Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-03-08
FoRTY.FlvE THOUSAND CIVIL.
iANs NOW RECEIVING lNsTRuc-
TloNs IN USE Or GUNS.
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
II BEING FORMED DAILY
Work Being Extended tot.isiah Schools
and Boy. ora.nization'- stions'
Association Receives New impetus
Because Of Agitation Of Preparedness
Question. ! i@&
Special Correspondence

- lSpeClal COrTeSp0ilueHcS.J 81
Washington, March s.-About $4,000
civilians are today receiving training In
the use of the military rifle according
to figures Just complied by the Ma
)tional Rifle Association Of America,
with headquarters in this city. &t@
Since Jan. l. 1916, the membership OF
this organization has increased more
than 1000 and every day brings news
Of new rifle clubs organized and affi.-
lated with the central body, which. as
is we'll known, Is semi official organ
ization recognized by the United States
government, and receiving free arms
and Ammunition from the government
for target practice.
The latest figures show a total of 713
civilian, rifle clubs, sixty nine college
clubs 100 high school clubs, thirty two
military school clubs and twelve boys
clubs In addition sixtythree militia
! regiments are affiliated with the as
ISOLATION, as are fortyseven separate
military organizations. The central
fact sticks out that approximately 45s-
900 civilians not connected with any
military organization either know how
to shoot a rifle or are learning how,
and that this number is increasing
daily, thus slowly building up "a citi-
zenry trained and accustomed to
arms .y}
Receives New impetus.
The national Rife Association, or
ganized in 1911 FOR the purpose ot
promoting and encouraging rifle shoot
ing among the citizens thruout the
United States" has received a great
Impetus since the preparedness move
ment got under way. Such organiza-
tons as the National Security League
have been encouraging men and women
as we'll to form rifle clubs under tfie
rules of the National Board for the
Promotion of Rifle Practice, on which
board the war department is repre-
scented. According to the regulations
ten or more citizens, Is years of age or
over, in any locality, may organize q
club. This club must adopt the by
laws approved by the secretary of wa
and after organization it must affiliate
with the National Rifle Association.
Magazine rifles and appendages, to-
gether with a total OF 120 rounds Of
ammunition per man per year are n
sued to the clubs by the United StatHs
government, bond being given for t4e
penal sum of the4yalue of the rifle. One
tTi8esfs issued toieach five members IN
good standing with an additional rife
issued to each club for each member
qualifying in the prescribed course Of
fire az sharpshooter Or expert rife-
man. t- ,5.-g a@.@@ hssss ~ r. y
~ Interest In Washington. :.
Interest in rifle shooting has appar-
entity. hit the, District of Columbia all
of sudden. Since the first Of he
year hundreds Of men have formed
ride clubs, and as soon as the weather
permits arrangements will be made for
each club to spend a day a month at
the marine corps rife range at. Win
throp, Md. In the meantime an indoor
gallery has been opened in the center
Of the city and Is crowded with would
be sharpshooters from + p. m. till, late
in the evening. ~. ri e-GS ~. :. f..
Former Assistant Secretary of War
Henry Breckenridge Is himself a mem
Der Of one of the Washington, D. C.
rifle clubs, as are many government, Of
ficials and employees of all grades in
the classified civil service. The head
quarters of the National Rifle Associa-
ton declares that similar widespread
interest has been manifested turnout
the country. and indications point to
the conclusion that the citizens are
preparing, irrespective Of encourage
ment from congress .-