Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-06-19

ever, congress authorized the participation OF
teams composed of members of civilian rifle clubs
which are organized under the national board
for the PROMOTE of rifle 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 rifle practice as a sport, and the ef-
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 a 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
personnel of the teams through competition or
according to geographical distribution, or arbi-
trarily. In addition to the two teams authorized,
rs many additional teams as desired may en-
fer the competitions at their own expense.
The National Matches, since their inception
and until 1918, have been held either upon a
limited States army or a state rifle range. This
voer however, the championships will be de-
cided upon a United States navy range.
Tor the past ten years the navy has made
every effort to develop its blueJackets into good
riAemen, on the theory that proficiency with
small arms contributes in a large degree to pro
fciency 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 ID. Roosevelt. There
fore when war was declared against Germany,
the Office Of gunnery exercise Of the navy de-
nartment lost no time in charging the scope Of
its courses In craftsmanship.
The development Of this activity took the
form of establishing a chain OF rifle ranges
The nrincipal stations being at Caldwell, N. J.,
tba largest of the chain; Wakefield, Mass.
Cane MAY. N. j.; Peekskil, N. T.; Great Lakes
near Chicago; Glenn Burnie. Nd; Virginia Beach
Va Mount Pleasant, s. c., and San Diego, Cal
IN these ranges corps of trained instructors moi
only saw 10 it that the seamens from the bnttie
shin fleets were trained in handling Of arms, but
took ON the work Of instructing any army recruit:
that were sent to them. In addition to this, ant
in connection with the range chain, Secretar!
Don,els threw open the facilities of the nav.
shooting camps to citizens, urging all CIVILIAN
to visit the ranges and learn to shoot.
Recognizing the service which the navy ha
performed in the cause Of rife practice towar
bringing the United States again to Its trad
tional Mace in the forefront of nations as marks
man. the national board for the promotion 9
rife practice recommended that the secretary 9
war accept an offer made by the secretary 9
NJ navy Of one Of the big navy ranges for US
during the National Matches in 1919. Approyin
thIs recommendation. the secretary Of war ter
dered the invitation to the navy to conduct n
competitions. When Secretary Daniels accepte
for his department, he placed the conduct q %