Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-09
WITH THE
RIFLE CLUBS

The regiment of caploufieurs. the cath
Engineer Regiment. stationed at Ameri-
can University. inaugurated a series OF
| rife practice days last week at the
! small range under Polls Theater.
Some of the men are former members
| of state National Guard units and are
good shots. While the members of. the
reg iment viii not have to handle rife
while practicing the art OF deception OF
the Hun Eunners over there. general
knowledge of military training is in.
cluded in their course of instruction.
Eastern Market was reopened Wednes-
day, after having been closed for a
week on account OF repairs being made
to the butts and electric lighting sys-
TEN. The butts on the range are the
cause of frequent shutdowns because
of the concentrate cone OF IRE each
target sustains Interclub matches be-
tween teams of the government depart
ments are being planned to be held at
the range this winter.
practically all the rife clubs in the
United states volunteered their serv-
ices to the United States shortly after
the declaration OF war;. says Arms ana
tba Man ..Son,e of the members volun-
tee-ed at the first call for men. Others
were taken by the seiective dras
Therefore IN every cantonment ana IN
every mobilization camp today there is
use OF the service rlhe-
when the call came to the coiors
civilian rifle club located In middle
" estern state sent SIX men INTO serN,
ice with the federalized National
Guard. One of them was veteran OF
many years service. a man of long ex-
periepce In the shooting game and one
who was counted the best shot in
Iaree rifle cub. The company was
broken I'M in the course of reorganiza-
ton and the rifieman. trained in wind
and weat her doping, holder OF an en-
yiable record on the rifle range. mas
as mule driver. There Is little doubt
that INQUIRY would disclose just as
many instances where men trained IN
rife shooting have been assigned TO
work which could be done as Wen py
an absolute'y green recruit as where
previous training in rifle practice is
being recognized. 1t would be well Tor
the comma flder of each company in the
new forces to concern himself with
findinK out who among the enlisted
nersonnel of the unit he commands has
had previous training with the rife ana
TO encourage each man to report what
ever special qualifications he possesses
for specialized service. In addition to
this each man called into service who
has had previous training with the
military arm should see that his COM
handing officer is made aware of the
fact. II these things are done. in
stances such as that typifed in the
case of the expert rifleman who is now
driving mules will be reduced TO
minimum.
While commencing certain rife clubs
all over the country for their patriot
ism in sending men to the colors, the
Washington Rifle Club must not be
overlooked. This organization, before
the outbreak of the war the largest
single rifle club in the country. has
contributed more than 10 men to the
military service of the United States.
several of whom are oficers.
Competitions to determine the COM
pany champions in the Home Defenee
Learue Rifles will soon be begun, ace
cordinx to Capt Alpheus Winter. SUI
pervisor of rife practice Of the rides.