Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-08
Gle Sam Has Made Marksmen in Times ofPeace

civilian rileman to render aid TO HE gov
eminent seek entrance into any OF the
buildings belonging to the Department of
the Interior. Uniformed IN khaki. stand
ing motioniess at the entrance. with rife
at rest stands a member OF the Home
Club Rifle Club. One OF the first depart
ments. after the War. State and Navy. to
refuse admittance to all save those on
necessary business. the Department OF
the Interior gave to the members Of her
civilian rifle club the task OF guarding her
doors Similar duty Is now being per-
formed by the rife club Of the Treasury
Department.
No better example OF the spirit OF the
civilian rifiemen of the country is to be
Rifle Club. Weeks before war was de-
clared all plans had been made and per-
fected, and simultaneously with the sign
ing OF the war declaration the guard went
asm Of its members which prompted the
action. for Secretary Lane stands squarely
behind their work. All the men forming
the guard are clerks in the department
and have been relieved from clerical work
to perform guard duty. three shifts
guarding the patent Office day and night.
The patent Office was destroyed by fro
after the battle OF Bladensburg. when
the British marched on the capital. and
records lost at that time have never been
replaced. So when war was declared
Secretary Lane was quick to realize the
importance OF safeguarding his buildings
and was more than ready to rely upon
the members OF the Home Club Rife Club
to do the work
OF gr<atest Importance in connection
with the action being taken by the civil
ion rifiemen OF the country is the fact
that they all know how to shoot; every
member affiliated with the N. r. A. is
said to be as good shot as the average
private in the army or navy
Rife shooting is not ''pastirne" which
appeals to those not having serious in
tention. For the most part its devotees
are business men who from sheer love OF
rifle shooting are willing to travel several
miles from town to the range. men, who.
for the sake of the smell Of the powder.
are willing to overcome the obstacles
surrounding the establishment OF q full
charge range, free from any chance OK do
ing damage to property or persons by
bullet. Not only can every man who has
taken the trouble to Join rife club. or
the n. r. A, as an individual member,
shoot as well as the average private. but
at least so per cent are marksmen or bet
ter.
AS a spur to better shooting the Ma
tional Rifle Association awards lapel
buttons to those qualifying as marks
men. sharpshooters or experts Two
courses of fire may be shot in winning
these decorations-one a modified army
course, the other modification OF the
course used in the navy. That means
A. members can enter the army OF navy
as experienced shots and not have fe
'unlearn all they ever knew"
Twenty shots slow fire and the SAME
number rapid fire, with total possibi 7
score of 200. is called for In the rnodi
fed navy course. In both slow and
rapid fire five shots each are fired prone.
kneeling, squatting and standing To
gain the marksman standing a score OF
$50 is necessary. with seyenty-fve
points won in rapid fire. To become q
sharpshooter similar score only If
necessary. the difference being in the
distance at which slow fire Is shot, as
well as the requirements as regards
position. For rapid fire a skirmish run
is substituted, also consisting OF twenty
shots.
Instead OF firing at 200 yards. as ID
done in the marksman course, he-who
would win distinction as an expert rifle.
man must shoot from 500 yards in. both
slow and rapid fire. In rapid IRE the
shooter has to change Position. with
each shot. Forty shots comprise the
entire course for experts. with score
of 40 necessary out of a possible 200.
In the modified army course the Same
course of fire Is used for all classes, the
score determining the qualification tt
which the shooter is entitled. Thrift
shots are fired. ten at 800 yards. ten a,
500 and ten at 500 yards; all shots slow
fire. prone position. Twenty shots are
required in rapid fire at 200 and 800
yards. For qualification as marksman
out of possible $50 it is necessary to
score $50: for sharpshooter, 100. and fol
expert, 210.