The Nation and Rifle Shooting.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 6, 11 September 1906, Page 6

The Nation and Rifle Shooting.

A Pastime and a Duty. Just at the present when defence in various forms is occupying a good deal of attention throughout Australasia and the Empire generally, the following able article by Lord Roberta, published in the “ Tatler," will be read with interest:— “ In the Middle Ages the long Bow was the national weapon of England ; both law and custom enjoined that all freemen should be trained in its use, and every village had its butts. The skill in archery thus acquired won for us the great victories of Falkirk, Crecy, Poitiers, and Agincourl, and made British infantry—to use the words of a French historian—‘The most formidable the world has seen since the dissolution of the Roman Empire.’ If we had now as a nation the same general efficiency with the rifle as we had then with the long bow, we should have made considerable strides towards attaining that state of military efficiency which is, as a matter of fact, far more likely to keep us at peace with other nations than a state of unpreparedness for war. The Lesson from South Africa, “The Royal Commission on the South African War in a powertul passage of their report stated : — 1 The true lesson of the war, in our opinion, is that no military system will be satisfactory which does not contain powers of expansion outside the limit of the regular forces of the army, whatever that limit may be. If the war teaches anything it is this, that throughout the Empire, in the United Kingdom, its colonies, and dependencies, there is a reserve of military strength which fur many reasons we cannot convert into a standing army but to which we may be glad to turn in our hour of need as we did in 1899.’ A Matter of the Highest Importance. “ I entirely agree with the opinion, and am convinced .hat it is a matter of the highest importance not only to the regular army and the auxiliary forces of England but to the Empire at large, that rifle shooting should be made a national pursuit and skill with the rifle a national accomplishment in the same manner that archery and skill with the long bow were so considered in the olden days in England. “The idea is by no means a new •ne in English-speaking communities. In the United States a national board for the promotion of rifle practice has been formed, and plans were approved last year for the encouragement of rifle shooting in the State Militia, throughout all civil and military schools, and also amongst all civilian adults. U.B. War Secretary’s Opinion. “ By this, to quote the words of a circular signed by the Secretary for War, ‘ It is believed that the United States will within a few years have more than 1,000,000 men who will have for practical purposes on the line of battle nearly all the requirements of the most efficient soldiers in the world.’ Difficulties Overcome. “Obviously the main obstacle to the popularisation of rifle shooting as a national pursuit in England is the difficulty of obtaining safe ranges. A minor difficulty has also been the expense of service rifles and service ammunition. Both these difficulties ikiaiiiiig yiiftffrßir '"-h • - iA • ■- • ■ • - , *

have been overcome, however, by the introduction of miniature ammunition fired at short ranges either from miniature rifles or from any kind of rifle fitted with tubes or other adapters for firing miniature ammunition. “ To the end that rifle shooting may •become a national pursuit it is essential that rifle clubs should be formed under the patronage and supervision of the lords lieutenant of counties and of the mayors of all important towns, while branches should be established in the smaller towns and villages until every man in the country shall have within his reach the means for practising rifle shooting as a pastime after the day’s work is over and thus fit himself to take up arms for his country should the need arise. Shooting as Popular as Cricket or Football. “ I should like to see in all schools and colleges rifle shooting become as recognised a pastime as is ri k t and football at present. The Army Council, I am glad to say, advocates that in addition to elementary drill the course of training at school should include instruction with the rifle, with which object they say it is desirable that miniature rifle ranges should be established in all schools where practicable. The world of sport is, I believe, also coming round to this view —not for schools only but for the members of cricket, football, and other clubs. There are signs that we are moving, if slowly, in a right direction —the one direction which I feel satisfied is the only alternative path to conscription in some form or another.”