Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-19
From ..,the'y|y Military Men
In Of New England
Will Open Competition, Today,
h. Al Wakefield, Mass. M,
New Matches with Good Prizes
Added to Usual List.

Wakefield, Mass, Aug. 1S.-The Bay
State Rifle range, although running
with water as a result of heavy rains.
today, was the Mecca of the military
marksmen of New England, more than
1904 of whom are entered in the eighth
annual tournament of the New Eng
land Military Rifle Association, which
will he held this week. For the men
who got on the ground early and went
into camp in the tents which are chs
tered about the range this was an up-
pleasant day. Many of them were we'll
soaked. All found 1t wet underneath.
hut tomorrow, is only a practice day
and conditions for the comparative
shooting which will begin, Tuesday, are
expected To be good,
This years shoot surpasses in-the
number Ct entries and IN the number
OF contests and prizes any rifle shoot
in this country, aside from the national
contests which have been held a Camp
Perry. Ohio, and at Sea Girt, n. j. The
fact there is no national shoot at Camp
Perry. this year has served To make
the Now England shoot greater. Many
new matches were added to the pro-
gram fer this week as a result, and
corresponding prizes were donated. The
entry list which, today, ran well over
1000. may. some OF the officials of the
meet predict. closely approach the 1900
mark. as many post entries are ex-
pected.
Among the new matches, and among
the matches of the week, in fact, tho
Hayden all-America match. for tro-
ply, The First American Marksman
valued at sl000, and 5000 in cash offer
ed by Col. Charles Hayden of Boston
This match is open to teams of eight
men eaeh from any part of North or
South America. The entries to date are
from all the New England states ex-
cept Vermont: New York. New Jer-
sey and the United States navy and
United States Marine Corps. This
match viii be shot, Wednesday.
Another important team match is
the shot for the New England Inter
state trophy. Friday and Saturday,
Every New England state except Yer
mont VIII be represented in this match
for the first time in five years. Yer
mont has never sent a team to Wake
field. Massachusetts has Won this tro-
ply for the past eight years
On Wednesday. the big day OF the
tournament. there will also be shot
the General Bancroft match for the
regimental championship of New Eng
land. All the Massachusetts regiments
and many from the other New England
states have entered. The 9Th Massachu-
setts Regiment is the present holder Of
the title.
Another championship match is the
1st Corps Cadets competition, Thurs
day. which carries with it the company
title for New England, Co. n, 1st New
Hampshire, won, last year.
The new matches include an innova-
ton in the form of Surprise fire, -
which is to be tried for the first time
in this country. In this match. the
marksmen stand at Ready" and
shoot 10 times at targets which appear
for only three seconds at a time Gov.
Bass of New Hampshire has created
a new match for marksmen who haze
never Won prize in national or inter-
state competition.
The weeks competition will be held
under the direction of Brig. Gen. Gard
ner w. Pearson, adjutant general OF
Massachusetts, as executive officer.
Capt. Harry Lay of the United States
Marine Corps will be first assistant
Major Charles II. Cole of the LIST Corps
Cadets. NJ V. NJ, will act as chief
range officer and nine other New Eng
land officers have been detailed to as
sist in the conduct of the shoot.