The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-25
AID RIFLE CLUBS
Congress to Be Asked to Pro-
vide Outdoor Ranges.
All Americans Should Learn to
Handle Fire Arms.
RIFLE ASSOCIATION ACTIVE
The War Department Has
Equipped 165 Clubs.
Military Writers Urge the
Adoption of Swiss System.
RIFLE ASSOCIATION ACTIVE

Washington, Aug. est is ex-
pected that the army estimates, when
submitted TO the next congress, viii
contain provisions for a general plan
of range construction throughout the
country as the preliminary steps to-
ward the training of the male citi-
zens of the country in military rifle
shooting High military authorities
are in accord as to the necessity of
such training for those who are
available as volunteers and that any
scheme for a reserve must provide
also for the rifle training of its mem
bers-
Provision VIII probably be con-
tanned also for the proper super
vision and training of rifle clubs and
the issue to them of ammunition and
target supplies. Congress at the last
session authorized the chief of ord
nance TO issue free to rifle clubs the
Krag rifles in storage at the arsenals
as vel! ammunition to be used with
the same. This ammunition was left
over from the Spanish-American war
and IL has deterTorated greatly The
supply will soon be exhausted, how
ever and provision must be made for
the further manufacture of krag am
munitfon at the Frankford arsenal if
the rifle club movement is to be en-
cOuraged-
" II. y. of \. Organized.
When the new law went into effect,
the organization of these clubs was
put in the hands of the National Rifle
Association Of America, which had al
ready done considerable work in the
promotion of rifle training among the
citizens of the country, and the war
department since that time has equip
ped 167 clubs with 1,016 rifles and is
sued to them for practice 643.5S0
rounds of ammunition In addition to
this. there has been 915 rifles and 40
carbines, besides S6.S40 cartridges is
sued to school cadet corps, the same
law having authorized such issue
Rifle training of citizens in this
country had become almost an I'M
known factor up to about ten years
ago. when the National Rifle Associa-
ton of merica began a serious propa-
ganda for a revival of the sport hav-
ing in view the benefit which would
be derived from the standpoint of
national defense. The association ap-
peaied to prominent men of the land
for cooperation and received very
material assistance from Ex-Presi-
dents Roosevelt and Taft. Ex-senator
Root, EX-Secretary of the Navy Meyer.
Colonel Robert NJ Thorn pson. Ex-Sec-
retaries of War Dickinson and Wright
Robert Bacon SetheLoyx, Herbert S.
Handley. John r. DrexeI, George
Westinghouse, Judge Z. H. Geary, and
many other prominent men of the
country. In view of the present al
most universal demand for a better
state of 1repa ration, the association is
a gam appealing Tor and to expand its
work. especially among the schools
and colleges Its plan includes a
modified Swiss system of rifle train
ing for the young men of the coun-
try.
The Swiss System.
There has been considerable discus
sion in the newspa pers regarding the
Swiss system of training for national
defense and some of our foremost
military writers have advocated the
adoption of this system. overlooking
the fact that the conditions in the
those IN the little old republic among
the Alps
In Switzerland. every male from 6
years of age to As is issued an army
rifle, ammunition. and equipment
which he takes to his home and keeps
subject to call fom his country to
report to the coIors- Pra ctice shooting
is principally done on Sunday.
No doubt a modified Swiss system
could be very effectively put into
operation in the United States With
the ten millions of available young
men in this country to select from,
there IS no reason why rifle clubs
should not be organized with selected
applicants
The National Rifle Association of
America has demonstrated what can
able for the work along such lines
1t has under its Jurisdiction nearly
five hundred clubs now with an esti-
mated membership of about twenty
five thousand
Could Have 5000 Clubs
With proper governmental support.
inspection. supervision and training
these 500 clubs could be increased to
5000 with at least 100000 members
and in time this easily could be in
creased to a million We then would
be getting all the benefits of the best
features of the Swiss system without
running any danger from the free is
sue of rifles
Before this should be done. how
ever, the way should be paved for the
successful carrying out of the scheme
by the building of rifle ranges by the
government throughout the country
where rifle club members could shoot.
This is another feature of the SwLS
system which we might well pattern
after In that country. nearly every
canton. which might for comparisons
sake be called a miniature state. has
a fine large. well equipped range and
in addition there are thousands of
rifle clubs which have their own
ranges
Rifle shooting as sport will never
be popular like baseball as il lacks
the element of the spectacular but it
can be made interesting by COMPETE
tionaI Such competitions as the ma
tional matches do more than anything
else TO popuIarize the game