Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-10

point-is from the lips of the Com nander of the American forces abroad General John J. Pershing.
 Every American soldier should be able to, shoot-and shoot straight-I 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 l most to encourage every one to take 1 up shooting as a means of recreation | and protection. Quite naturally the l Government approves.
 No man is sent to the firing line until he is qualified naarksman.. No man can learn to shoot in day or month. It takes considerable study and long time to make a man a good shot with rifle or shotgun. It takes a lcng time 10 develop an effective 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 rot be able to shoot. It is compulsory that the Swiss learn to shoot. A boy at the age of seven is given a gun 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 formed in every State; the National Rifle Association has taken Ia new lease on life and the trapshooting clubs have become places of the utmost 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 auxiliary defense has been equipped with shot guns. Rifles can be used only on the ranges. Shotguns can be used more often because long distance shooting or heavy execution at short range is unnecessary. New York and Massa.- chusetts Home Defense Corps are fully equippd with shot guns. The police Tn many cities have been supplied with riot guns and to be member of the National Association of Shot Gun Own CTS it is necessary to own a gun and Learn to Shoot.
 All these things make shooters. Then the National Rife Association has spread broadcast this declaration:
 "Teaeh the American boy and young man to handle any weapon which is availabIe-but teach him
 to shoot"
 The main idea is to educate every one to shoot before the Government has ] to do it. The Government is now de- veloping shooting in it's many branches. Rifles are used exclusively in the trenches, but this may not always be the case. It has been suggested that trapshooters be placed in the front line trenches during the day time to shoot at the break hand grenades before they reach their destination.
 This has been tried and it was found that a good trapshooter had no diff culty in bagging the grenades and ex- | ploding them in the air. There are up- ward of 100, DOG trapshooters in the National Army. From this number 1 General Pershing and his staff should be able to select many first class trap shots who step into the first-line trenches and with scatter guns play 1 by. the Huns. This means that the shotgun will play an important part in warfare in the future.
 Learn to Shoot.
 1 Getting down to brass tacks. we need 3. citizenry trained in arms. The Gov ernment realizes this-so does the great 1 industrial establishments. The West ern Electric Company, the Pennsyl- 1 vania Railroad Company, and the Ship building Corporations that are turning i out the great fleet for the Government are firm believers in having their em- ployees i7now how to handle firearms There are 35 gun clubs on the system i of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Al
 nearly every one of the shipyards will
 be found a regularly organized gur
 club.
 1 Trapshooting is encouraged by these
 organiza ations not only as a patriotic sport. a meanss of recreation and g healthfuT exercise, but a duty that
 every one should perform. Being able to shoot means that one is better able
 to protect himself, his home and his country.
 The War Department is erecting 8t traps, purchasing one million targets {
 week and making trapshooting one o.
 the courses in instruction in the flying
 schools and the military schools O.
 aeronautics. showed that 1t is giving
 considerable attention to the shotgun
 and its mission. Traps are in use a all of the flying schools, where ever1 pupil shoots at 50 clay targets eacf
 week, and at the military schools O aeronautlcs, as well as in some O
 the cantonments. No greater testi
 monial in favor of the Learn To Shoo idea could be given than this.
 TraDshooting will come through tn,
 war as the sport of the nation, !;
 heaEhful and patriotic sport; pas
 time that has a solid foundation
 something that every one should do a, a matter of preparedness-and iv, } that much longer by doing it