Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-25
Encouraging Rifle Practice

Following the action OF Congress at
the last session authorizing the Chief
OF Ordnance TO issue free TO rifle clubs
the krns rifles stored In the government
arsenals, and 100 cartridges TO be used
In the Same for each member OF The
rihc club. the Prcsidcn. and his Cabi-
net are confronted with the PROPOSE
ton 10 put the seal OF approval OF the
administration on the training OF the
civilians in the use OF the military arm,
ns recommended by the President in his
las, message TO Congress- This APP
prevail or dlsapproval will come about
through the efforts OF the National
Board for Promotion OF Rifle Practice
10 organize rifle shooting associations
in all the government departments In
Washington, such organizations neccs-
sarily requiring tho approval of the
chiefs of the departments
The movement TO issue EraS rifles for
The training OF citizens In rifle shooting
explains what Is being done with the
krag rifles in storage in the govern
ment arsenalS, which has been a matter
of great deal Of newspaper speculation
as 10 the disposal Of the same since the
outbreak OF the European war. II was
the efforts OF Spectators. influential
and otherwise. who were making the
life OF tho Chief OF Ordnance miserable
in their efforts 10 purchase the Itrag
rifles, which caused the President To
have issued the order in January for
bidding the sale of arms to rife clubs.
II was not thought that there was any
abuse OF the privilege accorded rifle
clubs to purchase government arms, but
the President desired to be in n position
OF saying that no arms in any amount
and OF any description were being sold
to any one especially Krag rifles, as
these were being reserved for issue to
government rifle clubs under author
ity of the recent new law.
Since this law went into effect last
summer over 200 rifle clubs have been
organized throughout the country. No
particular section seems to be leading
in this respect, although these clubs are
more successful in the West, where il is
easier TO acquire and maintain ranges
i'll the open. The lack of ranges in the
dcnsely populated Eastern section of
the country il going to materially re-
tard the development OF life shooting
in the East unless the government
should construct ranges that can DO
used at 200 and 800 yards near the
larger cities, after the plans Of protect
cd ranges carried out in Germany and
other foreign countries. which provide
for the building Of shields to catch all
shots which would have missed the tar
get. thus making them absolutely sn fe
from stray bullets and accidental dis
charge OF the rife. The general staff
OF the army is now nj work on a new
code OF rifle practice which can be used
on such ranges and also on open ranges
or tho National Guard, where II is i'm
possible TO get distances beyond 800
yards.
Congress will be asked at the coming
session to adopt n policy OF range con-
Struction In the United States. Every
year that this Is put off will add to the
difficulties and cost to the government
OF eventually acquiring such ranges,
and without such ranges the govern
mcnt VIII never obtain any adequate
returns from It's loaning to citizens Of
KraF rifles and ammunition. Such clubs
arc now being organized at the rate Of
fifteen to twenty-five n week, and tho
offices OF the National Rifle Association
OF America, in whose hands the gov
crnment has placed the organization of
these clubs. are busy place. BY adj
dressing this association at Washing
ton, descriptive printed matter In re-
gard TO the movement may he secured
by any citizen who is Interested in tho
matter Of rife training In this country