New-York tribune., 1919-07-28
National Rifle
Matches Aug. Is,
Despite Flood
Caldwell, N. j., Range, Under
Water, Will Be Fully
Drained; Bathing Suits
Army Mems Chief Attire

CALDWELL, n. j., July 27-A
bursting dam at Morristown, followed
by an angry. rising river, the Passaic,
which overflowed its banks and made
the roads surrounding the navy rifle
range here miniature rivers. will not
prevent the holding of the national
rifle championship matches next
month. TAe main matches, conducted
2y the United States government, the
Var ard Navy departments co-operat-
ing, viii be from August Is to 80,
inclusive.
Previous to these events the
matches of the National Rifle Associa-
ton of America and the international
small bore match between England
and America for the Dewar Trophy
Will be held. The matches will start
on August T.
The navy rifle range, six miles
from Caldwell, was turned into an
American Venice by the rain. The
transformation revolutionized the
mode Of life of the 1900 sailors,
marines and soldiers
Yesterday representative of The
Tribune visited the range.
Naval officers. in bathing trunks,
marines, soldiers and sailors in Co.'S
tunes of their own design, waded
about the range in the water we'll
above their knees. There is only one
boat at the camp.
Lieutenant Budde, publicity officer
at the range, led the way to headquar-
ters.
Colonel William c. Harlee. of the
Marine Corps, executive officer in
charge of the matches, was positive
in his statements that the matches
would be held.
I'VE were a week ahead of our
schedule" said the colonel, when the
flood came and put us back week.
Now we are even. The water is go
are 1900 men in camp ready to start
drainage operations if it doesn't go
down fast enough"
Colonel Harllee told about the ma
tional matches. They were first held
at Fort Riley, Kansas, in 1903, and
later at Seagrit, N, J., Camp Perry,
Ohio, and at jacksonville, Fla. They
are being held for the first time this
year at Caldwell, n. J. During the
carly years Of tho matches there were
few teams entered, but next month ma
tlonal guard and civilian teams from
each state, from each Of the terri
torial possessions of the United States,
he Philippine Islands, Porto Rico,
Alaska and Hawaii, and team from
The A. f. F., which recently won the
nter-Alled competition, will take part.
Competition was opened TO civilian
teams in 1916.
In only two years, 1912 and 1917,
the national matches did not take
place. In the former year divisional
matches, which were not very success
full, were held, and in 1917 the war
prevented any matches. The range
at Caldwell, which probably will be
the largest in the world, excepting the
proposed range at Camp Benning, Ga,
was built entirely by navy men. Work
was started last July under the di
rection Of Lieutenant A. II. Jenkins,
who is still at the range.
The national matches consist of the
national team match, the national IN
dividual match and the national pistol
match (individual) The most impor-
tant of the three is the national team
match. Among the most important Of
the preliminary matches, conducted by
the National Rifle Association, are the
Wimbledon Cup match (long range
championship, the Leech Cup match,
the Marine Corps Cup match and the
Presidents match. These events are
open to any individual in the United
States.
In conjunction with the matches an
exhibition by airplanes from Mineola
will be staged. There also will be
placed on exhibition about eighty-sev
carloads of army exhibits, representing
every phase OF equipment used in
France, some being shown for the first
time. An open-air theatre for the
ente rta nment of visitors and COM
petitors, to seat 10000, is under con-
struction