Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-23
AMERICA LEARNS SHARPSHOOTING
by FREDERIC j. HASKIS.
II the Days Best Cartoons.

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. May 22.-Can
you shoot? Could you pick up mod
cfn high-power army rifle and put
twenty bullets into a target ZOO Yards
away In two minutes? The American
civilian who could do that In 1914 was
almost rare enough TO put into
museum. but If things Keep moving
In the direction they are headed to.
day the feat will soon be a mere com
monplace. lncidenially. the country
VIII have taken a long step along what
Is perhaps the most important OF the
paths that lead 10 citizen prepared
ness.
America is Earning 10 shoot. The
tremendous growth OF popular interest
III the use OF the rifle in this country
sine" the outbreak Of the European
war Is striking instance OF the way
the conflict has affected popular senti-
meht. We are turning back toward
the days OF Daniel Boone when every
man was sharpshootcr. and call TO
arms found "A citizenry tina, no, only
heard the call, but knew how to use
the arms.
eress authorized the issuance OF army
rifles OF the kraB model. with ball
cartridge, for the use of civilian rifle
clubs IN target practice. After I'VE
Years OF the operation OF this pro-
vision, there were less than a hundred
civilian rifle clubs IN the United
states. To-day there are over 100.
while their total membership Is mat
ter OF estimate. II IL probably not far
from 10000 men. II might be more
at least one woman, Mrs William
Strong. Of Helena, Mont, has qualified
rs a marksnan
While the total club membership ia
matter Of estimate, the number OF
Qualifications AS marksman, sharp
shooter or expert are matter OF
record There were more qualincn-
lions on the range AT Winthrop, Md.
where the clubs from Washington. u.
G.. shoot. in the first two weeks of
APRIL 1915, than the entire United
states showed for the whole year OF
III Winthrop is only sample OF
what Is going on TO greater or less
degree over the whole country.
Rifle Clubs increase in Number.
a consideration Of riiic-club figures
for the period OF the European war
shows facts even more striking than
those touching ten-year period. AZ
the beginning OF the war there were
30 civilian clubs in the United States.
single year saw the number more
than doubled, !eaping by the end O.
1915 10 total of 639. Il gain OF 363.
In the few months OF 1916 that have
passed, almost 800 additional civilian
clubs have joined the ranks, so that
the total to-day shows we'll over 100,
With the rate OF increase higher than
ever April. 1915 the last month for
which complete returns are available,
broke All records. with l4o new clubs
for the month.
The rifle clubs are under the joint
administration and supervision Of the
National Rifle Association and the War
Department. The National Rifle Asse-
citation is an institution forty-fve
years old. which was organized with the
idea OF developing target shooting as
a sport, long before the preparedness
problem arose. Government recogni-
ton OF the movement also came in the
days when the sporting angle OF the
program was still uppermost in the
minds of most Of the affiliated clubs.
although officials OF the Department
were doubtless influenced in their
recommendations TO Congress entirely
by the value OF rifle practice in train
ing Il citizen for possible military SER
vice. 1t is only within the last two
years that the preparedness factor OF
the movement has completely over
Swallowed it's sporting side.
The original act of Congress au-
thoriZinE the issue OF rifles and am
munition was passed In 1905, and re-
enacted in modified form in 1914
The government arsenalS had on hand
O large supply Of the army Kraes 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 n late and efficient model
There was also much ammunition on
hand--even to-day there are 30,000,000
rounds Of Krag cartridges available, n
supply large enough to last almost in
definitely under the old circumstances.
although the end of II is i'm sight If
the civilian clubs continue 10 burn 1t
UP at the present rate. BY putting
this great stock of shooting material
in the hands of the people. the gov
eminent gave every citizen Il chance to
make himself Il rineman at little cost.
Ten Men md Range Necessary.
In order to organize q rifle club and
get Il certificate of membership in the
National Rifle Association all that is
necessary Is q preliminary membership
of ten men who want to learn to shoot,
and a range to do the shooting. The
government will issue KraEs to each
club in ratio of at least one rifle to
every five men free Of charge as well
as an annual supply of 40 rounds of
ammunition u each member. Practi-
caly all of the clubs, of course shoot
Il great deal more than this, and the
government sells additional ammuni-
ton to them Mt the rate OF SIS n 1000
rounds. which Is about half what it
originally cost to manufacture.
Scores OF clubs have been organized
in every state in the Union. They
have been organized In all our insuiar
possessions, in Porto Rico AMI 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
individual club in its choice of arms.
Some of them are not content with
the old Krass, and prefer to pay for
the current model SpringHelds and