Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-12
Local Marksmen Comfortably
Housed Under Canvas on
!, Jacksonville Range.
TO EXCEED IN NUMBERS
ALL PAST COMPETITIONS
Enlisted Men of the Regular Army
Make Efficient Markers
and Scorers.
special pkpatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to The star.
r JACKSONVILLE, Fla, october Il
The expert shots constituting the nfi-
'sGade rife team of the National Guard
of the District of Columbia are now
thoroughly at home under canvas here'
being part Of perhaps the largest rine
shooting camp ever established In the
United States. The principal attraction
, Is the national team match. authorized
by act of Congress, with the ADDED
fact that sthe government this year Is
paying the cost of transportation OF
the competing teams.
Further, the national guardsmen
among the competitors, and the great
majority are such. receive the pay OF
their respective grades from the GATE
of departure from their home stations
to and including the date OF ARRIVAL
back. In addition to the infantry and
cavalry branches of the Army and the
Marine Corps, nearly every state IN
the Union and Hawaii will be number
I'D among the competitors. About thir-
ty state teams, one from Hawaii and
the service teams are already here.
\. The matches of the National Rife
Association of America, including many
famous events, in Importance aux SEE
iond only to the national matches
+ College Teams to Compete.
e The attendance is expected to be
largely augmented as a result OF an
ttorder by the War Department admit
ting teams from universities, colleges
, and military schools. In addition, many
= of the matches are open to rifle clubs
Il and individual civilian competitors.
h The purpose of the big tournament,
: briefly stated, is to promote interest in
shooting with the national military
\ arms, and to increase the efficiency of
:. the military and naval services. in
iscluding the National Guard, of course,
= in small arms firing. 1t is explained
y by Col. Blatchford of the army, the
of the School of Musketry
D at Fort Sill, Okla, who is detailed as
,sthe executive officer of the national
matches. that the program here is ar
ranged with the intention to develop
skill in firing at fixed targets and over
known distances, and contemplated the
training of individual markSmen.
: 1t is planned to arrange a problem,
during the period when the greatest
number are assembled for the national
matches which will involve fire direc-
tion, FIRE control and fire discipline. and
Z, will not only be of vast interest to the
.marksmen, but will present spectacular
features which will have a special ap-
Il tition. participated in by such large
units. using service ammunition. IS un-
isusual and is expected to attract wide
,sattcntion.
Is The range here is equipped with $50
Targets, arranged in echelon, in sec
tions of fifty, with a common firing line
Mt 200. 500 and 1000 yards. and special
Airing points at all intermediate dis
tances. The range proper covers Ito
acres of absolutely level ground. The
Airing direction Is iowa I'd the north
~ District Has Good Camp.
7 The range is only part of the state
camp grounds, ON which the District
of Columbia team has an especially
desirable location. being only short
distance from the firing line and con-
'venient to the mess hall. The Districts
tents are on the edge of woods. so that
welcome shade is at hand. This is i'm
portant, for the weather has been IN
fense1y warm since the Washington
ians arrived Wednesday. The grounds
are on Black point, about ten miles
south of Jacksonville. on the west
shore of the St. Johns river. Water is
supplied from an artesian we'll Com
munication with Jacksonville is by q
special spur of the Atlantic Coast Line.
by steamer and by buses connecting
with a street car line four miles dis
tant.
4, In addition to Col. Blatchford, the Of
tHcers of the tournament include Capt
William c. Harlee. L. S. NJ c.. assistant
executive officer and chief range officer
Lieut.. Col John ]. Dooley. National
Guard of Maine, assistant executive of
hcer: Capt. William Fl. Clopton, jr.. 18th
United States Cavalry, adjutant; First
Lieut.. William E. Persons, 18th United
states Infantry. assistant adjutant