River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-08-05
RIFLE SHOOTING
DOOMED BY WAR
Government to Hold Big Match
on Florida Range.
CIVILIANS SCORES ARE HIGH

Many New Clubs Formed, ard Un-
usual Interest Is Shown In Approach
ing Recommendations From Vari-
Gus Organizations and Colleges to
Compete For Valuable Prizes.
Rife shooting is now having a great
boom in the country. Interest I'M
doubtedly has been aroused In target
shooting by the demand for better
state OF preparation for the country's
defense. Not only the regular serv-
Ices, but the civilians at large and
students Of colleges and schools, are
taking much interest in rife training,
and local, interstate and national
tournaments will be numerous during
the next three months.
AS result of this agitation all the
states are taking increased interest in
the big national shooting event to be
conducted by the government at Jack
Sonville, Fla. in October. Maryland
and Pennsylvania are the only states
which have positively declined to give
their national guard the benefit Of
training a team for these matches.
Three other states are doubtful. but
are making every effort to overcome
the difficulties SO that they can be
represented. They are California,
Washington and Virginia For the first
time these matches have been thrown
open to teams Of cadets from military
schools and colleges.
Government Gives Aid.
Never before has the government
been so generous in it's efforts to make
this shooting tournament a success.
The last congress appropriated $4,000
to assist the states in paying trans
pOrtattOn charges of their teams to
Florida. While there the enlisted men
will be allowed committed ration of
$3.50 day.
The range In Florida is q new one,
second only in size to the Camp Perry
range OF Ohio and second to the
famous Sea Girt IN. J.) range in its
natural beauty. Adjutant General
Foster of Florida and his aids have
spent years Of labor in perfecting
and beautifying this range. which is
located on the st. Johns river. twelve
miles from Jacksonville.
The interest Of civilians throughout
the country Is shown by the organiza-
ton of government rifle clubs in al
most every state, as well as in Porto
Rico. Alaska. Hawaii and the canal
zone. In the past six months over 200
clubs have been organized, and this
number could have been more than
doubled II the government had been
able to offer range facilities To these
clubs there have been issued by the
ordnance department Of the army since
the first of the year 8O6 Krag rifles
and 55O15O rounds of ammunition.
To test the efficiency Of these club
members with the military rife a ma
dOnal competition was organized and
a trophy presented by the war depart
ment, which represents the champion
ship OF the United States among civil
ian government rife clubs. In this
competition twenty-six of the most pro-
gresstve OF these clubs have entered
teams, and the competition is now 60
ing on under the supervision Of army
and national guard officers. Each club
is represented by ten men shooting a
course Of firing similar to that follow
ed by the national guard In their rec
ord shooting.
New Members Sought.
The National Rife Association Of
America. with Offices In Washington.
has begun q campaign for 100000 mem
bers at 50 each. The receipts are to
constitute a fund which will, it is an
nounced. be used In an effort to put
rife shooting in this country on
plane with other sports such as base
ball and football.
Especial attention Is being given to
the installation of indoor ranges in
schools and colleges, Y. Nj. G. A. build
ings and wherever sports are encour-
aged.
1t is claimed that every new MEM
Der will mean q qualified marksman,
and from patriotic standpoint the
plans Of the National Rife association
commend themselves to all citizens
who believe that a better state of
preparation is needed in this country.
The plans Of the association have the
Endorsement Of the highest officials of
the war department
Interest in rife shooting will be slim
ulated at the camps of instruction for
students now being held at Plattsburg
IN. " barracks; Preside Of San Fran
cisco; Ludington, Mich, and Chicka-
manga. Ca, by the donation of trophies
and medals by the National Rife AS
ISOLATION Of America for team and in
dividual records.