Evening star., 1916-10-15
for Promotion of Rifle Practice

marked the real beginning Of the gem
eral use of service rifles among civihah
rifle clubs.
During the present year q remark
able activity has been apparent among
civilians in learning to use the mifitafy
rifle, and with the still large number OF
retired rifles which are in the posses
sion of the government there are un
limited possibilities for the future OF
civilian riflemen when the recent legis-
lation is taken Into consideration;
What interfered most with the
growth Of the civilian rife club move
ment before the present legislation was
passed was the lack of opportunity Tor
civilian rife clubs to get on rihe ranges
for practice. rather than the actuaI
dearth of rife ranges. although lack
of range facilities was apparent with
many of the clubs.
This disability may be removed un-
der that provision Ct the army reor-
ganization act which directs that all
ranges in which the United States gov
ernment is financially interested be
placed at the disposal of citizen rine-
men. and that wherever a representa-
tive of the army is assigned as an In
structor ammunition and rifles may be
issued free, There are at present some
600 rifle ranges In the United States al
ready equipped and established.
This legislation in itself will be of
untold help in promoting the shooting
game in the United States. but Congress
did still more in Incorporating In the
army appropriation bill a paragraph
authorizing the Secretary OF War TO
supply, in addition to rifles and ammu-
milton. targets and target materials to
the civilian clubs. This, IL properly
taken advantage of. will prove Of great
means of clubs equipping ranges of
their own.
IN addition to all this. Congress- for
the first time in the history of the ma
vor of teaching the civilian to shoot by
appropriating 100000 to be used gem
orally in promoting the rife game.
All previous appropriations made TO
the promotion of rife practice have
usually amounted only to $4,000. which
amount was intended for the purchase
of trophies to be awarded at the ma
ttonal match, and similar expenditures.
AT the same time this other legis-
lation was being enacted the President
was authorized to appoint director
of civilian craftsmanship. The Navy
and Marine Corps have realized the i'm
portance Of rife practice. and for each
of these units a director OF marks
manship has been provided. to which
has now been added the ranks of civil
ian rifiemen.
There is. however. no such post in
the army today. and because of the re-
quirements of the army reorganization
bill that the National Guard be organ
ized along the lines of the regular
army, II was necessary under the recent
call to muster out the inspectors Of
target practice In the National Guard,
because there are none in the army"
"a
All of the men who make up the Ma
tional Board for the Promotion Of Rifle
Practice are riflemen by nature Of the
posts they I'LL aside from their positions
on the board. with the exception Of
Assistant Secretary of War Ingraham.
and he is a riheman by love of 1t since
his boyhood. He comes from Port
land, Me-, and as y boy he has many
one of the earliest established. and
with his Winchester Of early vintage
taken his place on the firing line.
Lieut.. Col. William Lbbey, president
Of the National Rifle Association. has
for years been closely identified with
although well along in years. he has
within the past few weeks qualified As
a marksman sharpshooter and expert
rideman with gsod scores.
Maj. William e. Harllee OF the MariAe
Corps is assistant director OF target
was one of the pioneers in the move
ment to educate civilians to handle the
service rife, and Is the father Of rife
shooting In the Marine Corps. He is
the author of the firing regulations In
use In both the Navy and Marine Corps.
been actively identified with all the big
rifle events in this country.