Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-06-27


NS;NHy its toll of German victims, for the
r: .s. s.'s.. . ~-." ape. ., .
The American is a hunter by tradition. 1t is in
his blood because his father and grandfather be-
fore him the wilderness with the old muzze-
loader. Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett and
Kit Carson all old friends of his. The wild
West is familiar territory, even though he may
never have crossed the Mississippi For he has
read the tales of trappers and hunters ana prac-
ticed them small scale in the woods out
side his village.
The American is marksman by training
What boy has not spent long days in the woods
with gun in his hands? What youth, excepting
only some born and reared in the largest cities.
has not home night in triumph With a
bag of cottontails?
The third reason why Sammy sticks TO his rifle
in the trenches is that it is the best military arm
in the world.
For these three reasons. then-because the rifle
is his weapon by tradition and by training and
because the he carries is the best manufac-
tured-our infantryman backs the rifle against the
hand grenade and the bayonet lie can use any
OF the three but for choice give him a clean 600
yard shot at moving spot of gray outlined
against the dun Flanders background of a scar
torn hill
1t has been acknowledged for years that the
American regular army, small though it was prior
to 1917, is the finest body of marksmen in any
army. Our teams competing at Camp Perry ana
at Rfsley against the best shots of Europe and
the western hemisphere proved conclusively that
the superiority still rests with
army the most perfect military rifles pro-
duced. These the Springfield model of 1908
and the 1917 model both of which beyond
question better guns than those used by any other
army in the world. The cartridges for these
weapons the best in Orders have
been placed for 100000 rifles. The production
averages $4,000 a week, sufficient o equip
three divisions. One billion cartridges have been
ordered for practice in the training camps Our
manufacture of rifle cartridges excels in amount
that of any other country. One firm alone turned
ont 12oOOO,OOO during month
The policy of the government has been to APP
propriate about $13 a year for the rife practice
Of each soldier in the army Target ranges have
been built in all parts of the country These
Were available not only for the of the army
and the National Guard but also for rifle associ-
ntfcns.
Germany has not been able TO do this With
a standing army great the maintained
by the kaiser in peace times, an appropra-
ton would have interfered with other plans. If
S13 year had been spent ammunition for
rife practice of each man in the German standing
army and reserve. the Teutons would be far bet
ter shots than they are today. But this gain
would be at the expense of the funds necessary
for the supply of munitions the general staff
accommodating against the day of need. Prior to
the war the German soldier fired only about II
ball cartridges year the range
The rifle ranges in Europe few and inferior.
Land is far too valuable to permit of much be-
ing used for such purpose. Scarcely any of these
ranges suitable for practice at a distance of
over 400 yards. An appropriation of $13 to the
for ammunition would not have made Eu-
ropean soldiers anything like expert
The lack Of opportunity to shoot under the field
conditions, which the foundation of good
riheman's work in actual battle stress, would
necessarily have debarred this.
The American is hunter. He used to be a
rheman from necessity, since his safety and his
food depended on his skill He is now one from
choice. There few of yungsters who do
not own or have to ID rifle, and but few
who do not get occasional chance to use a
shotgun. The hunting instinct is still strong in
rs 1t is estimated that about 35OOOOO sports
men in this country hunt every year with rifle
a shotgun
Even in fhickly settled districts game is still
pfentlful enough TO offer enticing sport. The IL
cense fee is small. amounting usually to only 81
Ammunition is cheaper here than elsewhere. The
finest and least costly rnachinemade guns are
produced In this country Most important, we
have no established aristocracy which controls the
shooting preserves. to the exclusion OF the gem
eral public.