LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
. RIFLE CLUBS.
MO THE EDITOR OF TIM "SPECTATOR.")
Si,—Mr. 17rwick's letter in the spectator of September 1st is an indication that facilities exist for rifle practice apart from Volunteering proper or civilian rifle clubs, which, if properly • developed, might not only be valuable as an additional means. of spreading a knowledge of the use of the rifle, but would also be useful as a connecting link between civilian clubs and Volunteer corps. In order to obtain opportunities for rifle practice,- I joined a Volunteer, company as an honorary member in the early part of this year, and at the . time was under the impression that an arrangement -which permitted civilians to use a Volunteer rifle range was probably, unique; since then I have been surprised to find'-that provision of this nature exists in connection with many Volunteer corps, and that only a lack of push on the part of commanding officers to make known the privileges offered has prevented these privileges from being more widely sought after •d--taken up by civilians desirous of rifle practice. - Apart from the national benefits accruing from the extended knowledge of rifle-shooting, the Volunteer corps -more immediately concerned obtains from the subscriptions of honorary members funds which can be used in divers ways for .the benefit of the corps and its ordinary• members. The rules governing the admission of honorary members to the Royal Sussex, Regiment given -by Mr.- :17ritialt–itre ' very' -etsn- plete, butt, perhaps in some respects might follOW 'With advantage on the lines of those Of tbe PatshulF-Com- pany of the &nth Staffordshire Regiment. • At Patshull Park, through the generosity Of Lord- Dartmouth; a eplOidid range is available, with distances up to 1,100 - Yards. A rifle club has been mtnconnection with the Patshull . Company, membership Of -Which. is Open to members and honorary members of the company On payment Of an animal subscription of 2s. 6d. The honorary members' subscription to the company is not a fixed one, but is generally- onegninea ; it may, however, be less or more according to the Means of the intending member. Ammunition can be Obtained at 5d. for ten rounds,' the Sum of is. 3d. mentioned by Mr. 17ktvick being to my mind very excessive. 'Moreover, in the ease of the Patshull Club there is no obligation on the part of honorary members to leave their private rifles on the range. While on the subject of rifle clubs, may I draw attention to the interesting exhibits in the Palais de Congres at the Paris Exhibition of several of the French rifle clubs? The exhibits consist of charts and cartoons, of statis- tics, photographs of ranges and members, medals, arms, trophies, ammunition, banners, &c., and give one a good idea of the standing of the clubs and the 'work done 'by them. . I take from my note-book three instances. • The Societe de Gymnastique et de Tir Alsacienne-Lorraine de Paris has supplied weapons and ammunition free or at a reduced price to an average of 280 persons annually-during the past seventeen years, has held in the same period 20con- tests yearly at 200 metres range, and last year supplied over 100,000 rounds of Service ammunition for Use an -the club ranges. The Societe de Tin de Lyon has 866 members, and fixed on the club ranges 20,892 cartridges during the Past twelve months. The Societe de Tin de Nancy has 12 ranges of 100 and 200 metres and 3 revolver ranges, and in '1899, with .687 society members and 117 firing-school members, used 66,445 rounds of ammunition.—I am, Sir, &c., J. W. BRADLEY, C.E., Hon. Member Patshull Conipany,
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