
year.
After boy has qualified on the in
door range he Is taken on the out
door range. There the firing is done
at two hundred yards. using the army
rife and target. The course consists
Of ten shots standing and ten shots
prone. II IA score of not less than thir-
ty.five points standing and forty
points prone or n total of scvcnty-five
points out of possible one hundred
IL made. the boy Is presented with a
bronze medal.
Each ono of the school clubs re-
ceives annually from the national rife
association n medal for which the
members compete. Where there are
more than one one school clubs in IA
city. the association presents "A hand
some loving cup for the interschol.
astic competition.
Each year u contest Is held between
all the school clubs in the United
States for the national championship.
The winning school receives the Astor
Cup. TO be held for one year. and
each member of the team receives a
silver medal.
As the association realizes that the
best possible means to interest the
boys Is by holding these competitions.
tournaments are arranged for each
winter In the large cities. The first
1905. followed by others in Philadel-
phia. Baltimore. Washington. Denver
and Los Angeles.
Successful Tournament.
The Rrst effort by the association to
hold an outdoor tournament was made
NJ the national capital last year.
Prizes were donated by the secretary
and assistant secretary of war. chief
OF ordnance. chamber of commerce.
local newspapers, and some of the
leading citizens. This tournament was
n success. In spite of the fact that not
half OF the boys who presented them
selves mt the range could be instruct
cd. owing to the lack of time and tar
get facilities. Markers, scorers and
range officers were furnished by the
United States Marine corps. the ma
tioanl guard OF the District OF Co.
lumbia furnished the range. and many
officers volunteered as instructors.
In New York state last year seven
thousand boys were instructed in
craftsmanship. There the work is
highly systematiZed. and under the
general direction of the public schools
athletic league. of which General
George W. Wingatc, the father Of Am.