Aug. 6, 1904.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
type of weapon were tested against the ordinary magazine rifle at 
the running man range at Bisley, there is no doubt that the 
automatic system would prove incontestably superior for firing 
a maximum of well-aimed shots during the transit of the running 
man across the open space in front of the shooter. That is to 
say, when the weapon is once charged, the whole of the time oc- 
cupied between the shots may be spent in undisturbed concentra- 
tion on the process of aiming, whereas with a magazine rifle, 
even of the straight-pull type, there is of necessity a delay and 
disturbance of aim incidental to the process of operating : the 
magazine after each shot is fired. The fact that the magazine 
of an automatic weapon can prima facie be recharged at least 
as rapidly as that of a modern fnilitary rifle affords a thorough 
justification for the automatic system as soon as the design of 
these weapons can be brought to a state of mechanical ■ fitness. 
At the present time of writing, it is exceedingly difficult to give 
an adequate forecast of the results to be obtained with weapons 
under trial at this year's Bisley. It is, however, quite reasonable 
to infer, from the success which has attended the application " of 
the automatic system to the pistol, the small-bore rifle, and the 
shotgun, that it is only a matter of time before the automatic 
rifle will be so perfected in design as to assume the rank of a 
practical military weapon. 
On the subject of the strength of the breech mechanism of the 
service rifle it is very difficult to pass a satisfactory opinion. A 
curious illustration of its tenacity is, however, provided, by an 
extraordinary practice which has grown up, so far as we know, 
quite recently. Added to the paraphernalia of the expert rifle 
shot is now an inkpot of the kind which may be upset without 
spilling the contents. This contains a small quantity of Rangoon 
oil, and the shooter religiously dips the point of the bullet into 
the oil preparatory to loading it into the chamber. The opinion 
is firmly held that oil has the virtue of minimizing the amount of 
cupro-nickel deposited in the barrel. We should hardly like to 
confirm the efficacy of this remedy; but rifle shooters affirm 
from practical experience that a definite improvement results 
from its use. Our reason, however, for drawing attention to this 
practice is that it of necessity causes a greatly increased strain 
on the bolt of the rifle. The passing of an oiled cartridge into 
the chamber necessarily implies the deposit of a certain number 
of drops on the walls. Practical experiments which have been 
conducted with pressure guns which measure the pressure of the 
base of the cartridge on the face of the breech have shown that 
the base pressure exerted by an oiled cartridge is frequently as 
much as three times as great as with a dry cartridge. The oiling 
of the chamber causes the cartridge to act in the manner of a 
piston, Whereby the whole force of the gases on the base is 
transmitted to the face of the breech. On the other hand, when 
a dry cartridge is used, its expansion causes it to grip the walls : 
of the chamber in such a way as to minimize the strain on the 
bolt. If, therefore, the Palma cartridge may be used without 
mishap in an oiled condition during the hot weather that . has 
been experienced at Bisley, it really seems as though the- service 
rifle, in spite of its obviously bad design, is capable of dealing 
with a considerable stress. 
Shooting at the revolver ranges has proceeded actively since 
the opening of the meeting. While the number of shooters who 
have attained the requisite amount of skill to compete in these 
events is necessarily limited, those who ar» capable of making ; the 
highest possible score have been hard at work endeavoring to 
produce the needful result at an expenditure in entry fees smaller 
than the resulting prize. Roughly speaking, a highest possible 
score may be worth anything in the region of of a sovereign. Hence 
a shooter who endeavors to make ends meet must be capable of 
getting all his shots on the 2in. bull at 200yds. in the course of, 
say, six attempts The fact that one so seldom sees bad shooting 
at the revolver ranges must be ascribed to the fact that the luck 
of the novice is of but little avail against the practiced skill of 
the experienced performer. At the 100yds. range, oq the other 
hand, there seem to be a large number of shooters of local repu- 
tation who feel convinced that, if they can only hit off that happy 
combination of good light, steady nerves, and general Well-being, 
a very high score may be made which will insure a position in 
the final prize list. The Martin-Smith competition is yearly be- 
coming of less and less interest. The conditions permit the use 
of rifles of unlimited cost, and ammunition in which everything is 
calculated to produce the highest degree of accuracy. It is, 
therefore, by no means surprising that highest possible scores are 
so easily accomplished. That a seven-shot competition is not a 
sufficient test for a modern sporting rifle of the highest quality 
throughout may be shown by the fact that, while the meeting 
was still very young, a score but one point from the possible was 
made under similar conditions of shooting in the Stevens rifle 
competition with rim-fire ammunition. If the popular .25 Stevens 
cartridge can so readily accomplish the nearly perfect score, a 
case really seems to be made out for modifying the conditions 
of the Martin-Smith so as to make its severity proportional to 
modern development in rifle and ammunition manufacture. 
