The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-08-10
WORKING FOR
EFFICIENCY OF
THE is. ARMY
WHILE EUROPE Is AT WAR THIS
COUNTRY Is BUSY TRAINING
ITS SMALL ARMY AND MILITIA
WITH THE RIFLE.
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL.


Washington. D. c., Aug. s.-While
all Europe Is engaged in War, the
United States is going ahead train
ing its small army and Its organic
&c militia to the proper state Of eff
cheney. One feature Of its training
Is the annual rifle shooting competi-
,ions which have done SO much to
make our soldiers more skillful than
the soldiers Of any other nation In
the handling of the rifle.
For some years back. there has been
held at one central point big shoot
TO which were sent teams represent
ing every state and territory, as We'll
as the army navy and marine corps.
AS the expenses incident to the jour
ley to a central point worked q hard
ship on those states farthest away
from the tournament, 1t was decided
this year 30 try an innovation by d.
vid1ug up the country into five divi-
sions and having the National Rifle
Association matches in each of the
divisions. thus equahzing to a con-
siderable extent the expense or trans
portatton For state teams.
The matches of the Eastern States
known as Division A which include the
states OF Maine. New Hampshire, Yer
mont. Massachusetts. Rhode Island
Connecticut New York, Pennsylvania.
y
ginia and the District Of Columbia
will be held at the we'll known Sea
Grit, n. J. range beginning August
24th. 1t is expected that all OF the
above states with the exception OF
Pennsylvania, Maryland, and probab-
ly Vermont and Virginia will send
teams to this competition. There will
also be a team from the United States
Army which is being trained at Fort
Ethan Allen. VT, and which is in
charge of Capt. James a. Romeyn,
U. S. A. and a team from the United
States Marine Corps stationed within
the division.
A new departure in this years
matches is the throwing open of the
Government and National Rifle AS
ISOLATION matches to teams and tnd1-
viduals from institutions of learning
having military departments. There
viii also be a competition for civilian
rife clubs. This class has grown
greatly in the last few months owing
to me recent act of Congress authoriz-
ING the free issue Of rifles and am
nutrition to them.
At the Sea Girt shoot there will be
held a tryout for the selection of
team to represent the United States
in the competition to be held in Can
ala fer the Palma trophy. There VIII
also be another international match
for the National Guard Associa tior.
t,,t ply representing the worlds In
vidual long range championship. The
executive officer for the Sea Girt
shoot VIII be Brig. Gen. Bird w. Spen-
Ger, n G. n. ].
The matches of the Southern Dtvt-
sion, known as Division B. including
the states of North and South Caro-
limo, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Ten
nessee, Alabama and Mississippi, Will
De held at Jacksonville, Fla, begin
ming october 9Th. All OF the above
VITA the exception of South Carolina.
This will be the baptism for the new
Florida State Range which Is one OF
the largest in the country and which
is a ca ldidate for the national matches
of 1915. The executive officer for this
shoot will be Gen. j. Clifford r. Fos-
ter, Florida State Troops.
Included in Division c. are the
states OF Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, I'LL
nois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and
North and South Dakota. There will
be no competition in this division this
wear bu. the states who dc sire to par
ticlpate ir the matches may send its
team to the nearest divisional shoot
which VIII be that of Division d. to be
held at Fort Riley, Kansas beginning
be Brig. Gen. C. 1. Martin, N. G. X.
IN this division are comprised the
states of Missouri, Arkansas, Lou
isiana, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma,
Texas Wyoming Colorado, New Mex
leo and Arizona 1t is not known how
many Of these states will be repre-
scented.
The states of the northwest and
Pacific coast are located in Division
E. These states are Montana, Idaho.
Utah, Nevada, Nevada, California,
Oregon, Washington and the Terri
tory of Hawaii. The matches are to be
held at Portland Oregon beginning
Sept. ord and the executive oftlcer
Will be Brig. Cen VIM. E. FINER. o.
n. G.
At all of these competitions in ad-
dition to the interstate match. will
be held an individual rifle match. in
dividual pistol match and all of the
time honored matches of the National
Rifle Association which include the
Wimbledon Cup, the Leech Cup, Ma
rine Cup and the Divisional Regi-
mental and Company Championships.
Owing to the state Of war which eX-
lists throughout the world, these
matches will have added interest this
year 1t is to be regretted however,
that the army is taking no part In
these matches beyond the team which
is TO compete at Sea Girt. In view OF
the Importance of these great rifle
matches it is unfortunate that the alb
sence from the United States of the
army will make it impossible for the
army to take any active part IN TINS
years divisional matches.
Programs of the different divisional
shoots may be secured from the Post
Adjutant at the different ranges where
the competitions are TO be held.