Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-29

the whole.
"Article 30. Every company in the Ma
tional Guards is provided with a rifle range
for company practice. Part of these
ranges are 200, 500 and 900 yards practice,
and others only for 200 aud 300 yards
practice. Under the conditions for prac-
tice it gives the guard the benefit of ac-
quaintance with different positions. The
shorter ranges are used only when longer
ones cannot be secured. The State furn-
ishes to each company 1000 rounds of
fixed ammunition and $500 bullets and
primers, and pays for the powder needed
to load the same.
A few armories have chance for armory
practice and when they supply themselves
with safe gallery the State issues 1000
round balls for use. Effort is being made
through company inspectors of rifle practice
to have every man we'll instructed in ''aim-
ing" before they go on the range. Great
stress is being placed on this exercise.
ARTICLE 30, armories, location and des-
cription. Each company has an armory So
called, but 10 nearly every case it is ROOM
Portland has two armories for four COM
panies. Lewiston has one for three COM
panies and the ambulance corps.
The State pays 500 per year per company
and towns the balance of the rental. The
armories in Portland are a disgrace to the
city on account of poor construction and
repair. The wonder is that men are will
ing to drill in them. Throughout the State
the armory rooms are barren places, and
one kept only reasonably clean. The ex-
ception to this is the armory at Eastport,
which is owned by the company, and is
credit to the city and company. Also the
ones at Skowhegan and Brunswick, which
have been recently reftted and rooms pro-
vided for officers and non-commissioned
officers.
Article So. Recommendations. On &C.
count Of the geographical location of
companies and to the end that the battalions
may be more concentrated and available for
drill and in case of emergency, / recommend
re-assignment of some of the companies
in the two regiments. l believe the First
Regiment should be composed of companies,
located in the western part of the State, and
the second those in the eastern portion and
1 would suggest as dividing line that of
ha ahpn
two companies of the Second Regiment and
one of the first in Lewiston and one COM
pany of the First Regiment in Auburn,
just across the river. These companies
cannot be assembled for battalion drill, or
be available as one battalion in case of
trouble, as well or readily IS they could be
if belonging to the same regiment, and
serving under the same battalion COM
mander. Co. F, (Augusta) and H Crock
land) of the First Regiment are too
far away from the rest of the regi-
ment to really cooperate with it, and
naturally belong to the Second Regiment. l
suggest that companies f and H be trans
ferred to the Second Regiment, and that COM
panies and d of Lewiston be transferred
to the First Regiment, and also that the
headquarters of the Second Regiment
be transferred from Lewiston to either
Augusta or Bangor. If this plan is adopted
the battalions in each regiment could be ar
ranged as follows; First Regiment, first
battalion, of the four companies st Port
land second battalion, of the three COM
panies at Lewiston, aud one at Auburn;
third, the companies at Norway, Biddeford
and Brunswick. Second Regiment, first
battalion. the companies at Augusta, Wat
erville Bath and Skowhegan; second, the
companies at Hampden, Dover, Bangor and
Rockland third, the companies at Houlton,
Calais and PASSPORT"
In conclusion of the report Capt. Hall
makes the following remarks During the
past three months have had an opportu-
nitv to see all of the companies in the
State, and have visited and inspected
20 of the % in these armories. As rule
find the officers ard men very much in
terested in military matters, anxious to
learn, attentive, and well pleased when
they make good showing. Occasionally
an officer or man will be met with who
seems Indifferent to his duties. Some
times the excuse is made, when company
does not drill we'll or appears in an un-
satisfactory condition that time cannot be
found from duties in civil life to properly
attend to military matters. 1t is the duty
of every member of the guard, who
finds that he is losing interest 10 or
has not the time to attend to the
militia to promptly represent the matter to
the adiutant general AMI obtain his dis
charge. Unless he does so, he is positive
injury to the guard and is keeping better
men from the military service. Command
ing officers of regiments should at once re-
port any such cases that come to their
notice. 1t affords me great pleasure to note
the great improvement in the National
81, fwn in