The Greener competition has already been the subject of a good 
deal of interesting shooting; but unfortunately a difficulty has 
arisen which has formed the subject of a protest. The conditions 
under which this event is contested lay down that Greener rifles 
fitted with Greener sights shall exclusively be used. The inter- 
pretation which is generally placed upon these words is that the 
sights specially made by Mr. Greener for use with this rifle are 
intended. It seems, however, that a competitor shot with a 
Greener rifle fitted with a set of match sights of which the cost 
could hardly have been less than £5. Although it has been 
argued that these sights confer no special advantage on the 
shooter, it is clear that on no other grounds would this heavy 
expense have been incurred. Furthermore, the shooter in ques- 
tion who won last vear's contest with the same sights, this year 
made a score one point short of the possible very shortly after 
engaging in the competition. Few things are so distasteful to the 
rifle shot as a protest against a rival's score; but, on the other 
hand, every justification seems to exist in the present instance 
for securing an official definition of the position. Bisley com- 
petitions are, as a matter of fact, so arranged that the com- 
petitor is either forced to use a strictly standard pattern of 
weapon or else he is at liberty to adopt every possible means of 
securing accurate results within certain specifically defined limita- 
tions If, therefore, one shooter spends pounds on entries in 
endeavoring to make a highest possible score under what is be- 
lieved to be a fair reading of the conditions, it is doubly disatste- 
ful to find in the end that another shooter ties or beats his score; 
by adopting a different reading of the regulations which gives 
him a definite advantage over his competitors. Good feeling^ and 
good sportsmanship alike demand a settlement of moot points of 
tViic character earlv in the meeting. . . £• , 
Another 1 100yds. V contest to which special attention may be 
drawn is that known as the Adapter. This ^ ntes Vl S /L e finiTion 
service rifles and ammunition of reduced charge. The definit on 
is so elastic that it will include the Morris tube cartridge at the 
one ex reme and a cartridge containing a bullet of fall service 
caliber at the other, the sole limitation being one of xost, which 
presents no special difficulties. The small reduced caliber ammun- 
tion fs unlikely to stand against the excellent practice cartridges 
which are known respectively as the Trask and the Gaudet In 
hoth o these a heavy nickel-based bullet is used in combination 
with a charge" of smokeless sporting powder. The Gaudet cartridge 
Ts made up from a used Government case, re-sized, "-capped, 
and then re-loaded as though it were a new cartridge. The metal 
base enables the bullet to take the sharp spiral of the rifling 
withouUeading of the barrel or other difficulties, while the ^srnoke- 
•Uss nowder charge effects its propulsion without the undue de- 
nositin- of foulinf which makes black powder so disadvantageous. 
