Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 142, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 June 1919 — National Rifle Matches of 1919 [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

National Rifle Matches of 1919

■ 1 ‘"THOUSANDS of expert marksmen will be guests of the United States navy I during August on the largest of the I chain of rifle ranges constructed by i the bluejackets during our war with Germany. Invited to be present were SRJBf teams of the army, navy and marine JLjS; corps as well as two delegations from every state and territory—one representing the National Guard unit and one the civilian riflemen. Transportation, and subsistence expenses of the service teams and the teams designated to represent the states have always been paid by the United States government. Any other teams may attend by defraying their own amwi^wL The intent of the government this year is to welcome at Caldwell representatives of all of American marksmanship. Trick shooting, however, will not be allowed. As the association puts it, “the marksmanship to be featured is the deadly deliberate shooting of the dcind • which left B,elleau Wood and the Chateau 'Thierry wheat field covered with Hun dead.” The gathering of riflemen will be known as

the National Matches of '1919, and Is the latest of a long series of marksmanship competitions Instituted In 1903 and held annually whenever possible for the purpose of stimulating rifle practice as a national sport; developing riflemen having the attainments required of instructors in rifle shooting during the war, and of restoring the United States to her rightful and traditional place as the premier nation of marksmen. The big matches will be held at Caldwell, N. J., “45 minutes from

Broadway.” According to details now being arranged by Lieutenant Colonel William C. Harllee, U. S. M. C., who Is executive officer of the matches, rifles will begin to crack in competition as early as July 1, and the final “cease firing” ■will not sound much before September 1. During the first part of this period practice matches and minor competitions will be scheduled. These will be followed up by a period of instruction In marksmanship for the civilian teams who will participate In the national matches. After the school of instruction, a series of marksmanship competitions, which include some of the oldest and most historic of rifle contests, will be held by the National Rifle Association of America. These events will lead up to those American jnarksmanship classics which are called the National Matches. The National Matches, therefore, will probably be held toward the middle or end of August. - They consist of three competitions. The most important is the National Team Match. In this event teams of 12 shooting members are pitted [against one another. Each team, using the [United States military rifle, fires 20 shots rapid Are at a target 200 yards away, 20 shots slow fire at a target 000 yards away and 20 shots slow fire at a target 1,000 yards away. To the victors in this competition are awarded four trophies [which are highly prized among marksmen: One a prize to the service teams; a second to the National Guardsmen; a third to the civilian clubs, and a fourth to schools and colleges. The first trophy is known as the National trophy. It Is a bronze plaque showing Mars holding In leash the “dogs of war.” The second trophy Is known as the Hilton trophy. It is also a bronze bas-relief, hung about with “scalps” npon which are recorded the names of the teams that have won it since It was placed in competition in 1878. The third is known as the Soldier of Marathon; It is a bronze statuette and is the oldest of the three. The second of the National Match competitions Is known as the National Individual Match wherein individuals of teams participate, following the same course of fire prescribed in the team competition. The third competition is known as the National Pistol Match and the honor of being victorious In this event is as highly prized among jhand-gun enthusiasts as is the victory in the {National Individual Match among riflemen. Program Is Attractive. The program of the National Rifle Association matches Is no less attractive to marksmen. There is “The Wimbledon,” a match shot at targets 1,000 yards away, the winner of which bolds for one year the Wimbledon cup, presented to American riflemen by the Princess Louise of England In 1878, and assumes the title of “long range champion.” There is the Leech Cup Match for the oldest trophy In competition at the present time —a massive silver tankard, a gift to the fN. R. A. In 1874 by the captain of the Irish rifle team which that year vtelted this country to take part In the first international marksmanship contest. There is the President’s Match, to ■the winner of which goes an autographed -letter Ls congratulation from the chief executive and the title “military champion,” and there i* the Marine Corps Cup Match open to everybody, the winning of which is also a signal honor. The trophy in this competition was the gift of the commissioned officers of the marine corps. Until 1916 there participated In the National {Matches only the army, the navy, the marine con*, and tte National Guard. That year, how-

