Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-12-21

possible to do good work without making
allowance for elevation and windage By
doing this very excellent results were Sc
cured. With proper sights, as weapon
of war, it would be vastly superior to the
present rifle, from the fact that it's range
would be twice that of the U. S. Spring
field, and owing to the low trajectory,
the danger space between opposing forces
would be far greater. Nevertheless, TO
adopt it for rifle that is intelligently
sighted. and well understood by the guard,
and which also does accurate work at
long distances, would be a doubtful ex-
pertinent in my opinion. have never seen
a rational opinion given why SO fine a
weapon, so far as make and ammunition
goes should be sighted in manner that
no rifleman would use it unless compelled
to.
inefficient Soldiers.
1t is true that every year shows a gain
in marksmen, and the guard is growing
stronger continually, it is also true that
the State is clothing and equipping fifteen
per cent at least of it's force who take
but the slightest interest in the duties of
a soldier, and who know absolutely moth
ing about the use of the rifle. Such men
are worse than worthless to the State as
soldiers, and your attention is called to
this fact with the hope that the guard
may be relieved of their supposed services.
Officers of companies are more and more
made aware of this fact and are begin
ming to feel judge that their commands
are weakened by such soldiers There
can be but little doubt, but if all such
men were discharged their places would
be taken by better material, and the hard
work of maintaining an efficient COM
pany by it's officers be greatly lessene3.
Maine State Rifle Team.
Agreeable to General Orders No. g.,
January Is, 1894 the first steps were take
to prepare a State team to enter the COM
petitions of the National Rifle Association
which are held at Sea Girt, N. j., under
the auspices of the New Jersey State Rifle
Association
The State rifle team of 1898, and other
distinguished rihemen We're called into
competition and practice, extra ammuni-
tion being issued to them by the adjutant
general early in the spring of 1894. Prac-
tice was carried on, ON the home ranges
Oh U1t companies NutiC uiiC SoiipNoipcis p
lived, till they were called into competi-
tion, for places on the State team, which
occurred at Brunswick, August 10TH
just prior to encampment.
At that competition, sixteen men were
selected in accordance with the highest
scores made, as follows:
Gen. W. S. Choate, Col. f. c. Earring
ton, of the Governors staff, Lit. Geo. A.
Anthoine, inspector of rifle practice OF
the first regiment Capt. NJ z. Stiles =,
Co. d., First Regiment Capt. j. f.
Mitchell. Co. G., Second Regiment, 1t
w. A. Paul, Co. B., Second Regiment, Lit
Robertson, Co. A., Second Regiment, Lit
A. A. Chapman, Co. f., First Regiment,
Sergeant ID. W. Lovcjoy, Co. F., First
Regiment, Sergt. W. W. Cookson, First
Regiment, (color bearer,) Corp. W. F..
Cummings. Co. G.. First Regiment, Private
f. J. Cram, Co G., First Regiment,J. A.
Fairbanks, Co F., First Regiment, j. Ii.
Littlefield, Cob, Second Regiment, Il. "A.
Guptill Co. e., Second Regiment, and j.
G. McMurry, Co. b., Second Regiment.
Too much praise cannot be given to
these men who spared no effort to prepare
themselves by diligent practice and train
ing to aauit themselves with credit to the
State in the contemplated matches. Never
hut once before, under the administration
of Governor Plaisted was Maine ever rep
resented at these national matches. The
National Guard of Maine are under OBJ
LEGATIONS to Governor IL. Ii. Cleaves,
Adj. General Connor for giving the team
announcement and securing funds to aid
them in what might be considered an
arduous undertaking, that of winning any
distinction in competition with rifieinen
from large states where much greater
body of marksmen could be selectd from,
and who had year after year met annually
in these matches. / can speak for the
team who went, and assure the officers
mentioned above that we not only appre-
ciated their assistance, but were put un-
der great obligations to the members OF
the governors staff who SO literally con
tributed toward the expenses of the trip,
especial interest being taken and much
service being done by Col. Thomas p.
Shaw in procuring assistance IN transpor
tation.
The team left Maine, Thursday, August
Al. and arrived at Sea Girt, N. j., Friday
noon.> > Gen. Bird W. Spencer, inspector
general of rifle practice and executive
officer OF the aSSocidtioIi, tchocAVu oAAN
team the use of tents and all needed fur
nishings extending to the team all the
courtesies possible, making every effort
to have our stay comfortable and pleasant.
/ should not do justice to the officers OF
that association did 1 not inform the pee
ule of Maine, that the attendance OF
team from Maine N.G. was regarded with
qualification and marked approval.
We found that the National Guard OF
the District of Columbia were on the
ground, with representation of 40 men,
and had been in practice for nearly
week before our arrival. The Georgia
state team had been there several days,
and a fine body of men there were, getting
in condition for the best possible work the
coming week We were to meet the ia
mons marksmen from the state of New
York. and those from PENNSYLVANIA ana
New Jersey fresh from their state
matches. We had less than two days TO
nractice as a team We also found that
sueh innovations had obtained in the con
ditions of conducting the matches that
we were regarded by those competing,