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Show RIFLE TEAM 1 SPLENDID FORM Utah Marksmen Are Perfecting Target Practice for National Shoot at Camp Perry. The Utah Stato National Guard rifle team which will close an eight-day practico prac-tico Monday afternoon on tho Fort; Douglas xanrjo, will lie watchod with tho greatest of interest when the team lines up against 18 teams in class C, at Camp Perry, Ohio, during tlio national na-tional mat(jh which will ho held August 22, 23 and 24. The contesting teams aro all militiamen, with tho exception of tho naval academy team. Tho Utah team camo thirteenth in the 1908 match, which was tho first timo tho stato had boen xepresonted, but in 1909 the team made a .iurnp of six places, talcing seventh sev-enth placo and onbr 133 point's behind tho winning t'eam. In caso this year's team makes a similar improvement, the position closo to tho top will bo the result. The team 1ms been shooting woll the past week and the members beliove the team will get somo of tho prize mouej' which is given for tho four loading teams. It is a certainty that tho leading lead-ing teams lust year will improve, but it is doubtful whether all will improve to tho samo extent as tho Utah team. The team last 3'ear lacked time for practice, but this year the practice has been had. The uoxt H days will bo spent in practico at "Wyoming, but as thero is a strict ordor against tho use of ball cartridges, tho men will do nothing noth-ing but aim and pull tho triggor. Leaving Leav-ing camp on August 12 the team will go to Camp Perry, where several days of practice fire will bo had. This practico prac-tico on tho range whero tho national match will bo held will put the team in a condition to moot all comers in its class. Difficult Target. The ordor of fire in tho national match will bo firo at 200 yards, GOO yards and 1000 yards, followed .by rapid firo at 200 yards and a skirmish fire from tho G00 yard rauge. At all ranges oxcept tho last two mentioned, there will bo two sighting shots allowod, which must bo takon. The rapid firo has b'oon changod to tho effect that tho battlo sight will bo used and the fivo shots in twenty seconds must bo fired from tho knocling position. Tho target will bo a silhouette figure of a mau Iyiug prone. This is a difficult target. Tho skirmish firo has boen greatly changed which makes it exceedingly difficult. Tho silhouotto figure is used and the battle sight, but owing to tho fact that tho battlo range on tho Spring-fiold Spring-fiold riflo is 530 ynrds, the aiming on tho mid ranges must ho over two feet lower, in ordor to hit tho figure. Twent' shots aro fired in all, tho advance being be-ing mado from the GOO yard range and shots firod at tho 500. l00, 350, 300 and 200 yard ranges. Between each rango the first half is mado in quick time aud the last half in double timo. The timo allowed nt all ranges is 30 seconds with tho exception of tho 4200 vard rango, whero 5 shots must bo fired In 20 seconds. Prospects Good. The Utnh boys who aro now at the post shooting will cortainly bo ablo to mako a record if the improvement continues con-tinues as it has during the past woek. Lieutenant "Walthall, who has boon coaching the past week, will go with tho team to Perry and bo thq official coach. Corporal ioorgor, who is a distinguished dis-tinguished marksman, has assisted the past wool: and has given valuable pointers. point-ers. Coach "Walthall has been having the team shoot tho majority of tho timo on tho difficult rnnrrcs. which aro 1000 yards slow firo and rapid fire at 200 yards, and tho skirmish fire. Although part of tho timo has boen spent on the 200 and GOO yard slow fire range, the greator part of tho practice has boen conducted in tho barracks. Tho squad had threu oxtra men nt the opening of the practice, but two have dropped out. Private Uayliss was not cligiblo and Sergeant Wilson could not get a vacation from work. Ser-uonnt Ser-uonnt Gardner, who dropped tho quad for one day, later rojoined it. His loss would have boon greatly folt, as will Wilson's. "Wilson shot at'Porry last vear, whilo Gardner has shot the past two vcars. Sinco Gardner camo back, tho elimination of one man will bo necessary, as the squad now numbers 16. The scores have been recorded since Thursday, aud Monday, when the practico closes, tho foam will bo an-nounuod. an-nounuod. Tho team will nrrivo at Perry sevoral Continued on Following Pugu, RIFLE TEAM IN SPLENDID FORM Continued Prom Preceding Page. days prior to the match and will be entered in all possible matches as individual in-dividual contestants. This will be for a mattor of practice only, as it is a certainty that the men will not .be ablo to shoot favorabl3 against the best shot's in tho country. Friday and Saturday, Sat-urday, -August 10 and 20, has been sot aside as the official preliminary practice for all teams which will enter tho national na-tional match. During this practice the Ohio Stato Riflo association offers 80 and 00 per cent medals, A contestant purchases a ticket for 25 cents and in case his score is high enough he is awarded the nroner medal. Last year the Utah team won over a dozen such medals. During tho practice and tho trip tho members aro receiving pay according to their position in tho guard, including all expenses. The team will travel first class on all roads and after tho national shoot tho boys will bo nven return tickets and g'iven tho privilego of returning re-turning as the-- please. |