The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-06-13

ever, congress authorized the participation OF
teams composed OF members Of civilian rifle clubs
which are organized under the national board
for the promotion of rife practice In the war
department. At the outbreak of the war with
Germany there were In the United States more
than 1000 Of these clubs with an aggregate in
dividual membership Of about 100000.
During the war the membership OF many OF
these clubs was decimated by volunteer enlist
ments and the draft, but since the armistice and
the rehabilitation of the troops most Of the
clubs have become more active than ever before.
The opening Of the National Matches to
civilian and rifemen has proved a wonderful
impetus to rife practice as a sport, and the eff
feet Of this policy, together with that Of the
government in fostering the organization of rifle
clubs. were apparent In the records Of American
craftsmanship made on the fields Of France.
Two Teams From Each State.
Under the laws controlling the government
connections. a National Guard team and q civil.
ian team from each state are authorized to at
tend the matches. These teams are named by
the governor of the state, who may select the
nersonnel Of the teams through competition or
according to geographical distribution, or arbi-
trarily. In addition to the two teams authorized,
as many additional teams as desired may en-
ter the competitions at their own expense.
The National Matches since their inception
and until 1918, have been held either upon a
UnlIeu SldlCS amy VI " $500 ~ASS 1HAo
wear. however, the championships will be de-
c,ded upon a United States navy range.
For the past ten years the navy has made
every effort to develop It's bluejackets into good
riAemen. on the theory that proficiency with
small arms contributes In a large degree to pro-
Hciency in handling huge naval rifles, developing
among the men physical control and co-ordina-
tion of mind and body-a principle which found
enthusiastic supporters In Secretary Daniels and
Assistant Secretary Franklin d. Roosevelt. There
fore. when war was declared against Germany,
the Office of g%unnery exercise Of the navy de-
partment lost no time In enlarg1ng the scope OF
its courses In craftsmanship.
The development Of this activity took the
form Of establishing q chain Of rifle ranges
the principal stations being at Caldwell, N. j.
the largest of the chain; Wakefield, Mass;
Cane May, N. j.; Peekskill, N. Y; Great Lakes,
near Chicago; Glenn Burnie. Md. Virginia Beach,
Va Mount Pleasant, 8. c., and San Diego, Cal.
On these ranges corps Of trained instructors not
only saw TO It that the seamen from the battle
chin fleets we're trained In handling Of arms. but
took on the work of instructng any army recruits
that were sent to them. In addition to this, and
in connection with the range chain. Secretary
Daniels threw open the facilities Of the navy
shooting camps to citizens, urging all civilians
70 visit the ranges anu learn to shoot.
Recognizing the service which the navy has
nerformed In the cause Of rife practice toward
hr,nuing the United States agaiL to its tradl.
t,oral place In the forefront Of nations as marks
mon the national board for the promotion of
r,Ne practice recommended that the secretary of
,war accept an offer made by the secretary Of
Tho navy of one Of the big navy ranges for use
during the National Matches In 1919. Approving
this recommendation. the secretary Of war ten
dered the invitation to thu navy 20 Conduct the