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 2,000 of these clubs with an aggregate individual membership of about 100,000. During the war the membership of many of these clubs was decimated by volunteer enlistments and the draft, but since the armistice and the demobilization of the troops most of the clubs have become more active than ever before. The opening of the National Matches to civilian and riflemen has proved a wonderful impetus to rifle practice as a sport, and the effect of this policy, together with that of the government in fostering the organization of rifle clubs, were apparent In the records of American marksmanship made on the fields of France. Two Teams From Each State. Under the laws controlling the government competitions, a National Guard team and a civil* r fah team from each state are authorized to attend 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 arbitrarily. In addition to the two teams authorized, as many additional teams as desired may en--oj. the competitions at their own expense. The National Matches, since their Inception and until 1918, have been held either upon a United States army or a state rifle range. This year, however, the championships will be decided upon a United States navy range. For the past ten years the navy has made every effort to develop its bluejackets into good riflemen, on the theory that proficiency with small’arms contributes in a large degree to proficiency in handling huge naval rifles, developing among the men physical control and co-ordina-tion of mind and body—a principle which found enthusiastic supporters in Secretary Daniqjs and Assistant Secretary Franklin D. Roosevelt. Therefore, when war was declared against Germany, the office of gunnery exercise of the navy department lost no time in enlarging the scope of Its courses in marksmanship. The development of this activity took the form of establishing a chain of rifle ranges—the principal stations being at Caldwell, N. J., the largest of the chain; Wakefield, Mass.; Cape May, N. J.; Peeksklll, N. Y.; Great Lakes, near Chicago; Glenn Burnie, Md.; Virginia Beach, Va.; Mount Pleasant, S. C., and San Diego, Cal. On these ranges corps of trained instructors not only saw to it that the seamen from the battleship fleets were trained in handling of arms, but took on the work of Instructing any army recruits were sent to them. In addition to this, and in connection with the range chain, Secretary Daniels threw open the facilities of the ndvy shooting camps to citizens, urging all civilians to visit the ranges and learn to shoot. Recognizing the service which the navy has performed in the cause of rifle practice' toward bringing the United States again to Its traditional place in the forefront of nations as marksmen, the national board for the promotion of rifle* 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.ln 1919. Approving this recommendation, the secretary of war tendered the invitation to the navy to conduct the competitions. When Secretary Daniels accepted for his department, he placed the conduct qf the

matches under the director of gunnery exercises, U. S. navy, and named Lieutenant Col. William C. Harllee, U. S. M. C., as executive officer. Colonel Harllee has long been Identified with rifle practice in the navy and among the marines. He conceived the idea of a great chain of navy rifle ranges and at the beginning of the war undertook the work of construct-

; ing the greatest single range system ever established, and had it in full operation soon after war was declared. Scope of Program. In undertaking conduct the National Matches of 1919 at the invitation of the secretary of war, the navy planned to overlook nothing toward making these competitions the greatest of their long line and toward gathering at Caldwell representatives of all the branches of American marksmanship. The United States army rifle of the same type which was used by the American army and marine corps division in France will predominate in most of the events, but the high-power service weapon, capable of carrying a steel-jacketed bullet to an extreme range of more than three miles will not be featured to the exclusion of other firearms except in the strictly government competitions. But for the purpose of supplying the contestants in the government events with’ the best rifles and ammunition which can be procured the government arsenal at Springfield is now at work' while the Frankfort arsenal is turning out the necessary ball cartridges. To provide a program attractive to all shooters at the National Matches it is planned to stage at Caldwell events in which the small-bore rifle will be fired at short ranges, as well as a few events to interest any of the trap-shooting fraternity who may drop in as transients or as visitors. The Caldwell range is within 20 miles of New York City and within accessible distance of a population of 10,000,000. It was built entirely by the force of bluejackets which operated fit. It is a model range in every respect. It was the last range built by the navy and all the best features developed in the construction of other ranges were utilized there. It has unlimited capacity for targets. It can accommodate 100 teams for each stage of the match —twice as many as any other range, and has the largest and best equipment of buildings of any range in America. It has electric lights and all modern conveniences, with splendid facilities not only for shooting but also for the accommodation and entertainment of the regular teams and transient participants and visitors. Caldwell is reached at a cost of twenty-seven cents by the Hudson Tube from New York to Newark, and thence twelve miles t>y trolley to Caldwell. While the range is now open and available to the general public for practice, the executive" officer. Lieutenant Colonel Harllee, will maintain an office at the offices of the National Rifle association in Washington and all Inquiries should be addressed there until July 1, when the National Match staff will assemble at Caldwell. Rifles will be furnished at the firing points or visitors may bring their own rifles. An instructor (coach) will be provided at each firing point and when separate parties visit the range special instructors will be assigned to them to give preliminary instruction. The range is now open for all comers and groups or teams visiting the range for practice preliminary to participating In the matches will receive special instruction. Beginning about July first daily re-entry will be conducted under the auspices of the National Rifle association and each day there will be awarded medals to the winning competitors and qualification medals to all who qualify in the National Rifle association, marksman, sharpshooter and expert rifleman courses. At no time, either before or during the matches, will there be any expense for range practice. Sleeping accommodations will be provided without charge (but sojourners must bring their own blankets), and meals will" be furnished at the cost price of the navy ration (now 60 cents per day). A Team” In the National Team Match conof twelve (12) principals or flrers, two or more alternates, one coach, and a team captain who may be, Pr may not be also a principal or firer. The rules of the match will provide for teams frop universities, colleges and schools; and it is earnestly hoped that a large number of universities, colleges, military schools and high schools will be represented by teams. 4 A separate pistol range will be operated so that pistol shooters tfay be accommodated at any time. When the more Important pistol matches are held, it will be necessary to have them on the larger rifle ranges In order to provide a. sufficient number Qt targets.