Evening star., 1940-02-03
Rifle Association
Told New Gun Reduces
Long-Range Accuracy
Maj. Gen. Wesson Praises
Combot-Use Weapon at
Organizations Banquet

Combut-USe weapon 0r
Organizations Banquet
The Nations expert marksmen,
who have an abiding faith in the
deadly power of the long-range
rife, last night heard the Army's
chief of ordnance say that within
two years the entire Army will be
equipped with a rifle whose sights
are not adapted to long-range &C
curacy shooting.
Mai. Gen. c. M. Wesson, speak
ing before the 69th annual banquet
of National Rifle Associations Board
of Directors at the MayfoWer Hotel,
told the assembly of more than 200
that the new Garand semi-auto-
matte rifle is being manufactured
for the Army at the rate of 1000 per
month and this number will be
nearly doubled within year.
The speaker praised the rifle as
having almost met every expecta-
tion," but added that "the sights
with which it is equipped are espe-
cially designed for combat use and
are not adapted to long-range ac-
curacy shooting"
GA news release issued yes
terday by the National Rifle
Association said that protest
would be made in the meeting
of the Board of Directors to the
reducing of qualification stand
ards in the Army's individual
markmenship tests, particularly
as regards slow fire with the new
rife.)
Gun Itself Accurate.
$50 far as inherent accuracy is
concerned, it is the equal of the
Springfield" Maj. Gen. Wesson de-
clared. "By that I mean that in
machine rest it will do about as
well as the Springfield, but that
the sights with which it is equipped
are especially designed for combat
use and are not adapted to long
range accuracy shooting. At ranges
up to and including 600 yards, it
will compare very favorably with
the Springfield.'
He emphasized, however, that the
new semi-automatic rifle "has put
into the hands of each soldier the
equivalent in aimed shots per
minute of 21a Springfield rifles"
due to the decreased recoil and
ease of operation" he went on,
this greater rate of fire can be
maintained for a considerable period
without causing undue fatigue. In
stances have been reported of men
firing as many as 600 rounds con-
tinuously without showing any Ill
effects-a feat hardly possible with
the Springfield
Medallions Presented.
Assistant Secretary of War Louis
johnson, guest at the banquet,
awarded on behalf of the associa-
ton the all-America medallions to
the groups finest pistol and rifle
marksmen during 1889. Receiving
the rifle award was William Boone
Woodring, said to be direct de-
scendant of Daniel Boone, whose
feats with the weapon are leg
endary. Mr.. Woodrings keen eyes
and steady hand won him the cham
pionship for three years and, in
competition, holds the remarkable
average score of 1866 hits. He is
from Alton, ILL.,, a former Lehigh
University marksman.
Alfred Hemming, Detroit police
man, won the pistol award and was
praised by Col. L. w. T. Waller, Jr.,
of Meadowbrook, Pa, reelected
president of the association, as dis
playing "outstanding sportsman
ship" in competition.
Col. Truman Smith, former mill
tary attache at this countrys En-
bassy in Berlin, gave an off-the-
record talk on the Polish campaign.
Gen. Marshall Attends.
Among the honor guests at the
dinner were Gen. George G.
Marshall, Army chief of staff; AS
sistant Secretary of Commerce Mon
roe Johnson; Senators johnson OF
Colorado and Lundeen of Mime
sofa, and Representative Snyder OF
Pennsylvania. Others included high
ranking officers in the Army.
Other officers reelected yesterday
were 1t. Col. N. G. Nash, vice presi-
dent; Maj. Gen. M. A. Reckord,
executive vice president, and G. B.
Lister, secretary treasurer. The
Executive Committee of the associa-
ton will meet today.
A list of the invited guests fol-
lows:
A AmnnSssh Ge1 T. R. ATsne Ana1sxs Rfg S2s Gen.
Andrews. Rep.
gratton,, Col. OIL Daniel Bar5 e; A r,,s
grown groW Il L. coI Stsds e. e. Buans Col fah J
Brown, Mai. l. D. Booth. Col. Lueian
BueSanaG BTsSa 6 f. & COL x BTiaSand BTssEsn. r.
Byrd, DR.. H. c. Bridgman, E. F.
Byron, Rep. Bradley. l. @.
Baldwin, Hicks Barr, A. H.
Brantingham, A. j.
eesnR?yy een~ay' Msi Gaaflss : eosa eeieman 60,
efcnton, eGS5s e COL T. W. H e35ns eoFnen L. A. !. B.
Drewry, 1t. Dimmck S. w.
Col. G. H. Dean, r. C..
Daniels, Frank Dewey, DR.. George
Davis John Dengler, Capt.
Dodson, Phillip F.
E
Easley, 1t Elmore. Lynn
Col c. NJ Ellis. w. r.
Edmiston, Rep. Edison, 1t.
Ellis, Col E. D. Col. NJ A.
Emshwiller, e. E. Endicott. Col F. c.
Eherhardt, U. S. Easby-Smith. Paul
F
Faddis, Rep. Fulton, Col w. 8.
Fell. Maj. Edgar
Gasser, Brig. Griffng, Mai. j. D.
Gen L. D. Gilcrease. w. ].
Ginsb gh, Mai. A. r. Gau. Lawrence
Glavin. w. r. Gordon, Seth
Gray, Mai. j. G. Goebel H. H.
H
Haskell, Mai. Haage Ralph
Gen. w. N. Hudnutt. 1t. COL D.
Harter, Rep. Higgins, Alfred
Healy. Dr. T. H. Howard. A. w.
Herring, Senator Harker, Mai. H. L.
Hutton. John Hopkins. C. H.