The Trask cartridge works on generally similar lines, and a- 
Lri^enL have we believe, shown that both brands of ammunition 
^reTctuaUy more accurate at 200yds. than the fully charged service 
Ca We d Ippend herewith the winning scores in the leading com- 
netitions which were completed up to Thursday night last 
P Wafdearave -Match rifle competition, consisting of ten shots at 
U and at 900 yds.; highest possible score, 50 marks at each 
^stance or 100 for 'the aggregate ; twelve prizes. Last year s 
wtaner, Major Oxley, 99. Leading scores: - 
800 900 8 , 00 ' y 
yds. yds. T'l. yds. yds. TJ 
Mr F N Wvnne...50 49 99 Mr W Lane Joynt.48 
Mr A E R?gers...50 49 99 Mr P Whitehead. .50 
Lieut.-Col Melish..48 
Mr J S Davis 47 
Mai W Thorburn..48 
Mr E J Rigby 48 
48 
46 
47 
47 
49 
47 
96 
96 
95 
95 
94 
94 
49 97 Lieut G Gould 48 
49 96 Maj. T Richardson. 48 
48 96 Pvt C. Maunder... 45 
48 96 . Mr M Blood 47 
Bass.-Ma°tch rifle competition; fifteen shots at 900 and at 
l OOOvds • highest possible score, 75 marks at each distance, total 
150 Fifteen ordinary prizes, five prizes for tyros. Last years 
winner. Major Millner, 135. Leading scofes: 
900 1005 900 10Q0 
yds. yds. T'l. yds. yds. 11. 
Col A D Bulpett;69 64 133 Pvt R Bridges... 65 63 128 
Mr P Whitehead.66 66 131 Maj £ J Umb...69 59 128 
Mr J S C Davis.. 65 66 131 Mr R W Barnett.69 59 128 
Mr T L Edge.... 69 61 130 Mr T Caldwell... 62 65 127 
Lieut-Col . Hopton.64 65 129 Mr M Blood ...63 64 127 
Mr E T Rigby....65 64 129 Maj J S Oxley... 68 59 127 
Mr E N Wynne.. 65 64 129 Pvt G S Pardoe..64 62 126 
Mr A Rogers..... 62 66 128 
Edge.— Match rifle competition; fifteen shots at 1,000 and 
1,100yds.; Highest possible score, 150. Fifteen prizes. Last year's 
winner, Lieut. Ranken, 127. Leading scores: 
1000 1100 1000 1100 
yds. yds. T'L yds. yds. T'l. 
Lt-Col Sandeman.67 66 133 Mai Hon T F Fre- 
Lt-Col G C Gibbs.68 60 128 mantle 64 52 116 
Mr J Morgan 58 65 123 Mr P Whitehead. 54 61 115 
Lieut Ranken 61 59 120 Maj W Thoburn.55 60 115 
Mr T Caldwell.... 62 57 119 Lt-Col J Hopton.56 59 115 
Mr M Blood 54 63 117 Maj E J Lamb.. 54 58 112 
Lt-Col H Mellish.55 62 117 Lt R M Thoburn.53 58 111 
Mr R W Barnett.59 58 117 Mr A E Rogers.. 55 56 111 
Humphray Cup.— Match rifle competition ; open to teams of 
-four representing Oxford and Cambridge Universities; fifteen 
shots each member at 800, 900 and 1000yds. ; highest possible scores, 
900 marks. Won last year by the Cambridge team with an aggre- 
gate score of 697 marks. Scores: 
Cambridge University. 
„ , w 800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. Total. 
Pvt C A Mander, Trinity 69 72 67 208 
Capt F C Bray, Trinity 70 71 59 200 
2d Lieut. J. Hetherington, Pembroke.. 66 68 65 199 
Sergt H S Green, Trinity 66 66 62 194 
271 
Oxford University. 
Pvt R F Bridges, University 71 
Pvt G S Pardoe, University '..67 
Pvt L D Ranken, Christ Church 68 
Lieut E D Ridley, Trinity. 
.69 
275 
277 
70 
64 
67 
64 
265 
258 
67 
63 
58 
56 
244 
801 
208 
194 
193 
189 
784 
Halford, Memorial.— Match rifle competition; fifteen shots at 
900 and 1000yds.; highest possible score 150 marks; fifteen prizes. 
