Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-05-03
EVERY AMERICAN
SHOULD KNOW
HOW TO SHOOT
It is Necessary That Every
Soldier Can Shoot
=" --s.
Straight.
(By Peter p. Carney. Editor
National Sports Syndicate.

Il wan every American sololer 10
be able to shoot"
points from the lips Of Com
mander of the American forces
abroad-General John j. Pershing.
Every American soldier should be
able to shoot-and shoot straight
and so should every American. This
feeling is becoming more prevalent
every day. The Learn To Shoot idea
is travelling fast. The National Shoot
ing associations are doing their ut
most to encourage every one to take
up shooting as a means of recreation
and protection. Quite naturally the
government approves.
No mar is sent to the firing line un-
til he is a qualified marksman. No
man can learn to shoot in a day or a
month. 1t takes considerable study
and a long time to make a man a
good shot with a rifle or shotgun. 1t
takes a long time to develop an efec-
tive army when men u be taught
to shoot after enlistment.
Learn to Shoot.
Every boy and man in Switzerland
knows how to shoot and there is no
valid reason why every American
should not be able to shoot. 1t is
compulsory that the Swiss learn to
shoot. a boy at the age of seven is
given a CUR and taught how to use it.
Every one must serve some time in
the army; several weeks each year.
and in this period of time one demon
strates his fitness.
There is no need of compulsory leg
islation on this point in the United
States, for Americans are fully awake
to the fact that they must Learn To
Shoot. knowing how to shoot is the
best form Of preparedness. Since the
advent of America into the World
War Home Defense Guards have been
in every State: the National
lease on life and the trapshooting
clubs have become places OF the ut
most importance. Working on the
same line as the Home Defense is the
National Association Of Shot Gun
Owners.
In places the Home Defense Corps
has been supplied with rifles but in a
great number of places this aux5l;ar.
defense has been equipped with shot
guns. Rifles can be- used Only On the
ranges. ShotgUns can he used more
often because long-distsnce shoe. ng
or heavy execution AT short range is
chusetts Home Defense Corps r
fully equipped with shotgunk. the
police in many cities nave been sup
piled with Eios guns and 10 % a mean
Der Of the National assccia, On OF
Shot Gun Owners il Ia Necessary TO
a gun and have 80 rounds Of am
munition-
Learn 10 s1spof-
All these things make shooters.
Then the National g5ns association
has spread s.oadezSs th4 Ge%claration:
Teach the 4nnertzr boy and
young rnan 10 handle any weapon
shoot"
The main 5dez 5s 20 educate every
one 10 shoot before Tbs government,
has to CO J. Z government is nov
Developing snootsnz m it. many
branches, Effes are g%1t exclusively
in the Trenches. fsgt ;h5s may not al
Tays 81 the csze. IN hsn been sug-
gested thai tra,@ne~,Hrs s,e placed in.
the front-E ne trenches during the day
time TO shno. at ths break hand gren-
sfe. before they reach their dcstina-
ton.
This has been tired and 1t was
found That Il good .rapxhooter had no
diflcuity in tagging the grenades
and exploiting them in the air. There
are upward of 100. 900 ira pshooters in
h Vat o1al Army. From this num-
Der General Pershing and his staff
should be able 10 sci act many first
class trap shots who could step into
the frst line trenches and with scat
ter EuHa play havoc with the hand
grenades thrown by the Huns. This
NEE na that the shotgun will play an
important part in warfare in the flu
Learn to Shoot.
Getting down to brass tackA we
need a c%it'zenry trained in arms. The
government realizes this--so does the
great inhnstriaI establishments. The
Western Electric company, the Penn
sylvanta Railroad company and the
S%hipbuildiBg corporations that are
turn ng out the great fleet for the
government are firm believers in hav-
ing their employees know how TO han
die firearms. There are IS gun. clubs
on the system OF the Pennsylvania
railroad. At nearly every one OF the
will be found q regularly
gun. club.
Trapshoottng is encouraged by
these organizations not only AZ q pa
tri0tIc sport. q means Of recreation
and a healthful exercise. but ~ q duty
that everyone should perform Be-
ing able TO shoot means that one y
better able to protect himseif, his
home and his country.
The war Department 10 erecting 81
traps, purchasing n million targets
week, and making trapshcoting one
Of tho courses h instructiOn m the
g0S,a.~ aoNoo1a and the militia Fva neh00lS