Evening journal., 1914-09-28

she War Department has secured the passage by Con-
gress Of measure to issue free rife clubs rifles
and ammunition that those citizens, who in time
of war; would compose the volunteer armies. would
have knowledge of the and Of the mill
tary knowledge which. Lord Kitchener has
stated is important than marching and drilling
Under this act the government will issue the rifles
with which the regular army formerly equipped
popularity called the Krag." It IS a splendid shooting
and the equal of any Of the rifles which are now
being used by the troops in the European war; With
each rife will go 12O round Of ammunition. This am
munition will be issued annually to every club mem
Der who will guarantee to the same in practice
shooting as prescribed by the War Department
Although this law has been in effect only four
months there has already been organized in different
parts Of the country than forty rife clubs These
clubs all allied themselves with the Rational Rifle AS
sociation Of America which organization has been
delegated by the Secretary of War to carry out the
purpose of the new law, organize the clubs super
wise the record firing and issue decorations to those
who make the qualifying scores
From the headquarters Of the National Rifle Associa-
tion OF America IN the Woodward Building Wash
ington d. c. there is being issued tons of literature
on the organization clubs. the building Of
and instruction in target firing IL is hoped that the
initiating of this movement will result in the
revival of the noble sport OF rife shooting in this
country a sport which has almost become extinct ow-
ing principally to the cartridges and the lack
OF ranges The most serious problem to be overcome
I'm the proper promotion Of this movement so that
the government will adequate returns is the lack
of ranges whoreon members Of rife clubs practice
AT the present time the government owns only one
range and that located in Wisconsin and for several
reasons il Is not in commission. There are small
ranges located most of the army posts, but
such ranges only used at stated times of the year
for the target practice of the local garrisons Pract-
caly all the States State ranges for the of
lint so
about with restrictions and lack Of funds that they
are only in use during the period that the National
Guard is practicing What this country needs above
all other things in the military line at the present
time Is the acquiring of land and the construction OF
rifle ranges as near as possible to large centers of
population The cost of such land even at this date Is
almost prohibitory and the longer the government
puts off acquiring same, the harder it will be to ac
quire and the greater the cost Efforts have been made
from time time in Congress to pass legislation look
ing to the requirement of sites for ranges
maneuverlng grounds etc. but without success
definite policy Of range construction should
be adopted by Congress similar to the batteshiT
building plan one range a year should be constructed
until ranges have ben provided in all the different
sections of the country Until this has been done ant
not before will the civilian rifle club movement flour
ish and become OF actual value to Uncle Sam.
The plan of dividing the country into five divisions
to hold national matches in each division has been
that by this method the cost to the States of train
ing and sending rifle teams to the national matche
/ would be so reduced that States would be in
duoed to send rifle to the competitions but ac
ual results have shown the allacy of this argument
The matches Of Division A, which were held at Sc
! Girt ~ j.. have just come to end. OF the thir
teen states composing this division. only ave ser
teams TO this match In Division b, i'm which th
Southern states are grouped it is expected that a
but South Carolina will be represented at the mache
to be held at Jacksonville Florida in October. Their
will be no matches held in Division c, comprising tn
states of Ohio Michigan Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin
! Minnesota Iowa. North Dakota and South Dakot'
In Division d. composing the States of Missouri Kan
sas Louisiana Nebraska. Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas
| Wyoming Colorado New Mexico and Arizona, tn
national matches in conjunction with the Nations
Rife Association matches will be held the first wee
in October only the States of Arizona, indiana an
Kansas will participate. These matches will be hel
at Fort Riley, Kansas. In Division f. which include
the States of Montana Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Cal
fornia Oregon. Washington and the Territory
Hawaii no matches will be held, only two state
California and Oregon, interested
The failure OF the divisional shoot proposition wi
undoubtedly the return to the annual match
at one central point unless legislation is secure
to eoualize the of the States in sending teams,
is more than probable that interest VIII wane uni
the national matches will became farce This WI
be most unfortunate in view OF the stimulation wh
the holding Of these matches has given to rifle shoe
ing In this country. Under the present law an onero
burden falls upon those States located farthest aw
from the range where the matches are held and
many cases this burden falls upon small and financial
weak states that cannot afford carry such burde
It has been recommended by the Secretary of w
and by the National Board for the Promotion
Rife Practice that Congress make lump approrri
ton TO cover the of transportation of all teal
TO the national matches and thereby remove the Il
equal burden now imposed through the method
charging this expense against the states FEEDER
appropriation FOR military purposes.
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