Evening star., 1916-08-06
Army and Navy Union Club
Numbers Thousand Members,
Is Claim of the Promoters

las. February fifteen men got to-
sether and under the guidance of Col.
NJ A Winter drew up the articles and
bylaws of the Army and Navy Union
Rife Club, civilian organization de-
voted to the purpose of familiarizins
the average citizen with the usages
and purposes of the modern high-pow-
er military rifle. Since that time un-
der the SPUR of the mighty wave of
preparedness, which has swept over
the country the club has grown until
today its promoters claim to be the
largest single rife club in the country.
embracing a thousand members from
all walks of life in the capital city.
For some time the members had
trouble in getting the use of a range:
but in April the club was authorized
by Congress and since that time has
been assigned TO the use of the gov
ernment range at Winthrop. Md, and
to the free use of government ammuni-
ton The members make the trip to
the range once week and enter into
competitive shoots in which all the
companies enter their best shots.
Some of the members have enlisted.
or were already enlisted at the time of
mobilization. in the National Guard OF
the District
This is an individual matter, as no
man when he joins the club is put un-
der any form of obligatory military
excellence as sharpshooter liable to
be called TO the defense of the coun-
try sooner than any other person. The
members are given, when at the arnge,
a free gun and the services of an in
structor of the United States Marine
Corps. who thoroughly fsmiliarizes
the rookie with the kinks and
knacks of rife shooting.
Erroneous Impression Dispelled.
Some people have the idea that the
kick or recoil of the high-power
rifle is so great as to make the shoot
ing an obnoxious affair, which is an
erroneous conclusion. it is said. for the
kick amounts to nothing more than
a small drawing back of the shoulder
AS the club furnishes a shoulder pad
no inconvenience is felt on this score
Under the army bill, which is now in
Congress and has passed the Senate.
member Of one OF the branches of the
service is to be appointed to be the
head of all the civilian rifle clubs
authorized by the War Department
and is to have the rank and pay of a
colonel. Capt. W. q. Harlee of the
United States Marine Corps has been
proposed as the man 1Or the position.
on account of his wide experience in
instructing civilians in rifle practice
and has been detailed by the Navy
Department TO work up civilian rife
practice.
The officers OF the Army and Navy
Union Rife Club are working TO
build up model club for the whole
country ana expects TO send a good
team 10 the national rifle match at
Jacksonville. Fla. this fall. to which
all rife clubs send their best teams
TO compete with the star shots Of rhe
various branches Of the service
The members are divided into four
classes, according 10 lheir relative
shooting ability at the different ranges.
The rockies who have not qualified in
any class are put In the hands Of an
Instructor and are initiated into the
me points of target shooting. The
distance at which the novices try their
sklH Is 200 yards and a score Of l51
points out Of a possible 200 Qualities
them 10 move up 70 the class above. the
fr@rHSm5n class. The shots are fired in
Two relays Of twenty each in yarious
POSITIONS, J. .. prone. kneeling, squat
Eg and standing. the first twenty
.lio:s A. slow FIRE and the next tweni.,
% nraEez,Ge FIRE. In which the space OF
tAirty seconds rs allow ed each contest
a.. u get of his hvs shots.