Evening star., 1915-05-23

is not placed there to patch up bullet
wounds. caused by the possible care
lessness Of the contestants, although
such would come under his care. But
he is responsible for the sanitary con-
ditions of the camp. and in case a
contestant desires to withdraw from
the competition. due to illness, the sur
geon must issue a certificate to that
effect IL the contestants condition war
rants.
When the match begins. each team
captain must send representative TO
the pits. who will call to the attention
of the range officer in his pit any ir-
regularities In scoring and she like
The firing line and the target pits are
connected by telephone, and as soon as
the competition begins. the pits are no
titled by telephone, The officar on the
firing line gives the order to load. and
in the meantime. red flag is raised
at the target pits.
AS soon as the firing line is ready.
the target men again are notified by
telephone and the contestants make
ready to shoot. The red nag at the
pits is waved and lowered and hNe
minutes later. in the case OF rap,a
ing. the targets appear The targets re
main exposed for one minute ana
half. then disappear
The moment the target rises above
the edge of the pit the rihemen kncel
suddenly and pump ten shots into each
target. The ten shots must be dls
charged before the target sinks or All
unfired shots viii he counted as misses
The same procedure is observed when
the men are firing at all ranges, eH-
cept that at zoo yards. rapid hre. the
men kneel. while they lie prone at S"n
yards. .
Thus the game of teaching colleeians
to shoot will go forward merrily. along
with the regulars and the militiamen.
who can be expected to put on some
airs by reason of previous experience
in national rife matches. Neverthe-
less. 1t is just step along the road
that the expert rifieman must travel.
and If college men who want to shoot
find the road a little rough, they may
be comforted by the thought that the
War Department is doing everything
possible to make IL smooth.
The main difficulty to be met with
in teaching college men 10 shoot is
the absence of the spectacular in rife
matches. AS usual thing there is no
gallery Of sweet young things" to
cheer on the successful marksmen. and
while a college will make all sorts OF
an outlay for base ball or foot ball
team, there is very little money spent
by such institutions on rifle teams.
The French republic appropriates
large sums of money every year fo-
the support of rifle training in TIM
public schools, and in Italy it is I'm
possible for college student to get
degree unless he has passed an ex-
animation in Workmanship.
Canada has also made rife instruc-
tion a part of the curriculum In the
public schools and Australia has over
10000 school boys who have been or
Eanized into cadet corps and furnished
with rifles and ammunition by the gov
ernment. The government of New Zea-
land has built small rifle ranges in
connection with all its public schools
and furnishes instructors as well as
rifles and ammunition for the pupils.
Switzerland and Hungary both are
encouraging the idea, Switzerland be-
ing especially careful to train it's boys.
beginning at the age OF sixteen. Greece
has laws making rife practice obliga-
tory on all university students.
The great trouble with marksman-
ship in the United States. according to
officials of the National Rifle Associa
tion, is the general failure Of land
grant colleges. which draw govern
ment subsidy. to live up to the spirit OF
their appropriations.
These institutions are supposed to
install military instruction. and they do
so. but their failure to live up to the
spirit of the law is shown in the re-
ports of the army officers who inspect
these military establishments The ap-
propriations for three colleges in par
ticular is shown in the reports to veri-
drawing $4,000 year. spent $2.100.
$3.50 and $3.50 year respectively. on
their military establishments.
The training Of the college man as
a marksman has a twofold purpose
as its foundation Not only will a
well trained. finely developed student
corps be a rock of Gibraltar in case of
war. but. IT is argued. rifle training is
another force in college life which Will
wean the student away from the petty
vices and cultivate his manhood and
character.
The flowing bowl is very hard on
"bulrs-eyes," and cigarettes, perhaps.
are worse. No one can hope to be q
good marksman under such conditions.
and now that Congress has authorized
the War Department to issue free serv-
ice rifles and ammunition to rifle clubs
affiliated with the National Rife Asso-
citation. it is believed the art OF fne
shooting will be received with fresh
enthusiasm at the big colleges Of the
country.
With preparations practically com
plete, the War Department is impa-
tiently waiting until next October.
when the results OF the big Jackson
VILE meet are partially expected to
answer its question of whether or not
the college student will make an ef-
ficient rifleman.