Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 April 1916 — RIFLE TRAINING URGED BY U. S. [ARTICLE]

RIFLE TRAINING URGED BY U. S.

Government Has 300,000 Krag Rifles to Issue to Private Associations For Practice.

From a national defense standpoint the training in rifle practice of the unorganized militia is of as vital importance to our country as the training of the regular establishment and t'he organized militia. The volunteer who can hit what he shoots at is 80 per cent efficeint as a. soldier. The United States government has stored away in its arsenals approximately 300,000 Krag U. S. magazine rifles, model 1908, and 30,000,000 ball cartridges for same. Uncle Sam will issue these rifles and the ammunition free to organized rifle clubs affiliated with the National Rifle Association of America for use of members at small arms practice. During the first quarter of 1916, just ended, the ordnance department issued to lubs 316 rifles and 1,438,974 ball cartridges. To teach the citizenry the use of the modem arm requires organization of rifle clubs and small artns practice under capable instructors. Ten or more citizens of the United States in any town or country near which or in which a rifle range could be constructed, are eligible to organize a civilian rifle club and affiliate with the National Rifle Association of America. Blank forms and copy of by-laws prescribed and instructions how to form a rifle clulb may be secured from 'Major Fred H. Phillips, Jr., assistant recorder National Board for Promotion of Rifle Practice and secretary National Rjfle Association of America. The object of the Association is to encourage marksmanship throughout the United States, particularly in the direction of qualifying as finished marksmen those individuals who may be called upon to serve in time of war; to encourage competition in marksinanship between teams and individuals! to ~ encourage legislation for the establishment and maintenance of ranges; to.secure the issue of military rifles and ammunition to those practicing on these ranges, and to create a public sentiment in respect to the necessity of rifle practice as a means of national defense.