The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-06-20

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 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 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. q 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,
as many additional teams as desired may en-
Ter. the competitions at their own expense.
The National Matches since their inception
and until 1913, have been held either upon a
limited States army or Il Sldte Tlue range. lHS
wear. however, the championships will be de-
cided upon a United States navy range.
For the past ten years the navy has made
everv effort to develop It's bluejackets into good
rinemen, on the theory that proficiency with
small arms contributes In a large degree to pro-
0ciency In handling huge naval rifles, developing
among. the men physical control and co-ordina-
ton 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 ~enlarging the scope Of
IT'S courses In craftsmanship.
The development of this activity took the
form of establishing a chain of rifle ranges
the principal stations being at Caldwell, N. j.,
tho largest of the chain; Wakefield, Mass.
Cane Nav. N. j.; Peekskill, N. Y; Great Lakes,
near Chicago; Glenn Burnie. Md. Virginia Beach,
Va Mount Pleasant, S. c., and San Diego, Cal.
IN these ranges corps Of trained instructors not
on,v saw to il that the seamen from the battle
shin fleets were trained In handling of arms, but
took ON the work of instructing 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 and learn to shoot.
Recognizing the service which the navy has
nerformed In the cause of rifle practice toward
bringing the United States again to its tradi.
tional place In the forefront Of nations as marks
men,. the national board for the promotion Of
rife practice recommended that the secretary of
war accept an offer made by the secretary of
the 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 the navy to conduct the
competitions. When Secretary Daniels accepted
for his department, he placed the conduct Of the