Sport: Our Enemy, the Swiss

First national sport of the U. S. was neither baseball nor horseshoe-pitching but rifle-shooting. Shooting was part of most citizens’ daily lives; nearly every village had a range where shoots were held for turkeys, chickens, or barrels of corn whiskey. Only 20 years ago dead-eyed Annie Oakley was as popular a figure as Helen Wills Moody is today. Nowadays the public gets more excited over flagpole sitting than over marksmanship. Last fortnight when the U. S. International Free-Rifle team sailed for Antwerp to try for the fifth successive time to bring the championship back to this country, the people and their press paid scant attention.

Shooters were conscious of and honored the occasion. They knew that the opponents which the International team must try to defeat were neither the War-torn Belgians and Balkans, the game-killing Canadians or South Africans but the peaceable, phlegmatic Swiss, finest marksmen in the world.

The American Rifleman, organ of the National Rifle Association, spoke of “our old friend . . . the Enemy—the Swiss. . .

“Four times in as many years we have been beaten by the Swiss. In one of these years the Swedes also beat us. This year we have a good chance to stage a comeback. . . . We are sending them over to win—to beat the Swiss. Let every man who counts wish them well—with a check!”

Target shooting in Switzerland is still as much of a national sport as it was in the U. S. in 1830. Hawk-eyed Swiss hold nearly all the free-rifle records in the world. Their team world’s record, made in Stockholm last year, is 5,442 out of a possible 6,000. On an International target, two inches at 300 metres is all that separates a 10-point bullseye from an 8.

The U. S. team (five out of the seven are civilians) which arrived last week in Antwerp, has registered in its tryout an average team score just two points below the Swiss record. The team:

Harry N. Renshaw, Nogales, Ariz.

Russel F. Seitzinger, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Dr. Emmet Swanson, Minneapolis, Minn.

William L. Bruce, Cheyenne, Wyo.

Frank T. Parson, Washington, D.C.

Sergeant Joe B. Sharp, 8th Infantry.

Gunnery Sergeant Morris Fisher, U. S. Marine Corps.

Mentors and officials include Major J. K. Boles, Field Artillery, Team Cap tain; Major J. S. Hatcher, Ordnance, Adjutant; Lieutenant S. R. Hinds, Infantry, Coach.

In Antwerp these seven super-gunmen must first fire 120 shots apiecein a three-day Small Bore (.22 calibre) Competition, then another 120 shots apiece in the main event (three days more). In their baggage last week were ten of the finest rifles ever produced by the Springfield Armory, specially stocked to individual measures, and 5,000 rounds of special ammunition designed by ballistic experts of the Ordnance branch of the Army. Said Team Captain Boles:

“This year’s bullet, due to its velocity of 2,210 feet a second is in the air about one-fifth longer than the standard velocity of 2,700. Still its extreme accuracy and the ease with which it may be shot in all positions will more than compensate for the few points which may be lost due to wind.”

Peters Cartridge Co. which has a natural interest in such events published last week a full page advertisement of advice to shooters:

“. . . As a universally beneficial exercise, brisk walking is strongly recommended. With it practice deep and conscious breathing.

“Watch your elimination. Conserve your eyes and avoid too much reading.”

The matches begin Aug. 2.