The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-29
TRAPSHOOTINGTO.
Be ON THE BILL.
AT CANTONMENTS.
and AIR SCHOOLS.
Value of Branch of Sport
Is Recognized BY the
Government
ASK VOLUNTEERS
FOR INSTRUCTIONS
Eighty-six Traps Now In
Operation at Various
War Camps

The value Of trapshooting and the
use of the shotgun in modern war
fare have been recognized by the
United States government, and plans
have been made for the installation
Of traps at the environments and
aviation schools.
The following letter addressed to
the gun and ammunition interests by
the aviation section of the signal
corps bespeaks the government atti-
tude:
The Importance of shooting from
an airplane is brought home to us
every day from the European front.
1t is the intention of the aviation
section of the signal corps to give
the candidates for flying instruction
as much practice as possible with
the shotgun, rife and machine gun.
Shotgun Would BE Best.
IN order to accomplish this in the
most desirable way we have reached
the conclusion that the shotgun
would be the best adapted for our
purpose, and this instruction can be
obtained readily at the fields.
IF possible, We would like to OBJ
tain the names of men competent to
act as instructors, near the follow
ing mentioned flying schools, so that
the instruction can be given without
unnecessary expense or delay.
The schools are located at: San
Diego. Cal; Houston, Tex; Ran
tout, ILL.,; Waco, Tex: Essington,
Pa. Fairfield, o.; Hampton, Va;
Dallas, Tex: San Antonio, Tex;
Mineola, L. l., n. Y; Wichita Falls,
Tex: Mount Clemens, Mich; Belle
Vile, ILL.,: Fort Sill, Okla; Memphis,
Tenn; Lake Charles, La"
Many Willing to Instruct.
In answer to the above request the
gun and ammunition companies Of
fered the services Of professional
trapshooters as instructors for what
ever length Of time the government
needs them, and also furnished the
names of many amateur trapshoot-
ers who are proficient to act as in
structors in the government service.
AS instructors are listed as pro-
fessionals in traphooting the Inter
state association-the ruling body on
trapshooting-has decreed that anna
tours who enter the government SER
vice to give instruction in trapshoot-
ing at the aviation schools and can
tonments shall retain their amateur
standing.
Government Believes In Sport.
That the government fully believes
that the shotgun and buckshot will
be useful in the preliminary training
for this war is evidenced by the erec-
ton of traps at the cantonments at
American Lake, Wash; Quantico'
Va, and Kansas City, Mo. Profess
SIGNALS are at each Of these camps
giving instruction in the breaking OF
the clay targets, the holding and fir
ing of the shotgun, etc.
Traps have been placed in position
at all of the aviation schools in Am
erica, and a number have been in
stalled in the camps Of the American
aviation forces and behind the lines
of Pershing's army in France.
Eighty-siX traps in all have been
purchased by the government. The
traps sent to France are to be used
for recreation purposes, while the
ones installed in this country are for
instruction purposes only.
In due course OF time traps will
be placed at every cantonment. and
there will be instructors to teach the
proper method in shooting at clay
targets. In taking up trapshooting
the government gives voice to the
opinion that men who can handle the
shotgun, and trapshooters, are OF
material aid in warfare.
Eiahty-six Traps in Operation.
With eighty-six traps in operation
untold quantities of clay targets will
be needed. The first order placed
was for 5000, 900 equally divided be-
tween America and France. The clay
target makers have a standing order
for zoo, 900 clay birds each week, to
be distributed among the various
schools and cantonments.
The action of the government in
adopting trapshooting viii have a
beneficial effect on clay target shoot
ing when the war is over. Making
part Of the instruction
at the cantonments and aviation
schools shows that there is something
back of 1t besides sport-that 1t has
q real foundation.
Government appreciation will make
trapshooting a major sport.