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Show UNITED STATES NEEDS NATIONAL RIFLE RANGE Special to The Tribune. WASHINGTON, Jan, 30. In the report re-port of Lioutenant Colonel Robert K. Evans of the army goneral staff, executive exec-utive officer of tho national rifle matches of 1908, thoro is much of interest in-terest to all concerned in 'this national sport. Colonel Evans has for two years been in charge of these great 'events, and will probably bo selected as tho executive officer for 1909, which promises to be the greatest shooting year this country has ever seen. His observations and recommendations aro, thereforo, worthy of the weighty consideration con-sideration which they will receive at the bands of tho war department, tho national board for promotion of rifle practico and the Rational Riflo association, asso-ciation, all of which are so deeply concerned con-cerned with the success of tho rifio-6hooting rifio-6hooting movement. Colonel Evans makes a most careful resume of the rules ast they exist and rrivoc Viift rirnmmpnflatinns for .hnrrpK therein, which aro mostly too technical in character to be of gcnoral interest. His observations concerning the national na-tional matches as a whole, however, are of great importance because of his experience, tho facilities ho has had for discussion with riflemen of all classes and tho manifest care and thoroughness thor-oughness which bo has devoted to tho report. Prominent among his recommendations recommenda-tions is one for the acquiring of a national riflo rango. This country is ono of tho few, perhaps the only one, using high-power rifles as means of defonse and offense, which docs not possess pos-sess what might bo termed in the truo sense of the word, a national riflo rango. The. army, it is true, has several moro or less adequate, but uono of them can touch in extent or equipment the great navj- range'1' at Guantanamo. Several of the states havo ranges worthy of the name, as that of New Jersey at Soagirt and that of Ohio at Camp Perry. But when the United States government holds its annual matches for the army, navy, marino corps and national guard, the only sporting contest con-test under the auspices of the government govern-ment and tho greatest interstate sport-in sport-in ovent of tho year, it is compellod to borrow the use of a. rifle range from one of tho states. |