MAfNUTS OF TIM' BOARD CF TRUSTEES



     Acting President White made a statement to the Board embodying the substance

of the following letter from the Commandant:

                                      "Lexington, Ky., Nov. 30, 1910.

"To the Board of Trustees,
    Kentucky State University.

 ?tCentlemen:

     "It is my purpose to respectfully draw your attention to a matter that is of

vital importance to the military work in this institution.  Wheat I refer to is the

question of instruction in rifle practice, and the absolute lack of facilities for

carrying on such instruction at this institution.

    "It is hardly necessary for me to expatiate on the necessity for the dissemi-

nation of a knowledge of rifle shooting among our citizens. Battles of the present

day are largely, if not entirely, decided by rifle fire.   The policy of this country

always has been, and probably always will be, to depend upon its citizen soldiery

for its defense.   This citizen soldiery will be largely composed of infantry armed

with the rifle.   The efficacy of this rifle fire will decide our future battles.

Ergo: The issue of our future wars will depend upon the degree of instruction of our

citizens in the use of the rifle.

    "There is no question as to the truth of the foregoing statements. The logic

is not only sound; but is borne out by the facts of history.   The United States

won its independence with the rifle and has since maintained that independence with

the rifle.   The magnificent fight made by the Boers was only rendered possible

by their ability as rifle shots.   In everything else they were far outclassed. They

represented about the state of development current in this country in frontier days.

Every man was a marksman in those times.

    "The past tense is used here advisedly.   Wife once prided ourselves on being a

nation of sharpshooters.   That is now a hollow boast.   We have long ago grown

away from this fact as a present truth.   I have had eight years experience on the

target range, training the average American in rifle practice, and I am painfully



December 13, 1910