The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-20
TEACH BOYS TO SHOOT,
ADVISES GEN. WINGATE
of Public School Athletic League Thinks Lads
Should Be Trained in Use Of Rifles as Part
of National Preparedness Plan.

though this is the first experience many
Of them have with this rifle, or In firing
at distances over fifty feet they are
found to display q degree OF skill July
equal to that Of a National Guardsman.
During the yea 1915 more tina
1000 boys practised regularly In these
competitions, 3O2 Of whom qualified as
The Wingate trophy. which goes to the
school qualifying the greatest percent
age OF marksmen. was won by Morris
High. with IS marksmen and 81 sharp
shooters.
"This movement has extended all over
the country. so that the National Rifle
Association has announced that there
have been organized and affiliated with
II 81 high school rifle clubs. 81 college
and university clubs. 10 private prepar.
atory school clubs. 80 military school
rife clubs and nine boys clubs. a large
number OF simultaneous matches be-
tween the different rife clubs have been
organized which are taking place on the
rifle ranges OF the different organiza-
tons and In which a high degree Of skill
Is displayed.
There are more than 10000 younr
men. the cream of the country. who are
graduated from the high schools every
year. and the number Of those who are
not graduated. but who could he taughi
to shoot while In the high schools. is
three times as large. II these younr
men were trained TO become good marks.
men with the rife there would be added
TO our defensive strength within "A few
years several hundred thousand skilled
rihemen at "A triflirg expense. There
need not be- apprehension with regard IL
any difficulty In inducing these boys &C
learn 10 shoot. They are deeply inter
ested in II. Moreover. Il Is very bene.
fetal to them.
"What has been accomplished in this
matter has been without help from tn.
Government. but despite the obstacles
which have been created by the laws
passed by Congress. which the cxrrtion.
Of Gen. Wood and the army experts, who
are a unit In supporting this idea Of
training our boys. has been unable &c
remove.
"Tench Them { shoot"
! Our people should give weighty con.
sideration to the instructions which wer,
Issued by Lord Kitchener at the out.
break OF the present war with respect
10 drilling the new troops which Grea'
Britain had been forced TO raise to NEE
the emergency. He said Never mint
whether they know anything about drill
- 'b'"A ~ INV uoH 7 klON
their right foot from their left. Teach
them how to shoot. and do Il quickly
1T seems to me hat the time ha,
come for tho States and the Govern
ment TO recognize the necessity OF thi,
Instruction. and that the Government
should provide the rifles and ammunition
necessary whenever the principal ant
teachers Of "a school or the city authori
ties are willing 10 have their boys raine
to attempt TO rival their Revolutionar,
ancestors In their ability to defend the!
country against an invader. In add
I ton. non-commissioned officers OF III,
regular army should be- detailed to ac
as Instructors IN The armories and othe'
! places In the different cities where rif,
galleries can he constructed or alread,
exist, tn instruct the schoolboys who ma,
he sent there.
FINALLY. the construction Of rife gal
lories and ~ ranges 600 or 3oo yard,
IN leug'h In different SECTIONS shout,
be treated az an important part ~ ma
tional defence and should y. encouraged
as was that ~ ancient archery In J;rea
Britain. when every village was re
uuired tn have its butts at which al
boys over the age Of IL were required
to practise every Sunday system
which has been carried on In Switzer
land IN 10 the present day and consti
tu'os the great hulwark 81 the inde
pendcuce which hat little state has al
ways enioyed. although surrounded h.
powerful nations"