Show I INTEREST SHOWN IN RIFLE SHOOT Competitions in n Florida This Year Will Draw Guardsmen From Every State Plans for tor the national shooting competition com com- petition petition for tor 1916 1 5 are mn materializing under the present state cf the public public mind and the almost universal demand for tor better hetter national defense and anil somo soro form torm of ot training of ot citizens this years year's shooting Shooting- competitions have more than usual Interest Attention has been I called In the public press to the tho lack of ot I proper tra training wI with th th the e ser service serice ice rifle I In n I this count county Records have shown that I Inot not mere than 40 per cent of ot tho the na national na- na guard was taken to the rifle range during the year 1914 Congress established ed the national matches with a view of or IncreasIng increasing ing rifle training among Uncle Sams Sam's services Owing to the unusual condition condition condi condi- tion of or affairs this year ear undoubtedly the tho matches will bo ho more generally at attended at- at tended than over ever before as states are arc brought to the realization of or the Importance Importance Importance Im Im- I. I of r this training It is probable that there will not be bea a state In the union that will not be bo represented in the 1916 1915 matches Even West cst Virginia whose appropriation for tor forthe forthe the maintenance of ot the national guard was omitted this year has hns declared Its Us Intention of ot finding some way of oC sending sendIng send send- ing a team to Florida where these national national na na- na- na matches arc are to be held Congress at the last session still further gave ave Its approval and assistance to rifle rille teams h by appropriating to assist states which havo have to send teams from long JonK d distances In r paying a transportation charges so BO that such states as ns Washington Washington Wash ash ashIngton ington Oregon Oreon and Maine will not be handicapped this year par In the sending of or rifle teams to Florida I Florida Range Hn nse Second ID Largest t. t I The Thc rang e range in Florida where the matches of oC 1915 are to be bc shot Is the second largest In the United States tates in point of or target facilities It being outrank outranked outranked out out- rank ranked d only b by the Camp Perry 0 O. O range and It 1 Is second in point of ot attractiveness attractiveness at at- at- at eness and salubrious location being led Jed only b by tho the famous N N. J J. range e. e which is located on the Atlantic The Florida range c cIs is only only el eight ht miles from front Jackso Jacksonville with which it has hns direct t communication by both hot railroad and steamboat set services vices on the St St. Johns river Railroads serving ser the Florida shoot have announced an nn- a special rate which will also bo ho of ot great help towards a lar large e at attendance at- at This l Is IA the first time In five years cars that special cial rates have ha been granted fh The executive officer for the matches I Is Richard M M. 1 Blatchford U U. U S S. S A. A commandant of oC the army school of ot musketry at nl Fort Sill Okla OkJa Th The Tho teams to represent the thc cavalry and infantry of or the United States arm army have not yet ct been organized nor have the captains been appointed It Is rumored that the tho Infantry t team lIn will be la captained by tai MaJ laJ G Geor George e C C. Shaw haw U. U S S. J A A. who l is 18 now on on his his hisa a way back from the tho A team r representing presenting the naval academy cadamy cad acad acad- em amy emy will be ue uc sent to tho the national I matches matcheR again this year ear and efforts I will be made to overcome the prejudice of ot the officials officials of ot the military academy at West Vest 1 Point to again be represented b by a 3 rifle rUle team Regular Array Controls Control Matches Only In one national match has a team m from the tho military tar academy participated participated par par- AH As is customary the organization organ ort and control of or the matches as ns well wen as those ef of tho the National Rifle nino Association Association As As- of at America which will precede precede precede pre pre- cede the national matches will be bo Inthe in inthe the tho hands of ot the regular army and soldIers soldiers sol aol diers will be sent to pitch the cam camp and do the marking The scoring will willbe will willbe be done b by a special company compan or ot marines marines marines ma ma- rines thus thu insuring the highest standard standard stand stand- ard ani of ot f services for tor this important dut duty Ver Very few changes chang have been made In Inthe Inthe inthe the conditions of or oC this years year's matches A course courso consisting of or and yards rapid fire tire ten shots at each range and and 1000 yards ds slow siow fire tire fifteen shots at each ench range has been adopted er E Every team mU must t have on it at nt least six new men and all state teams must be selected b by preliminary contests held on state ranges The service ser rifle and ammunition as issued by the ordnance department will be I used by all teams The Tho matches will begin the morning of ot October 18 with tho the national individual match to bo followed b by the team match and the national pistol match October 16 IB and 16 art are designated for ter the preliminary team The fhe six days 11 preceding preceding this or from October 8 to 1 14 will be he beheld e held the matches matcheR of or the National Rifle Association of or America For the tho first flit time the national matches will bo be e I thrown open to entry of ot teams from Crom I II universities and colleges maintaining In military Instruction tm and military I II I schools and academies academics 1 I |