Last year's winner, Lieut-Col. Millner, 134. Leading scores: 
900 1000 900 1000 
yds. yds. T'l. yds. yds. T'l. 
Mr E N Wynne. 69 69 
Mr W L Joynt...71 66 
Mr J A Davis... 67 69 
Lt R M Thoburn.70 64 
Lt-Col T C Gibbs.65 68 
Lt-Col J Hopton.64 68 
Mr G Crombie....66 66 
138 Mr T L Edge.... 72 
137 Lt-Col Sandeman.67 
Mr R W Barnett.67 
136 
134 Mr A Malcolm... £ 
133 Visc't Deerhurst.70 
132 Mr P Whitehead. 61 
132 Mr P McGibbon.63 
60 
64 
63 
61 
59 
67 
65 
132 
131 
130 
129 
129 
128 
128 
W'mbledon Cup.— Match rifle competition; fifteen shots at 
1100yds.; highest possible score, 75. Last year's winner, Maj. 
the H on. T. F. Fremantle, 71. This year the prize was won by 
Mr. A. E. Rogers with a score of 71 marks, this notwithstanding 
the fact that his sighting shot missed the target. 
Aster Cup.— Service rifle competition; open to teams of six mem- 
bers of each rifle club winning the Astor county challenge cup 
during the year ended June 30, 1904; seven shots at 200 and 
500yds.; highest possible score, 420 marks. Leading scores: 
Queen's Edinburgh Club. 
200 500 
'Pvt Robertson 
Lieut F R Martin. 35 
Lance-Sergt Om- 
mundsen 32 
yds. yds. T'l. 
34 34 68 
32 
34 66 
Pvt J M Jeffery...31 
67 Mr C M Black... 31 
Mr J T Thompson.31 
200 500 
yds. yds. T'l. 
32 
30 
26 
63 
61 
57 
194 188 382 
The next best scores were: South London Club 381, Stock Ex- 
change Club 376. 
Watts Challenge Bowl.— Service rifle competition; open to teams 
of eight cadets from each cadet battalion; seven shots at 200 and 
500yds. ; highest possible score, 560. Last year's winners, C. B. 
King's Royal Rifles, 388. Winning team: 
1st C. B. King's Royal Rifles. 
200 500 
200 500 
yds. yds T'L 
Pvt D T Richards. 23 ' 18 ' 41 
Pvt E Colbourne..25 16 41 
52 Lance-Corp Noice..22 11 33 
yds. yds. T'l. 
Corp Hudson 29 25 54 
Lance-Corp G Poul- 
ton 27 25 
Cyclist W Hardie.24 23 47 
Corp S Heather... 26 19 45 201 156 357 
Sergt S Wells 25 19 44 
The next in order of merit, 1st C. B. Royal Fusiliers, with 354 
marks. 
Rifle Clubs Competition. — Service rifle competition; open to 
representative members of rifle clubs registered with the N. R. A. ; 
seven shots at 200 and 500yds.; highest possible score, 70; seven- 
teen prizes. Last year's winner, Mr. Crossau (Darnley R. C), 68. 
Leading scores: 
200yds. 500yds. Total. 
Mr H H Belsey, South London R. C 35 32 67 
Mr John Tippins, Colchester R C 32 34 66 
Mr R A Bolam, City of Newcastle R C 32 34 66 
Mr J I Craig, Cairo Club, Egypt 33 33 66 
Mr Eaton, Portsmouth R C 33 33 66 
Mr D Mundell, Darnley R C 33 32 65 
Albert Match Rifle Competition.— Ten shots at 800, 900, 1000 and 
1100yds. Highest possible score, 200; twenty prizes and five prizes 
for tyros. Last year's winner, Maj. the Hon. T. F. Fremantle, 166 
out of a possible 175 under the old conditions. Leading scores: 
800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. 1100yds. Total. 
