The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-04-25
MANY RIFL e
OIL lBS FORM
AIT over the Country Following
the Enactment of a New
Federal Law.

WASHINGTON, Apr. "a = ollow
Ing the action of Congress at the
last session authorizing the chief OF
ordnance to Issue free to rifle clubs
the KraE rifles stored in the gov
eminent arsenals and 80 cartridges
to be used in the same for each. mem
Der OF the rife club. the president
and hts cabinet are confronted with
the proposition to put the seal OF D..
prevail OF the administration on the
training OF civilians in the use OF
military arms as recommended by
the president in his last message to
n Congress. This approval or disap-
prevail will come about through tho
efforts of the National Board for Pro-
motion of Rife Practice to organ
lie rife shooting associations in all
the government departments in
washington. such organization neces-
Eariiy requiring the approval OF the
chiefs OF the departme nts
The movement to issue Erag rifles
for the training. OF citizens in rife
shooting explains what is being done
With the Erag rifles in storage in the
gover1me nt arsenals. which has been
a matter or a great deal or #neWspa-
per speculation rs to the disposal of
the same since the outbreak OF the
European war TT was the efforts or
spectators. influential and otherwise
who We're making the life of the
chief of ornonce miserable in their.
efforts to purchase the kraE rifles.
which caused the president 10 have
issued the order in January forbid
ding the sale Of arms to rifle clubs.
IL was not thought that there was
any abuse OF the privilege accorded
rife clubs to purchase government
arms. but the president desired to-
be in position OF saying that no
arms in any amount and OF any de-
scription were being sold to any one.
especially krag rifles as these We're
being reserved for issue to govern
.lnent rifle clubs under authority of
the recent new law.
Many Rifle Clubs.
Since this law went into effect
last summer over $50 rife clubs have
been organized throughout the coun-
try. No particular section seems to-
be leading in this respect. although
these clubs are more successful in
the west where it lis easier to acquire
and maintain ranges in the open.
The lack OF ranges in the densely
populated eastern section of the
country is going to materially Tetard
the development OF rife shooting ind
the east unless the government
ShDulQ construct Id4lsSS Tia u Col asJE
used at 200 and 800 yards near the
larger cities. after the plans Of pro-
stected ranges carried outin Germany
and other foreign countries which
provide for the building OF shields to
catch all shots which would have;
missed the target. thus making them
absolutely safe from stray bullets
and accidental discharge of the rife.
The general staff Of the army is now
at work on new code of rife prac-
tice which can beSus ed on such ranges
and also on open ranges OF the ma
tional guard where it is impossible
to- get distances. beyond 500 yards.
Want Range Construction.
Con gress will be asket at the COM
&inEssession to adopt a policy OF range
construction in the United States. 4EE-
cry year that this is put off vii id
10 the difficulties and cost to the gov
eminent Of eventually acquiring such
ranges and without such ranges the
government will never obtain any
adequate returns from its loaning 10
citizens OF Krag rifles and ammuni-
ton. Such clubs are now being orr
sanized at the rate OF 15stto 20 a
week and the Offices OF the Natl onal
Rife Association OF America, in
whose hands the government has
placed the organization OF these clubs
are busy place. BY addressing this
association al Washington. descrip-
tive printed matter in regard to the
5moFeme nt may beistVured by any cit
izen who Is interested in the matter
OF rife training in this country.
ernmH5A ri I'M