The Washington herald., 1918-04-21
WOMEN SEEKING
SHOOTING JOBS
Amateur Champions After
War Department to Give
Them Instructor Jobs.

That fighting spirit so charac-
terisic OF Americans Is just as pro-
nounced among women as men.
American women are aiding the
United States and its allies in NUM-
berless ways so that the conquest
Of the Central Powers may be COM
plete-and they will cheerfulIy give
further assistance in this fight for
democracy and world freedom II
they are permitted.
This remark is made adVisedly
because Annie Oakley (Mrs. Frank
E. Butler), and Mrs. l. G. Vogel.
two of the most expert shooters of
the so-called weaker sex. have
offered their services to the War
Department as instructors OF the
shooting art.
II the Secretary OF War doesn't
see fit to secure her services, for
which she asks no compensation,
Miss Oakley is eager to visit the
many cantonments and give ex-
hibitions of her prowess with the
rifle and shotgun and in this way
show the recruits the best methods
OF getting quick results.
Miss Oakley is quite enthusiastic.
too, about the formation of a regi-
ment of women for home defense
purposes. Publication OF this ex-
preston OF thought brought her
more than 1000 letters from wom-
en- who are anxious to join such a
regiment. Miss Oakley gave an
struction in shooting to more than
5000 women during the 1916-19l7
seasons at Portsmouth, n. H, and
Pinehurst, n. c., where she conduct
ed schools.
Mrs. vogel resides in Detroit and
for years has been considered the
best amateur target breaker Of
the fair Dianas. She would like to
secure an appointment as an in
structo of shooting at an army
cantonment or at an aviation
school.
TT is the ambition of my life to
serve my country in this way"
writes Mrs. VOgel. "and 1 am pre-
pared to answer a Government
summons this minute. People used
to laugh at me-" continues Mrs.
vogel, when I was a little girl be-
cause my Christmas presents al
ways came from a hardware store.
1 can be of service to my country
now because Of those presents of
hardware.
shotgun shooting is grand
help toward shooting a rife. The
shotgun can be used around any
city. while an army rife can only
be fired when on the range, SO when
shooting finally becomes a neces-
sity in training camps most of the
practicing will be fione with shot
guns.
81 am positive that IL they give
the trapshooter a chance some
body will know the United States
is in the war.
TT is to be hoped that the plans
for instructing aviators in shoot
ing at moving objects with the
shotgun will develop the prime ne
cessity of any fighting force-a
corps OF aviators who can be
trusted to bring down the planes
Of the enemy. 1t can not be denied
that participation in the sport
steadIes the nerves and teaches the
marksman to hit something that is
on the move. Soldiers say that
trapshooting helps"
There was a time when trapshoot-
ing was a sport exclusively for men
and boys. That was before women
discovered fresh air and sunshine was
the undertaker's greatest enemy
Now there are hundreds of fair Di-
anas who saTpass many men in their
ability to she tier clay targets Wom-
ems eyes seem to possess a keenness
for quickly developing skill at the
sport which they are finding so at
tractive.
Women have shown great prof.
cheney OF late years in the art of
shooting. and in 1917 championships
for the fair Dianas were held in
fourteen States. 1t will or, he a
matter Of a few years when there
will be l women's trapshOoting event
in each ;'n:c. There aIt many wom-
ems shooting club5 and nearly all
gun clubs admit 'voncr to member
ship.
Some women have made exception
al headwh. in the art of shooting
Take the case of Mrs. Eeile G. Earle,
Of New York City. for instance. Mrs.
Earle took her first lesson with the
trap gun at the trapshootIng school
on the MIlllon-Dollar Pier, Atlantic
City. n. J.. on September II. 1916.
One month later she was able to
break 50 per cent OF the targets she
shot at: two months instruction and
she was breaking 81 per cent, and
IN three months broke so per cent
Now Mrs. Earle is instructing be-
ginners.
When fair woman takes to a sport
she masters 1t. and the woman who
can handle a gun in these times is
a real help to the country.
Every woman should learn TO shoot