Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-07-04
But Congress Failed to Provide
Fund for Execution of
the Enactment.
STATEMENT is ISSUED
BY PROMOTION BOARD
Civilians Urged to Organize for the
Encouragement of Rifle Shoot
ing as Sport.

! rifle practice, War Department, mas mace
public a statement designed to direct at
| tention to the eact that Congress has au-
thorized the department to issue Krag
rifles and ammunition free of charge to
civilian rifle clubs.
But the effect of the authorization, 1t
is pointed out. is nullified to a certain
| extent by the fact that no funds have
| been appropriated with which to carry
out the purpose of the new law.
| 1t is nevertheless hoped by those in
terested in rifle shooting that civilian
clubs may be organized for the purpose
of encouraging rifle shooting as a sport
and as a possible training for military
Service in future, with the idea that
Congress eventually may appropriate
funds to furnish rifles and ammunition
to the clubs.
The statement of the board is In part
| as follows:
American independence owes much to
| the skill which our forefathers showed
| in the use Of their rifles. a skill which
and fear to the hearts Of the hired Hes
sians
Regarded as Singular.
| 'Why this art should have been al
| lowed to deteriorate by the government
! Is not understandable in view Of the fixed
policy of the government to rely upon I'M
! trained volunteers to fight its battle. His
| tory cites many instances where I'M
trained soldiers who We're trained rife
men such as the Beers had gained
victories over trained regulars, but
| history has little to say of the many
| gnominious defeats of volunteers who
| had not this qualification and who there
| fore were not able to stand before trained
| troops.
After many years of effort by CO.
| terie of rifle enthusiasts and patriots in
this country. legislation to correct this
serious mistake of the government has
at last been secured, and Congress has
authorized the War Department to be-
| gin the training of civilians in rifle prac-
tice.
1T was due to the efforts of the Ma
| tional Rifle Association of America. an
| organization which has been in exist
ence since 1871 and which has been the
pioneer IN working up sentiment through
1 out the country for the promotion of
rife shooting as a sport as well as a
means Of Strengthening our national de-
\ fenses. that Congress has at last taken
action by authorizing the War Depart
ment to issue to civilian rife clubs krag
| rifles and ammunition free.
THE benefits from this action, how
| ever, will necessarily be limited owing
| to the refusal of Congress to appropri-
ate funds with which to carry out the
/
| Secretary of War has delegated the
work of organizing the clubs, to whom
the rifles and ammunition will be is
sued. to the National Rife Association
| of America, whose headquarters are in
| the Woodward building. Washington.
| This association already had, when
the act was passed. more than 80
{, civilian clubs organized and shooting
under regulations which had been pre-
viousiy approved by the Secretary OF
! War.
! Conditions Imposed Upon Clubs
The conditions under which clubs may
| organize and receive the benefit of this
law provide that ten citizens in any
| locality may organize themselves into
a club, after which they adopt the by
laws furnished by the War Department
and affiliate with the National Rifle As
| ISOLATION Of America, with and by the
approval Of the governor or adjutant
general Of the state.
After this has been accomplished, the
| club is eligible to receive rifles and am
inunition on the basis Of one rifle to
| each five members of the club and 12C
rounds of ammunition for each member
| Members of clubs receiving such am
munition Will be required to shoot over
a course of instruction laid down by the
War Department, which provides fol-
rapid fire at 200 and 300 yards and
slow fire at 800, 800 and 800 yards.
Those members who qualify al
marksmen. sharpshooter or expert are
given decorations by the War Depart.
ment. and their names are recorded il
the office of the adjutant general OF the
state and of the War Department Clubs
will he required to give bond for the
safe return Of the rifles issued to them
Bound to Be Disappointing.
Although this action by Congress 1.
a step In the right direction, still tn.
final results which it was thought woulC
be attained are bound to be disappoint
ing for two reasons-the lack of an ap
preparation to put the movement on
proper national basis and the lack O
ranges throughout the country wher
these rifle clubs, after being organized
! can get their practice. There is n,
more serious military problem in thi
country than the lack of proper riff
ranges. Only one state in the Union
Massachusetts had the foresight to &C
quire local ranges and bar agains
future encroachment of building opera
lions. In that state every large cit.
was compelled by law to purchase an,
maintain a rifle range for its HON
militia.
with the rapid increase in land value
, and building operations in the suburbs @
large cities, 1t will soon be impossible
to purchase or maintain ranges near an
of the large centers of population. Their
/. has not been session of Congress 70
MANY Years that has not had presente
10 it propositions 10 acquire target range
and maneuver grounds in different part
g of the country, all of which have fale
TO secure recognition. The cost of on
7 battleship would provide dozen range