Trench and camp. ([Admiral, Md.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-14

The value of trapshoOtfng and the
use of the shotgun in modern warfare
have been recognized by the United
States Government, and plans have
been made for the installation OF
traps at the cantonments and avia-
ton schools.
The following letter addressed 20
the gun and ammunition interests BY
the aviation section of the Signal
Corps bespeaks the Government attn
tude:
The importance of shooting frOna
an airplaAe is brought home to rs eF-
cry day from the European front. u
IL the intention Of the aviation sec
ton Of the Signal Corps to give TIE
candidates for flying instruction ~
much practice - possible with the
shotgun, rife and machine gun.
I'm order to accomplish this In the
most desirable way we have reached
the conclusion that the shotgmR
would be the best adapted for our
purpose, and this instruction can Be
obtained readily at the fields
IF possible, We would like TO Cd"
tain the names Of men competent 10
act m Instructors, near the following
mentioned flying schools. 30 that tho
obstruction can be given without an
necessary expense or delay.
The schools are located at San
DIEGO, Cal; Houston, Tex; RantOu4
III: WAGE, Tex; EssingtOn. Pat
Fairfield, O.; Hampton. Va; Daala@s
Tex: San Antonio, Tex: Mineola, Z.
L.. n. Y: Winchita Falls. Tex; Mt
Clemen8, Mich; Bellevue, III; Fort
sill, Okla; Memphis. Tenn: Lake
Charles, La"
In answer to the above request the
gun and ammunition companies Of.
fered the services Of professional
trapghooters as instructors for what
ever length of time the Government
needs them. and also furnished the
names Of many amateur trapshooters
who ase proficient to act AZ inStruc@
tors in the GoveERment service.
AS instructors are listed rs probes.
SIGNALS In trapshooting, the Interstate
yAssoefation-the ruiing body On trap
shooting decreed that amateurs
who enter the Government service 10
give instruction in trapshoOting at the
aviation schools and cantOnmeat9
shall retain their amateur standing.
That the Government fully believes
that the shotgun and buckshot Will b
useful i'm the preliminary training Tor
this war is evidenced by the erection
OF traps at the cantonmentS at Amer
icaa Lake, Wash; Quantie0. Va. an4
Kansas City, Mo. Professionals arc
at each of these camps giving inatrae-
ton in the breaking OF the clay tar
gets. the holding and firing of the
shotgun. etc.
Traps have been placed In p0sitioa
at All of the aviation schools In Amer.
lea, and q number have been installed
In the camps Of the American aviafi0A
forces and behind the lines Of Per.
shing's army in France. Eighty-sa1
traps in ali have been purchased by
the Government. The traps sent to
France are to be used for FecreatiOn
purposes, while the ones installed In
this country are for instruction pur.
poses only.
In due course Of time traps win b
placed at every cantonment, and there
will be instructors to teach the proper
method in shooting at clay targets.
In taking mp trapsho0tfng the Gov
erAment gives voice to the opinion
that men who can handle the shotgun,
and trapshoOters. are Of material aid
in warfare.
With eighty-six traps in operation
untold quantities of clay targets win
be needed. The first order placed
was for three million, equally divided
between America and France. The
clay target makers have a standing
order for 1000 clay birds each week,
to be distributed among the various
schools and cantonmenfs.