Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-09-10
TO QUARTER CIVILIANS

Arrangements have been made to quarter the civilians desiring to stay lt the range for a day or more. At all the ranges there are cantonments or tent camps and forthose staying overnight, cots will be provided in comfortable quarters, the only thing the citizen is required to provide be- ing his own blankets. Meals will be served at the regular mess for twenty five cents for one meal, or fifty cents a day, the food being the regular ra- tion issued to men in the service. Men going to the ranges should carry mess gear (mess pan, knife, fork, spoon and 'cup) if possible, but such gear will be issued those who come unprovided. The same is true of dungarees sover- alls) which will be issued if available, to those men who do not bring their own.
 A full course of instruction and practice leading to the qualification of expert riflemen can be taken in a short time over the ranges. There are three qualifying courses, mafksmen, sharp shooter and expert rifiemen; and as the student qualities in one course he is privileged to begin the next until all have been taken. Records of firing will be keut and will be regularly fur nished to organizations when so de- sired. Individuals will be furnished with certificates of qualification.
 HAVE AN INSTRUCTOR.
 The permanent range force at each of the navy establishments provides an instructor at each firing point, tele- phone men, and officers and petty of- ticers in charge of the butts. Markers in butts may be detailed from among the transients and such men as are not engaged in firing will be available for such other duties as may be assigned by the comnonding officer of the range.
 The ranges are equipped with both Springfield and Enfield rifles. The course for civilians will be shot, at first. with the Endfield rife, which is the type int use by the army abroad and supplementary courses will be shot with the Springfield.
 A special course in machine gum nery is available to limited number of men, extending over the period of a week. New classes in machine gun nery will be formed each week from among those who have qualified with the rife and desire the further train- ing. This course will include all the types of machine guns now in use Colts. Lewis, Browning, and Marlin types.
 At the same time that this instrrc- tion of civilians is carried on, naval range officers expect to materially in- crease the capacity of the ranges, by using them without stopping as long as daylight is sufficient for firing. At present. the normal capacity of a range is considered as ten men for each target available, but this can be doubled, range officers say. by using the targets without stop at the noon hour and continuing the firing until dusk, double shift of instructors and range. men being used. The ranges will not be closed during the winter but will be open to civilians from the present time until the conclusion of the war, unless the order is counter manded, practice being held every day, including Sunday.
 All organizations or individuals de- siring to enter are requested to write or telephone the range nearest them and NOT write to the Navy Depart ment at Washington, which already is receiving volume of necessary mail that taxes it's capacity. All informa- tion can be obtained by addressing the commanding officer of the range near est the applicant. In cases where it is possible to appear in person at the range. this is even more desirable than writing.