We desire to draw special attention to an article on
the subject of " Rifle Ranges and Rifle Clubs" which appears in another column. We urge the formation of rifle clubs not out of rivalry to the Volunteers, or because we think the Volunteers ineffective. On the contrary, we believe that the past ten days have fully justified the movement. But though we may think the man who joins a Volunteer battalion has proved himself the better patriot, we believe that there is a great future for rifle clubs, and we trust that a great rifle-club movement will be the outcome of the present crisis. The clubs should be purely voluntary and self-governing, but when once they are formed Government might very properly give grants under certain conditions as to proficiency, and also give certificates of marksmanship. There are thousands of men who could give enough time to become good shots, though they could not find time for regular volunteering. When once the village clubs are formed we should like to see some five thousand of their members tested in a field-day against Regulars,—i.e., given five miles of their own country to hold against a brigade of Regulars. All the rifle-club men who had or could beg or borrow horses should be allowed to use them.
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