The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-12
TROOPS MAY CAMP
FOR RIFLE SHOOT
Entire Infantry Force Likely 'to
Do Duty This Year at New
Rifle Range.
FOUR COMPANIES AT A TIME
Inability to attend on Part Of
Some Men May Reduce At
tendance OF Soldiers.

According to plans tentatively made
the infantryncn OF the Virginia vol
unteers are 10 be given an oproiiuhi-
ty this year 10 cucanp for ten GaIs'
-four companies at a time. at the new
rifle range near Virginia Beach for
the purpose OF rifle practice. y posi- ,
tive decision will probably be- reached
thin Il shor, time. and m be passed
upon the ability of Il large number "f
men TO attend the practice duty. Tine
event is to be in addition to clmp
duty at MI. C;rctnn, Pa, and the ditli :
Guilty experienced by many men IN Sc
curing two leaves OF absence OF shout
ten days each in one year may 'ni"r-
fere with large Attendance at Viz
Ginia Beach.
Some preliminary work has already
been done at the new range IL aas
taken ne rly two years to close up
the deal after the State decided 10 ac-
ccpt the property as gift the delays
heing countless and interminable. 30
far the extent of improvements con2.sl
OF the purchase of q pair of mules and
OF some furniture for the old i'nrm-
house. which is to be abode of tae
carctakcr
Cannot Get Stnrt.
But it is stated that only a shcrt
tinlc will he consumed in making the
property ready for actual range wore.
if only the difficulties which sonstart-
Is interprosc themselves against max
Ing any sort of start can be disposed
of n natural sand bunk turnt she's
most of the necessary protection
against dying bullets. and the remain!
Z rof the equipment can be put ;nto
place within Il very short space oL
Time.
some slight changes have been mada
in tho direction OF fire. so as To ;tvi.
ate any danger of firing across the
property of n farmer in the neighbur-
h"cG who owns adjoining propert.'
II seems house has recently been
butt on land over which the stats be-
licves II mas permission 10 shoot, ard
this will be investigated. The .anre
has been brought little more to the
nc'th so as TO make a more direct
line Of fire out over the ocean
Nothing has SO far been done b.
tho electric railway looking to IA en-
tci'sson into the rifle range ana camp
prrrcrty. The road is under contra I
u brild into tho tract. the state Inv
in. agreed to ~ certain extent to make
- improvements. 1t would seem un-
likely that the railroad can put a ..rN
into the property in time for any rrAc-
tical use this year. In this cven, IL
s!ni; from Setback Station. near III
.i.iir Beach. into the range, a disttncc
OF about one mile.
DO Nothing Hut shoot.
The plan is 10 have four companies
at a time go to the beach. and camp
out in regular style. About ten days
would he spent on the ground, the
sole duty Of the men being rife prac
ticc. The series would probably end
With special shoot for prizes and
championships. The theory is that I'M.
less the soldiers can shoot, their arms
are OF no use to them Lack of local
rifle ranges and of State range has
left Virginia far in the rear in the
matter OF competitive shoots, this tell
ing glarrEly ut the national rifle
matches at Camp Perry. Ohio.
Eighty days would be required to
give all tho men ten days at the range
four companies AT a time II many
arc unatlc to go because of the Mt
Grctna duty and inability to secure
n second leave of absence. il may he
that more than four companies can be
cared for at time.
Adtutant- General w. W. Sale, a is
understood, has been assured that the
money for the rifle practice. expenses
of encampment and pay of mon can be
secured from the War Department out
OF an accumulated fund due Virginia
for improvements in rife practicr.