Evening journal., 1915-08-24

mates, when submitted to the next
Congress, will contain provisions for
a general plan Of range construc-
tion throughout the country as the
preliminary steps toward the train
ing of the male citizens of the coun-
try 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 rife train
ing of its members.
Provision will probably be contain
ed also for the proper supervision
and training of rife clubs and the
issue to them of ammunition and tar
get 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 well as ammunition to be used
with the same. This ammunition was
left over from the Spanish-American
war and it has deteriorated greatly.
The supply will soon be exhausted
however, and provision must be made
for the further manufacture of Krag
ammunition at the Frankford Arsen-
al if the rife club movement is to
be encouraged
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
already done considerable work in
the promotion of rife training among
the citizens of the country, and the
War Department since that time has
equipped 167 clubs with LOIS rifles
and issued to them for practice 643,-
$50 rounds of ammunition In addi-
tion to this there has been 915 rifles
and 40 carbines, besides S6,S40 cart
ridges, issued to school cadet corps.
the same law having authorized such
issue.
Rife training of citizens in this
country had become almost an un-
known factor up TO about ten years
ago. when the National Rife Asso-
citation of America began a serious
propaganda for revival of the sport
having in view the benefit which would
be derived from the standpoint OF
national defense. The Association ap-
pealed 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 Mey.
er. Colonel Robert NJ Thompson. ex
Secretaries of War Dickinson and
Wright. Robert Bacon, Seth Low
Herbert S. Hadley. John R. nrexel
George Westinghouse. Judge E. H
Geary and many other prominent mel
of the country. In view of the pres
ent almost universal demand for 4;
better state of preparation, the asso
citation is again appealing for aid t.
expand its work. especially amonl
the schools and colleges. Its plan
include a modified Swiss system o
rifle training for the young men o
the country
There has been considerable dis
cussion in the newspapers regarding
the Swiss system of training for ma
tonal defense and some of the fore
most military writer's have advocate
the adoption of this system overlook
ing the fact that the conditions il
the United States are far differen
from those in the little old republi
among the Alps.
In Switzerland every male from 1
years of age to as is issued an arm
rlfie, ammunition and equipment
-+~A AS lanes 10 MS nome dQQ keep
subject to call from his country {
report to the colors. Can you i'm
agine for a minute how such a lay
would work out in this country.
What a great boon it would be TO tn
l. w. w. and similar trouble-makin
organizations composed of men o
foreign birth who cannot understan
our system of democratic govern
ment Furthermore. the fundaments
principle of the Swiss system is riff
ralnlng and every male in the r,
pubic, unless disqualified by disabi
lty' must fire his prescribed numbe
OF cartridges every year. This SHOOT
ing Is principally done on Sunda,
Even If we had ranges available
TINS country, no where except in th
liberal-minded west would the me
be allowed to engaged in rife shoo
ing on Sunday, although golf. bas,
ball and such sports are allowed fu
sway.
No-the Swiss system would neve
work in this free republic. Nationa
ism hand in hand with patriotism
not cultivated to such an extent
the limited Cfafcc a. "a a. - a.