Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-03
Clubs of Ten Will Be
Entitled to Free Krag
Rifles and Ammuni-
ton Must Furnish
Own Ranges and Pay
All Expenses

American independence owes much TO
the skill which our forefathers showed
in the use of their trusty rifles, skill
which brought praise from the great
Napoleon and fear to the hearts of the
hired Hessians. Why this art should
have been allowed to deteriorate by the
government is not understandable in
view of the fixed policy of the govern
ment to rely upon unframed volunteers
to fight its battles. History cites many
instances where unframed soldiers who
were trained rifemen such as the Bears
had gained victories over trained regu-
lars but history has little to say of the
many ignominious defeats of volunteers
who had not this qualification and who
therefore were not able to stand before
trained troops. After many years of eff
fort by coterie of rifle enthusiasts and
patriots in this country legislation to
correct this serious mistake of the gov
eminent, has at last been secured, and
congress has authorized the war depart
ment to begin the training of civilians in
rifle practice; 1t was due to the efforts
of the National Rifle Association of
America, an organization which has been
in existence since 1871 and which has
been the pioneer in working up senti-
ment throughout the country for the
promotion of rifle shooting as a sport as
well as means of strengthening our
national defences, that Congress has at
last taken action by authorizing the war
department to issue to civilian rifle clubs
krag rifles and ammunition free
The benefits from this action. however,
will necessarily be limited owing to the
refusal of Congress to appropriate funds
with which to carry out the purposes of
the law. In view thereof, the secretary
of war has delegated the work of or
| gaming the clubs, to whom the rifles
and ammunition will be issued. to the
| National Rifle Association of America.
whose headquarters are in the Wood
| ward Building, Washington, D. C. This
association already had. when the act
was passed, more than $50 civilian clubs
organized and shooting under regulations
which had been previously approved by
the secretary of war
The conditions under which clubs may
organize and receive the benefit OF this
law provide that 10 citizens in any TO-
cailty may organize themselves into a
club after which they adopt the bylaws
furnished by the war department and
ahfllate with the National Rifle Associa-
ton of America with and by the ap-
prevail of the governor or adtutant gen.
eral of the state After this has been
accomplished, the club IS eligible to re-
ceive the rifles and ammunition on the
basis of one rifle to each five members
o In
for each member. Members of clubs re-
ceivlng such ammunition will be required
10 shoot over course of instruction
laid down by the war department which
provides for rapid fire at 200 and 200
yards, and slow fire at 300. 800 and GOO
yards. Those members who qualify as
marksmen, sharpshooter or expert are
given decorations by the war department
and their names are recorded in the Of
flee of the adjutant general of the state
and of the war department Clubs will
| be required to give bond fog the safe re-
turn of the rifles issued to them.
| Although this action by Congress is a
step in the right direction, still the final
results which 1t was thought would be
attained are bound to be appointing
| for two reasons-the lack of an appro
priation to put the movement on a
! proper national basis and the lack of
ranges throughout the country where
| these rifle clubs. after being organized.
| can get their practice. There is no more
serious military problem in this country
| than the lack of proper rifle ranges. On
ly one state in the Union, Massachusetts
had the foresight to acquire local ranges
and bar against future encroachment of
| building operations, In that state every
| large city was compelled by law to pur-
chase and maintain a rifle range for its
| home militia. With the rapid increase
in land values and building operations
in the suburbs of large cities, it will
soon be impossible to purchase or main
| tain ranges near any of the large GEN.
ters of population. There has not been a
session of Congress for many years that