South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-01-02
OLD KRAGS ARE
WANTED FOR USE
OF RIFLE CLUBS

WASHINGTON. Jan. with the
reassembling Of congress sitter the
holiday recess, "A concerted effort viii
be made by friends of rife practice 10
secure the enactment Of a law to per
NIT the secretary OF war TO issue old
''Krag' rifles. with ammunition, for
use by rife clubs organized through
out the country under the rules Of the
national board for the promotion Of
rifle practice.
The proposed law also will be de-
signed to permit the issuance Of SINH
lar ordnance supplies. not or the eX-
listing service model, and therefore
not necessary for the maintenance Of
the proper army reserve supply, 10
schools having a uniformed corps OF
cadets and carrying on military train
ing.
War department officials are agreed
that the training OF the youth OF the
country Is a fundamental principle Of
national defense. They declare that
although this principle IS universally
recognized. the United States is doing
less than any other nation TO instruct
its boys and young men in the use and
knowledge Of arms.
Incur No Expense.
No expense 10 the federal treasury
Will be incurred II the proposed plan
is carried out. as the arms and am
munition TO be issued are already
owned by the United States and being
no longer used in the existing ser
vice, are held in armOries where
they are passing into the stage de-
Scribed by ordnance officers as absc-
lesiont. Under the proposed statute
40 rounds of ball cartridges suitable
for the rifles issued would be allot-
ted not TO exceed 12O pounds a year
for each man participating in the
practice.
All supplies would be issued sub
jected TO regulations prescribed by the
secretary Of war insuring the desired
use OF property as we'll as its proper
care and ultimate return to the fed
eral government
Discussing the proposed legislation
Thursday night Lieut.. Col. John I.
Thompson of the army ordnance de-
partment, representing Henry ;.
Breckenridge. assistant secretary Of
war, on the executive council of the
National Puie association, said exist
ing law is insufficient for the promo
ton OF extensive target practice.
Little is Accomplished.
The small number Of rifles sold to
rifle clubs under the provisions of the
law enacted for that purpose" said
1Vls lnOllAHeOAls cilOWS LAAdL tic law
- not accomplishing its purpose. For
instance, il as many as Is persons
should be using each rifle purchased
10y a club. the total would not eX-
coed 5000 while any kind of success
in promoting skill I'm rife practice
would require at least zoos men
using the rifles
Col. Thompson suggested that if
boys in the public schools once be-
came interested in rifle practice they
would continue * i'm the higher
schools or in civilian rifle clubs. Oft
en-. he said. they continue rife shoot
ing in the National guard, and so the
proper promotions Of these rifle clubs
viii indirectly be a great help to en-
hstments in National guard organiza-
tons.
War department officials with one
accord declare that he proposed
measure. which has Secy. Ga~rison's
hearty approval, will be p considerable
factor in solv.ng the problem of ma
tional defense.
The ordnance Ge0aEtment of the
army has on har9 about 100000 mod
el 1898 80 Ca1osr ma gaziuc rifles
popularity known as ire K-7R. and
54,Cv0 ,drhines ayaiiaS,e for issue to
rifle clu os IN case the proposed meas
ure becCIneS law.