Lieut-Col J. Hopton. 49 43 46 37 175 
Maj Hon. T F Fremantle 48 43 43 38 172 
Maj E J Lamb 46 47 38 37 168 
Maj W Thorburn 45 42 41 40 168 
Viscount Deerhurst 45 44 44 35 168 
Armorv-Sergt J E Martin 44 45 41 37 167 
Mr A E Rogers .....47 46 41 32 166 
Sir E G Loder 45 4S 36 38 165 
Mr N K Whitehead 49 47 37 32 165 
Maj P W Richardson 49 39 40 36 164 
Lieut-Col H Mellish ..47 -45 38 34 164 
Mr J S C Davis 43 44 44 32 163 
Lieut T Ranken 47 38 42 35 162 
Lieut-Col R Sandeman 46 41 41 34 162 
Maj J S Oxley 42 42 45 33 162 
Mr.SCrombie 47 42 1 40 33 162 
Mr M Blood 46 43 43 30 162 
Mr E A Wynn; 42 40 40 38 160 
Mr E J Rigby 50 43 32 35 160 
Capt W Smallpiece 41 38 42 38 159 
Mr R W Barnett 46 43 37 33 159 
Pvt R Bridges..... 46 43 35 34 158 
Lieut D Campbell 49 37 - 41 31 158 
Mr T Caldwell 47 37 32 40 156 
Roberts Challenge Cup.— First stage; service rifle competition; 
open to teams of ten from various branches of the service; eight 
shots at 200yds., fired from cover at a head and shoulders target 
exposed for 30 seconds for the taking of each shot. Highest pos- 
sible score, 80. Scores of winning teams, who are entitled to 
shoot in the second stage; Queen's Edinburgh, 45; 3d Battalion 
Coldstream Guards, 38; 2d V. B. Liverpool, 36; H. A. C, 35. 
Ashburton Challenge Shield.— Service rifle competition. Open 
to teams of eight pupils belonging to public schools having a 
bona fide volunteer corps; seven shots at 200 and 500yds. Highest 
possible score, 500. Tonbridge won last year's contest with an 
aggregate score of 500 marks, Bradfield being second with 496. 
Score of winning team: 
Winchester. 
200 500 
yds. yds. T'l. 
Sergt B S Brooke. 30 27 57 
Corp J P Grant... 29 28 57 
Pvt O. H Mallory.33 24 57 
Pvt A Macpherson.31 31 62 
Lance-Corp J Pen- 
rose 30 34 64 
Next best scores: 
Points. 
Clifton 475 
Charterhouse 467 
Wellington 466 
Bradfield 466 
Blundell's School 464 
Marlborough 459 
Bedford 456 
200 500 
yds. yds. T'l. 
Pvt W P Smith... 32 30 62 
Pvt R F Wickham.30 30 60 
Pvt D H Bates.... 30 27 57 
245 231 476 
Points. 
Felstead ...433 
Blair Lodge 480 
Rugby 426 
Eastbourne 422 
Whitgift .......419 
Southeast College.... t 416 
Denstone .413 
Rossall 456 Highgate ..411 
Eton 456 Cranleigh 411 
Harrow 455 Malvern 410 
Haileybury 455 Leys School ....410 
Dover College ...455 University College School.395 
Uppingham 452 Brighton 384 
ReP* 01 ?, ................451 Wellingborough .......... ..383 
Tonbridge 446 Lancing ......... 380 
Berkhamsted 446 Sherborne ..... """"374 
Oulwich 444 Cranbrook 357 
Genalmond 441 King's College, Taunton! .'. .342 
St Pauls 439 Blackheath 328 
JM"? 437 City of London .'.'.'.'.&A 
Cheltenham 437 
Spencer Cup.-Service rifle competition ; open to one com- 
peting from each of the teams that have just shot for the Ash- 
burton shield the nomination to be made before the commence- 
ment of the Ashburton match; seven shots at 500yds. Highest 
possible score, 35. Last year's winner, Lance-Corp. Pulford, 
Jiradnela, 60. Scores: 
Corp Cripps, Marlborough... 34 Sergt. Constant, Cranbrook. .34 
Tie shots: 
Corp Cripps 5 3 5—13 Sergt Constant 4 4 4-12 
to 
P f I e b a i C , S nf°r° I Veterans ' Trophy -Service rifle competition; open 
at 500$, H^V? PreSen M mg Van ° U o S - „ public sch00ls : ten shots 
at ai'Uydb. Highest oossible score, 250. Won last vear hv the 
Marlborough team, 229. Winning scores: y 7 the 
Cheltenham. 
