Arizona republican., 1915-08-23
RIFLE SHOTS
 AT GA. R. CAMP
Work of Great National Rifle Association to Be Shown Veterans in OctO- ber-Potent Peace Fac tor-ItS Aim


 WASHINGTON, D. C.. Aug. 22- Announcement today that the Ma tional Rifle Association of America will participate in the Conference on National Defense. which Is to be held m Washington october 47. imme diately following the Grand Army of the Republic encampment, will be Of great interest to the veterans who will attend the encampment and the conference.
 In the Union armies of the civil war were hundreds of thousands of good shots and thousands of expert marksmen and sharpshooters. Many uf these dead shots will attend the NNashinston encampment and will pay particular attention to that section vf the National Defense Conference which will consider the training of The citizenry of this country in the use of the military rifle.
 Col John McElroy. past senior vice commender-in-chief of the Grand -Nrmy of the Republic, says that training in the use of the rifle is enc of the most important subjects to he considered at the conference.
 Good riflemen among the citizens are the best nucleus for our volun- tecr armies declared Colonel Me --lroy today
 The National Rifle Association O. America claims to he the oldest and most practical peace society in this country. IL was organized in 1871 for che purpose of teaching the citi- zeuS of the country how to eff cieltly handle the army rifle, thus r- ing efficient volunteers to- defend their country in time of need. Of ticerS of the Association claim that if there were in this country a mil lion citizens trained in the use of the service arm that it would be a nore potent factor in the mainten- ance of peace than the orations of a million aCe-at-any- price men. This National Association receives no fed cral support and it's work has been rIlaiDtained by the donations of pa tIiotlgallX inclined citizens through the taking of life memberships Among such men may he mentionei tN-Presidcnts Taft and Roosevelt, eN-Senator Root. former Secretary of State Robert Bacon. former Secretary of the Navy Meyer. former Secre- taries of War Dickinson and Wright Senators Wetmore and Warren and such prominent business leaders as Judge Gary, John Wanamaker. IT. C. Prick. George Westinghouse and hum dreis If others. Ex-Senator Root says Of the work of the N. R. A:
 The purposes of the National As sociation of America are of the great est importance and the methods by which it proposes to attain them are simple. direct and suited to Am erican life and character
 The Association is carrying on a campaign for one thousand life mem bers. the income from the fund to be used for the promotion of rifle shooting as a recognized sport in the schools and colleges Of the country
 \ great impetus was given to rifle training among citizens by the passage of an act by Congress last year authorizing the free distribution of krag rifles and ammunition to rifle clubs and the work organizing the clubs and carrying on the train Ing was put in the hands of the Ma tionai Rifle Association by the Sec retary of War. Since that time over 20" clubs have been organized and to them has been issued SOC Krag rifles and $50 150 rounds of ammuni- ton.
 The National Rifle Association has asked the War Department to ap- prove measure for the adoption of national policy of range con- struction, claiming that the proposi- ton to train civilians of the country can never amount to anything from national standpoint until ranges are provided where the citizens can shoot There has been a great dc lnand by writers on military sub 1ects Shd the press in general for the adoption by this country of a modi- He'd Swiss system, but most of these writers overlook the fact that the sine qui non of that system is rifle training, the important feature of a soldiers duties which are greatly neglected in this country Provi- sion also must be made to furnish government rifle clubs with ammuni- ton and target supplies as well as ranges. and army officers should be detailed as instructors and super Nisors for these clubs
 Al the present time there are en- klfle Association shooting under its rules and regulations and making annual reports of their work, 5O1 government rifle clubs. no school and s7 college clubs. all training with the military rifle