Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-05-06

How Uncle sam taxes raw IecTullS
for the Eastern division Of the Marine
Corps and turns them out into first
class marksmen is told in an interest
ing way by John r. Cox in the Popn-
lar Mechanics Magazine for May. the
article being description of the
Marine Rifle Range at Winthrop,
Maryland He says in part:
AN inconspicuous speck on the
newer maps serves to denote the loca-
ton of winthrop, Md A bold head
land jutting on the Potomac River,
between two of its tributaries, II at
tracts little notice from the thousands
of passengers on that picturesque
stream, a two-and-a-half-hour sail be-
low Washington. Yet. despite its
modest position in the atlas, Winthrop
is significant factor in our system
of military effectiveness, for 1t Is the
base of small.arms craftsmanship OF
the United States Navy and Marine
Corps.
winthrop derives its name from a
former assistant secretary Of the navy,
Beekman Winthrop, who did much to
encourage the promotion of small
arms shooting in the marine corps.
The tract. comprising LOO acres, was
formerly known by the uneuphonious
name of Stump's Neck. but since It
has been given the dignity Of gov
eminent station, 1t is officially desig-
mated as the Marine Rifle Range. Win
throp. It's ISOLATION affords ideal Ia
cilities for the work In which 1t is
engaged.
Every newly enlisted man In the
eastern division of the marine corps
must undergo the course at Winthrop,
and qualify before he is assigned to
general service. As these recruits
mostly come from the interior with
little or no previous experience with
the rifle, they have great deal to
learn; but two weeks of intensive In
struction works wonders with them,
and they are sent to marine detach-
ments with an excellent working
knowledge of the use of small arms,
and no longer .gun-shy.'
but Winthrop is not merely a rifle
range 1t is also school for coaches
in rifle and revolver shooting; and 1t
is there that the foundation is laid
for small-arms practice in both the
seasgoing services of the United
States, fighting force. Sailors, from
chief petty officer to ordinary seaman.
are detailed from naval vessels In
squads of ten men each during periods
when they can best be spared from
their respective ships without Inter
ference with the ship work.
But the activities at Winthrop are
not confined to the instruction of ma
rine recruits and the education of
smallarms coaches. The range Is open
to all who desire to learn to shoot.
and civilians are welcomed If they
eyince a sufficient interest In the seri-
Gus business. in which the station is
engaged. High-school cadets, militia
men, shooting clubs. and other organi-
cations, as well as individual citizens,
may go to Winthrop and be instructed
in the art Of shooting. They are as
signed coaches who teach them how
to handle the rifle and revolver, and
they fire the regular courses. They
are supplied with guns and acces-
series for shooting; more than that,
they are equipped with shooting
clothes, and are even given nomal
nay of 80 cents a day, with tent, mat
tress, and blankets free. This feature
of Winthrop is already attracting the
attention of the young men Of Wash.