Major R Sandeman, R. GIos. Hus 
Mr. F G Carter, Stock Exchange R C 
Capt J G Mayne, Army R A. . 
Major E J Lamb, Army R A... 
Lieut-Col J H Cowan, R E .' 
Next best scores: Eton 229, Marlborough 229, Rugby 229 Clif- 
ton 224, Old Haileyburians 223, Berkhamsted ' 221, Glenalmond 
oi5' ™ 2 , 19 ' . Du| w>ch 218, Bradfield 216, Wellington cXee 
nh 2 ^ rtln,S oV a * n \??' ° ld Wykehamist '212, Uppenham 2 fo 
188 Hi 0 ghgate n i76 ' " 2 ° 8 ' Whitgift Veter ans 207. Renfon 
45 
44 
49 
46 
47—231 
Schools Rapid Fmng Match.-Service rifle competition; open 
to teams of eight from various schools; eight shots at 200yds at 
he Wantage disappearing target. Highest possible score 64 Won 
Last year by the Repton team with 57 marks. Leading scores 
Dulwich 62, Charterhouse 61, Eton 60 caumg scores. 
Frankfort Challenge Shield.-Reduced charge competition; open 
to teams of eight from schools not entering for the Ashburton- 
seven shots at 25 and 50yds. Highest possible score, 560 Won 
Ust year by the Grocers' Company School, 463. Leading scores 
Grocers Company School 477, St. Dustan's College 454, Sir Roger 
Manwood s Schools 389. ' uga 
We append a report of the weather during the opening part of 
the Bisley meeting, which has been kindly supplied to us by Mr 
J. H. Steward, optician to the National Rifle Association: 
. Steward s Tent July 14, 1904, 6 P. M.-The weather from the 
11th to the 14th has been of an anti-cyclonic type. Pressure has 
been consequently yery steady, and the wind light to moderate 
of the variable fish-tail type so puzzling to marksmen. Sunshine 
has been intermittent, with very bright intervals, producing 
changes m light and consequent variations in elevation The 
daily range of temperature was as follows: Tune 11 16 decrrpp*- 
12 m5 degrees; 13, 9.5 degrees; 14, 13.6 degrees.-Filld (Lold™)' 
July m " : 1 1 mind 
The Palma Trophy. 
Albany, N Y July 30.-Editor Forest and Stream- The 
Strictures on the National Rifle Association, with the incidental 
severe censure of General Bird W. Spencer, president of the 
National Rjfle Association, made by Mr. Allen Kelly in an article 
unSst m and Stream of July 30, seen? to me to be 
He ignores entirely General Spencer's written assurance that the 
American team competed according to the conditions of the match 
l%„ 6 ? a l ma tr ° phy at , B » sl ey last year, but that the British used 
rifles which were not of the British service model 
1 his statement was reiterated by General Spencer, and quite 
emphatically so, in a letter which was published as part of an 
editorial in Shooting and Fishing, and reprinted in Forest and 
Stream of July 9. I quote from it as follows- ND 
, It is well known that the British shot with a rifle made by a 
private maker, m no wise a Government contractor, that they 
(Lalics X mfne n ) ' and WWe ln n0 sense a ^rvice riAel' 
That is a serious accusation, which has stood without contra- 
diction. General Spencer is a reputable gentleman, holding a high 
and important office in military matters, and is entitled to our full 
confidence. When, as he says, the British team used rifles which 
were in no sense a service rifle," why then is it made such a 
serious matter for the American team, and so unimportant for the 
British team? Why evade consideration of General Spencer's 
direct charge against the British team? Fair' Play 
[Our correspondent seems to have missed understanding that 
the issue rests on a matter-of-fact, and not on the social or 
official importance of any one. The conditions governing the 
pattern 01 rifles used in the Palma competition read- 
Kifles.— The national military arm of the country the team 
to P rhffrL < S ' n a " respe D ct i of ' he P attern adopted and issued 
\?Ja 11 r servlce ; R lfle s of private manufacture may be 
used, but they must conform to the regulation pattern and bear 
the official view marks. 
