The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-12-21
RIFLE PRACTICE.
Col. e. c. Harrington Tells What the
National Guard of Maine Are Doing in
this Important Department. of Drill.
Especial to the Press. ]

Especial to the Press.J
Augusta, December 2o.-Col. E. G..
harrington, Inspector General of the
National Gaurd OF the state, has in COM
pliance with law, calling for his report
on Decem ber 18th, submitted the same
to the adjutant general, Gen. Selden
Connor.
In an interview with, Col. harrington
many interesting facts were given show
ing the work and success in practice the
past season. There has been a decided
improvement in the. strength of the
Guard and an increase in the percentage
of efficient marksmen9 very gratifying to
those interested in the Guard. No man
is regarded EFF cientns who has not be-
come a marksman in some of the classes
OF qualifi cation. The standard of quail
fication in the Guard of Maine is much
higher than any other state, excepting
Massa chusetts, and the same in fact as
the state Of Massachusetts. According to
the, conditions laid down governing rifle
practice, four classes are allowed. The
lowest, third class are required to make
two scores of fifteen each, five shots at
200 yards. Second class. two scores of Is
are required. First class, two scores of
81 each are required at 200 and 500yards;
and for sharpshoOters, two scores or ~
each at 200, "a each at 500 and 23 each at
600 yards.
Under these conditions the Guard has
So per cent of efficient soldiers gain
of twenty-five per cent over the year 1882.
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 re-
quirements of the law.
Col. Farrington's 8 attention was called
to the criticisms of some correspondents
as to the lack of interest in the Guard.
and the unsatisfactory management OF
the military department., refiec ing upon
general. "All have to say in. regard to
this newspaper talk is this:ss That since
l have had charge of the rifle practice.
which extends over all the time since
rifle practice was inst. sats43 i'll 1880, ex-
eeptine two years, never has there been
SO great degree OF interest shown by
the companies in general as during the
past season, and especially at the close of
the present year. The Guard is growing
more solid every day; officers are taking
more lively interest in military mat
ters; better men are being enlisted and
all duties required are given more at
teption. LIDO not hesitate to say that
this new and better condition of affairs
has been brought about by the personal
interest taken by Gov. Cleaves, and the
systematic manner by which the busi-
ness of the military department has been
administered bysGen. Connor. = | know
that this has largely to do with the in
creased efficiency IN the work required at
my hands, and It Will make further
advancement much easier than hereto
FORE"
In regard to which was the best regi-
ment, the most efficient in rife practice,
he said that the Second regiment was a
little in the advance and further
strengthened by the addition of Com
panies I and K, OF Eastport and Calais.
The two strongest companies in that
regiment are Companies G. at Bangor
and K of Calais. The Portland companies
are improving finely since they got new
rife range and will now make rapid ad.
vancement. =
The most efficient companies in the
First regiment are Co. D of Norway,
which qualified every soldier as marks
men and Co. F of Augusta, of which
seventy-two per cent are marksmen.
Col. Harrington recommends the dis
charge of all men who show by their
record an unwillingness to do rife prac-
carry upon its rolls soliers having no
aptitude for using the rife. Their
places may be filed by better class of
men. Quite number have been dis
charged during the season and he hopes
to see the same policy continued.
He urges the early formation of state
team with view Of participating in the
state and interstate matches another
year, and expects this will be done as
both the Governor and Adjutant General
favor thisscourse If done we have an
incentive for superior craftsmanship
which will add much to the strength Of
the Guard.
The report gives in detail the numb ber
of marskmen IN each organization and
the condition of each company. In the
First regiment, COD, of Norway, stands
land, third: A. of Portland, fourth; C,
of Auburn, fifth; H, of Rockland. sixth;
G, of B Biddeford, seventh and e, of Port
land, eighth.
In the Second regiment, G., of Bangor,
first; E, of Skowhegan, second: B. of
Lewiston, third; A, Of Hampden, fourth: !:
D, of Lewiston, fifth; F, of Dover, sixth !;
eighth. K, of Calais, stands second as
attached to that regiment.
In further conversation, Col. Earring
ton remarked that it seemed strange that
outside parties were in many cases fnd-
ing fault with the makeup Of the Guard.
when there can be no question but we
have as fine class Of officers as can he
found in any guard in this country. and
the men as whole are a splendid lot of
soldiers. People, he remarked. do not
seem to realize that the Guard get no nav nav
whatever for their services, and have ~
voluntarily tax themselves to ma;ntoin
many needed things that the state COR or
towns do not furnish in order to keen up an
their organization, purchas. and exren9 N
a good deal for ammunition to get
superior work done, and all the nav tbsv
ever get is when ordered to do DO dmty y
which is once year. and not alwavs
that, at encampment. The paw amonnts
to some six dollars.
If the citizens where these comnon;as
exist would "lend hand" to these an,es on,,,s
panies instead of finding fault With tbam Ioaa,
It would be Of great service 10 ths sneru ,neI,
They have to hold themselves in read. ei.
ness to & gtsna toesr ss. re sssts and all
I seSvns to General Tarfinuton, III. nu III