Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1910 — OUR BEST MARKSMEN. [ARTICLE]

OUR BEST MARKSMEN.

Ancle Sam Annually Conduct* Great RlHe Matche* (or Hl* Soldier*. The groat national rifle matches which are held annually were established by Congress, which provided the trophy, and the expenses are borne almost entirely by the government. Few persons not familiar with rifle practice have any clear Idea of the great work entailed in running off these events. They are shot under the auspices of the National Board for Promotion of Rifle Practice and under the direction of the War Department. They draw together the 1,000 best marksmen In the United States; they require the services of a thousand regular troops and 100 army officers. They Bet the high-water mark in military rifle shooting, and are, therefore, of considerable importance to the oountry. These matches consist of a national team match, a national individual rifle match and a national pistol match. The first Is open to teams of twelve, representing the infantry, cavalry, navy, marine corps, military and naval academies and the organized militia of the several States and Territories. The individual rifle and pistol matches are open to all citizens of the United States. There are no entrance fees and Congress provides liberal prizes. All matches are shot with the current military arm of the United States, and the government furnishes the ammunition for the matches and for preliminary practice. The expense of training the teams and sending them to the matches is borne by the States and Territories from the 150,000 annually appropriated by Congress for rifle practice in the National Guartl. The gathering together of the Shota In the country, the testing -pf ammunition, the Ideas exchanged and the stimulus given to rifle practice Is worth more than the matches cost many times over. Lieut Col. R. K. Evans, executive i - * v

officer ol the last three matches, is now at. the war college drawing up his report of the matches for 1909, which were held at Camp Perry, Ohio, last August„ It is. .significant of the importance of these matches that the work is continuous. By the time the report for one year is at hand, preparations for the next year’s matches Is under way. As soon as outdoor practice ends the iidoor practice begins, and a team no sooner reaches home than aspirants for the next yeear’s team are put In training.