While the rifles used by the American team did not meet the 
conditions, inasmuch as they were of a rifling never approved 
nor adopted nor issued to the troops, the British rifles used in 
the match did meet the conditions, inasmuch as they conformed 
to the regulation pattern. This fact is certified to in the follow- 
ing letter written to the Forest and Stream by Lieut -Col 
Crosse, secretary of the British National Rifle Association: 
You ask whether m the competition for the Palma trophy at 
Bisley last year the British team used special rifles, and if so 
whether such special rifles were constructed according to service 
specifications, and whether they have the regular Government 
stamp ? 
"The rifles used by the British team in the match were, as re- 
gards the barrels at all events, of private manufacture. They 
conformed strictly to the specification for the service rifles. They 
bore the Government viewer's stamp, as shown at page 98 in 
the copy of the Bisley programme book of 1903, which I inclose 
This mark is a certificate that a rifle has been examined and 
gauged by an official of the Small Arms Inspection Department, 
and that it conforms strictly to the service pattern, both as regards 
the interior of the barrel and in other respects. Such rifles, as 
you will see by the regulations on page 52, are allowed to be used 
at Bisley in all competitions open to service rifles, and the rifles 
used by the British team in the Palma match were in fact used 
in individual and other service rifle competitions during the 
meeting. 
"I may add that it has for many years been the practice of our 
National Rifle Association to allow the use of rifles of service pat- 
tern, but of private make, in the service rifle competitions at 
Wimbledon and Bisley. 
"C. R. Crosse, Lieut.-Col., Sec'y." 
General Spencer's assertion, then, that the British rifles were 
"made by a private maker" is true; there is nothing in the rules 
to forbid this. But his assertion that the rifles were "in 
no sense a service rifle" is (in the light of Col. Crosse's statement) 
untrue in its imputation that the rifles did not "conform to the 
regulation pattern." Taken as a whole, any statement that 
the British team used rifles which were made by a private maker 
and were in no wise service rifles must be considered as a half 
truth of the class which is doubly pernicious because doubly 
deceptive. 
In our consideration of the whole matter, we have proceeded 
upon the assumption that our readers wanted the facts as they 
are, without regard to any bearing the facts may have on the 
persons immediately concerned, whether British or American. 
We do not believe in the policy of suppression, evasion and mis 
rpcptitatinti wViirh fias so cpnprnllv marl^pH +1^^. 
we uo not ueueve in mc puncy ui suppi cssion, evasion ana mis- 
representation which has so generally marked the course of 
journals in this country in their treatment of this Palma Trophy 
matter. When American sports get to a pass where they may not 
be discussed honestly and frankly and freely, it is surely time 
for readjustment.] 
The programme of the thirty-fourth annual prize meeting of the 
Province of Quebec Rifle Association, to be held at the I"ointe- 
aux-Trembles ranges, Montreal, Aug. 9-11, offers varied competi- 
tion for green contestants, and for the most expert. There are in- 
dividual and team matches for tyros, cadets, merchants, Asso- 
ciation, active militia, bankers and subscribers, and extra series 
at 400, 500, 600, 800, 909 and 1000yds. There also is competition 
provided for revolver shooters. 
