Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-27

Washington, d. c., Nov. 24.-The
opening OF the winter program OF gal
lery rifle matches reveals that more
people than ever are interested IN
craftsmanship 1t is estimated that
about 1000, 600 rifles are in use in
this country, and more than 200,Ooo
persons are enrolled with the National
Rlfle association.
Rifle shooting has been promoted by
the association ever since 1871 as a
preparedness measure, and now the
war department is working through a
board, IN cooperation with the associ-
alton, to stimulate interest in target
practice. National matches fired II one
large range and gallery and outdoor
small bore matches fired on compe-
ttors home ranges are held each year.
Cups. medals, and other trophies are
awarded.
But, according to the rifle board, the
government is not advocating rifle
shooting entirely in the interests of
national defense. Whether a man ever
shoulders a gun in the army or militia,
the exercise and personal development
Of target shooting are worth while, and
the board wants to see rifle shooting
even more OF a popular sport than it
has grown to be.
-. 80 II, shoottns dotS hoI at
tract large public audiences knowledge
of the sport is confined chiefly to
marksmen. Unlike football. it has few
fans who merely sit on the sidelines
and yell An audience at u match is
made up mainly of marksmen with a
sprlnkling of casually interested
friends. When one of the onlookers
becomes a fan he gets a gun.
This is a healthy condition. It is
an ideal of sport to have a large per-
centage OF the people interested en-
gaglng in the activity, leaving a small
percentage Of chronic onlookers. Rifle
shooting is n Of the few sports that
approximates this ideal.
In fact, rifle shooting is an unusual
sport in a number of ways. according
to the war departments rifle board.
III the first place, because Of its re-
lation to national defense it is backed
by the government. a unique distinction
for a popular sport. 1t requires more
concentration than the exaeting game
Of chess, and it calls for general phys
ical fitness rather than the specialized
muscular development demanded by
most sports.
Many Girls Interested
The tools Of rifle shooting are i'm
plements of destruction, yet it is a
sport in which almost no casualties
occur. As II marksman put it, Com
pared TO football, rifle shooting is a
ladies' game" And, as a matter Of
fact. it is becoming that. Any number
Of schools have girls rifle teams. and
the girls are proving to he good shots.
Last year a Washington high school
girls team won the Aston cup match
which carries the high school cham
pionship for the country.
High schools and many colleges have
come TO regard shooting as a standard
sport for which the school letter is
TO be regularly awarded. The Naval
DAcademy, the University of Pennsyl-
Fgania, Yale, and Princeton are among
the colleges at which rifle shooting is
rated with other sports.
Police departments in some cities
have formed rifle teams and ex-
soldiers and SportSmen all over the
country are organized in more than
900 clubs Of the National Rifle as
ISOLATION. Rifle shooting is known as
n poor mans game-an entire after
Moons practice would cost about Is
rents-and because of this a large
number Of working men are enrolled
in the clubs. 1t also appeals to scien-
lists and technical workers who are
attracted by the problems Of marks
manship.
One big advantage Of shooting as a
popular sport is that anyone can shoot.
according to an official of the rifle
board. A husky athlete may not be 50
good a marksman as IL man of slight,