Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-26
AMERICA LEARNS
TO SHOOT
By Frederic ]. H0skin

[Continued From Editorial Page1
filiated cubs. although officials Of the
Department were doubtless influenced
in their recommendation to Congress
entirely by the value of rifle practice
in training citizen for possible mill
tary service. 1t is only within the
last two years that the preparedness
factor of the movement has complete
ly overshadowed its sporting side.
The original act or Congress au-
thorizing the issue or rifles and am
munition was passed in 1905, and re-
enacted in a modified form in 1914.
The government arsenals had on hand
a large supply of the army Krags of
the 1898 model, such as our troops
used in the Spanish American war.
This model had been superseded by
the later Springfield so that the arms
were no longer serviceable for the
regular army, although they are high
power weapons of a late and efficient
model. There was also much am
munition on hand-even to-day there
are 100000 600 rounds of Krag cart
ridges available. supply large enough
to last almost indefinitely under the
old circumstances, although the end
of it is in sight if the civilian clubs
continue to burn it up at the present
rate. BY putting this great stock of
shooting material in the hands of the
people, the government gave every
citizen a chance to make himself a
rif1eman at little cost.
In order to organize a rife club and
get certificate of membership in the
National Rife Association all that is
necessary is a preliminary member
ship of ten men who want to learn to
shoot, and range to do the shooting.
The government will issue Krags to
each club in ratio OF at least one
rifle to every five men free of charge.
as well as an annual supply of 120
ROUNDS OF ammunition to each MEM
ber. Practically all of the clubs, of
course, shoot great deal more than
this, and the government sells addi-
tional ammunition to them at the rate
of S15 thousand rounds, which is
about half what it originally cost to
manufacture.
Scores of clubs have been organized
IN every State in the Union They
nave been organized in all our insular
possessions, in Porto Rico, and Ha-
waiian Islands. the Philippines and in
Alaska. There is even a club in the
American colony in Shanghai, China
Considerable elasticity Is allowed each
lndlVldual club in its choice of arms
Some Of them are not content with
the old Krags, and prefer to pay for
the current model Springfelds and
Springfield ammunition. 1t is one of
the club privileges that they may buy
government supplies of all sorts at list
prices, and some of the weather or
ganizations have set their annual dues
as high as $25, with the additional re-
quirement that each member supply
himself with a government Spring
field. On the other hand, the dues
OF less ambitious bodies run as low as
20 cents year, and the ammunition
is confined to the rree list AS a
matter OF fact, the Krag is rife
good enough for anybody to learn to
snoot with. It was good enough to
win the Spanish American war.
1t was that same Spanish American
conflict, which taught us the import
ance of shooting citizenry in ma
ton that looks to volunteers in time
OF emergency. Prof. F. H. Phillips.
Jr., secretary of the National Rifle AS
ISOLATION believes that a man who can
shoot is eighty per cent prepared. -
That is, it will be possible to teach him
the rest of a soldiers duties in a few
weeks, under almost any circum-
| stances,