Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-12-21
AUGUSTA LOCALS.
RIFLE PRACTICE.
Inspector General Harrington Makes
His Report Of Work Done.
4 ssia in Past fear Of Is Per cea: ID En-.
eieat Martsmea.

Hie3t IN LEs stffbk.a Ui tiAS 'sAfA aaa q.
increase ia the percentage Of efficient
m4rksmsn very gratifying TO those interest
ed 10 the Guari. No man IL regarded EFF
/, 4 lent" who has not become a msrksmar
in some Of the classes Of qualification.
| The stantisrd Of qualification in toe Guard
Of Maine il much higher than any ether
STATE. excepting Massachusetts, and the
same in fact ~ the state of Msssschu, etts.
| According to the conditions laid down gov
eraing risl /. practice, four Glasses are al
lowed. The lowest, third class are r, quired
20 make txo scores of Is each, (dye sa5ts]
a, 200 yards; second clsss. two scores Of
Is are required; fret Case, tso scores Of
u each are required at 200 and 800 yards.
and for sharpshoeters, two scores Of %
each at 200, II each al 500, and 23 each st
800 yards.
uader these conditions the Guard has IS
per cent. of efficient" soldiers, gain of
Is per cent. over the year 1892 Under the
new law, ranges have been provided by the
cities and towns for nearly every company;
the cities and towns promptly responding
to the requirements of the law
Col. Farrington's attention was Gale! TO
the criticisms Of some correspondents as to
the lack Of interest in the Guard, and an
satisfactory management of the military
department, rejecting upon the commander
in-chief and the aajutant- general
Al have to say in regard to this news
pspsr talk is this; that since | have had
charge of the rihs practice which extends
over all the time since rifle practice was in
sii.uted in 1850, excepting two years, never
has there been so great degree of interest
shown by the companies in general az dur
ing the past season end especially at The
close OF the present year. The Guard IS
growing more solid every day officers are
taking more lively interest in military
matters; better men are b. ing enlisted and
in all duties required are given more atten-
and better condition of affairs has been
brought about By the personal interest taken
by Gov Cleaves and the systematic manner
by yhich the business of the military de-
partment has teen administered by Gen.
Conner. know that this has largely 10 do
with the increased efficiency in the work
required at my hands, md ii viii make Il
further Advancement much easier than here
tofore.
In regard to which was the best regiment
the most efficient in rifle prsctice-he
said that the "a Regiment was a little in
the advance and was further strengthened
By she addition Of Companies and X Of
PASSPORT and Calais. The two strongest
companies in the regiment are Company 6
at Bangor and X of Calais. The Portland
companies are improving finely since they
got new rifle range and will now make
rapid advancement.
The mos. efficient companies in the lst
Regiment are Company d of Norway,
which qualified every soldier as marksmen,
and Company + os Augusta, which has y
per cent. of marksmen. CT. Harrington
recommends tie discharge of all men who
chow by their record an unwillingness to DO
rifle practice duty; that the State cannot af-
ford to carry upon its rolls soldiers having
TO ATTITUDE for using the rife.that their
places may be filed by better class of
men. Twenty per cent. and even Blore OF
some companies have such men now GA
their rolls of this class. Quite number
have been discharged during the season and
he hopes to see the same policy continn z
IL urges the early formation of State
team with view of participating in tae
State and igfeTs tate matches another year.
aal expects this will be done as both the
Governor AMI adjutant general favor this
cou7se. II done we have an incentive for
superior msrksnenship which will add much
to the strength of the Gusrl.
The report gives in detail tie number of
marksmen ia each organization anil the
condition of each company.
In the lst Regiment Company d of Nor
way stands first; + of Augusta, second; b
of Portland. third; A of Portland, fourth;
C Of Auburn. fifth; II of Rockland, sixth
{; f Biddeford. seventh f of Portland,
eight.
In the 2d Regiment, G of Bangor, first
f of SkoW hogan, second; B of Lewiston,
third; A of Hampton, fourth; d of Lewis
ton, fifth; F of Dover, sixth; II of Water
Vile, seventh; C of Bath eight.
X of Calais stands second as attached to
that regiment.
In further conversation Col. Harrington
that it seemed strange that out
side parties were in many cages finding
fault with the make up of the Guard, when
there can be no question but we have as
fine a class of officers SIS can be found in
any guard in this country. and the men as a
whole are splendid lot of soldiers. Peo-
pie, he remarked, do not seem to realize
that the Guard get no pay for their services
and have to voluntarily tax themselves for
many needed things that the State or towns
10 not furnish, in order TO keep up their or
purchase and expend great
ieal for ammunition TO get superior work
lone, and all the pay they ever ge. is when
ordered to do duty, which is once year,
Ind not always that, at encsmpment which |
amounts to So.
II the citizens where these companies ex- |
st would lend hand to these companies |
instead of finding 4sult with them, it would |
be of great service to the men. They have
o hold themselves 10 readiness to stand be-
ween the State and all harm with their
ives if needed, aud il seems TO me that
hey deserve well at the hands of the peo-
de.
Four fellows lodged in the county Jail
" Wednesday. Rum did it.
-------------------------------