Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-11
UNITED STATES ARMY RIFLE.
Accuracy of Sprinfied Superior to
That of Any Others.

cleanup fer the soldiers, sailors
and marines of the United States SER
wee IN every International rifle meet
OF 1872 IS what the officers of the
Army Ordnance Corps now points TO
With pride as the particular triumph
OF the Springfield rifle, model of 1903
outside the Ordnance Corps the
oflcers and men of the army insist
that 1t is the craftsmanship, the SUI
perior personnel of the men. The
ordnance fellows are willing to grant
that this counts in measure. but
they declare that the little rifle" the
smallest service arm in use by any
nation, is the real reason for the
unbroken run of triumps.
To begin with, the first interna-
tional victory of the American arm
was at sort of family affair at
Buenos Ayres, in which only repre-
sentatives of the republics of the
western hemisphere We're partici-
pants. Seven nations were repre-
scented and it was a runaway race
for the Yankees. Capt. James A.
Moss, Twenty fourth Infantry had
charge of the Khaki boys and on his
return was loud in his praise of the
/ little rifle.
1T was the rifle that made the I'M
PRESTON" said Capt Moss. 1.-THE
South Americans fell fairly in love
with the weapon. We could have
sold every. rifle the team carried for
, ninety times its value"
| Since the return from Buenos
| Ayres, ii has come to the knowledge
| of the War Department that the Ar
gentine General Staff has under
consideration the remuneration of
their longtime faith in the depend
| able old Mauser and the adoption of
| the Springfield if they can get it.
| Following the victory of the Amer
leans in Buenos Ayres in May
came the Olympic games at Stock
! holm. There the Americans met and
vanquished the representatives of
/ the armies Of every large nation in
Europe. The British representa-
tives attributed the American snc-
cess to the accuracy of the Spring
field on the long ranges. King GUS
4 tav, himself an enthusiastic rifleman,
! took one of the American rifles to
the range for a try-out.
| 1T is the most marvellous small
| arm l have ever seem said the King
1.-The lightest, the best and the handi-
est weapon that | have ever used
| A few weeks ago the American
| team won the Palma Trophy in the
| international competition at Ottawa
| The Canadians used the new Ross
rifle. manufactured solely for tbs
Canadian military establishment and
built along lines of marked sim
ilarity to the Springfield. The rifle
was greatly admired by the Ameri-
can visitors, who saw it for the mrs.
time in use in a contests; but the
Springfield won the match. and FOL
a year at least the title to the Palma
Trophy is ours.
The most striking victory of al
for the Springfield was announced
by the State Department this week
The Y NJ. c. A. of Picking holds al
annual rifle meet. In 1t the legatioi
guards of the powers represented II
the Imperial city participate. iiiH
year there We're teams OF four mel
each in the team match, ana victor.
I. was won by the Yankee marines VIII
a score of 2S5 out of posslple oo
yard ranges This victory at snor
ranges was considered an even great
er triumph than if the whole gamu
of ranges had been run of, lor III
. American arm does it's best work
500, 900 and 1000 yards.
Following the team match caih
an individual competition. Iher
! were ten prizes and the American
with five entries won five of them a
follows: First prize. Private Paui : :
Cook; second, Private William
Bowen, u. S. M. c.; third, PriVa,
Oscar J. johnson. u. S. NJ CT Iour'l
) Private Chester Hendrickson, Y.
M. C.: fifth, Private Alton +. Sharief,
The Germans, British and Du'c'
divided the remaining prizes ai'
were thankful that the contest va
! limited to five representatives
each nation.