Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-11-20

| will do we'll to consider WAeluer enoio 10
rot now an open field where al the oe'.er
onalities of an officer can De as iuhs
demonstrate as when meeting the iuiiess
demands of the State
! Look out upon the world To-Day anu see
the increased activity in all mlnears oe
partmentc. Larger armies anu larger
navies. all tie devices OF war WHICH nu-
man ingenuity can invent to destroy NE
and property The COMMANDER Oh OUT
own army is now urging It's Increase
4 Our navy and coast offences ave con
s.antlv being strengthened, ana attention
Is being called to much greater heeu Oh
activity in his direction. Mhat would
vou think Of a commander OF one CT our
battlesbjps, equipped with powerful ano
accurate cannon, rifles with range OF
nearly three miles, all the tefrlbie ex-
nIosiyes that can be invented Tor naval
use. and fail to have all his oihcers and
men thoroughly informed in the manner
Of using them with the most deadly
effect Not less your responsibility than
his The chances are, ten to one, the
National Guard is first to be called upon
RI oneu disorder. Your opportunity for
shaving your ability tn put strong
compapy ia the field is now, and the test
of your POWER to do so, is upon you
whether you would have it SO or ether
wise Your value and anime as an officer
will be determined by the success of our
present efforts.
Success cannot come to every man in
the same measure, but every man has the
opportunity for honest effort. The mag
nitude CT your undertaking is not so
great, that the best of achievements
would result, il each officer put that
| effort which he IS amply capable of doing
| into his work. To secure the best results
| the coming season, let me urge you to
establish sheds for winter and spring
shooting. Many of your men can be in
structcd during the time mentioned who
would with difficulty be got on the range
in the summer. 1t would be with very
little effort if each member Of your COM
panies took hold in earnest for the erection
Of a shed at the two hundred firing point
where all the 200 yard qualifications
could be secured early in the season. In
this manner you would have the larger
portion and most favorable condition Of
weather FOR qualifying your men in tie
higher grades Of marks manship
The colonel commanding and the
officers of your regiment may feel proud
of the strength of the regiment as 1t
stands today; having advanced about
seventeen per cent over that of 1894, and
reach ng a limit never attained before by
any regiment in the State Think II you
please of the power and strength as
marksmen CT the eastern battalion com
posed of companies I, X and l., which IN
point of fact stands first among any like
organization in this country. DO you
think that no honor attaches to the
officers and men of this command? Not
waiting for renown that might come in
actual service, they demonstrate their
ability to command and secure u military
reputation as potent IA can be secured in
times Of peace, and place themselves in
position to receive recognition if their
services should ever be demanded in the
interests of the State or country.
1t does no injustice to the other regi-
ment to say that while the first regiment
must second place this year, owing to the
lack of practice of two or three companies,
this honor of being first can only be
temporary If the first regiment will do
their duty as a whole the coming season.
In pointing out the weak companies
and condemning their lack of interest,
there is no intention Of disparsging your
efforts to secure whatever has been of
good, but to forcibly call your attention
to the need of more systematic and better
results another year.
Do not think that the only vexations
and trials come to your companies in your
efforts to maintain creditable commands,
and that you are bearing all the burdens
and hardships in trying to keep up a
good military organization. We know
what it cost you of time and money, ana
the discouragements that are yours.
They are only In common with the other
military departments. You who have had
chance to know realize something of
the anxiety aud labor Of your colonel
commanding whose personal sacrifices
and efforts are greater than any other
officer in the regiment speak what |
know to be true, that from the moment
that the governor entered upon his official
duties as governor and commander in
chief, he has been anxious for your adj
vancemont. doing all that could be done
for the good of the National Guard Of the
State. The efforts Of your adjutant gen
cral, has been as loyal for your success as
an officers could be, who laying aside
personal care has worked for the guard Of
the State, with Jealous spirit TO do his
full duty, regardless of consequences to a
constitution impaired in the service of his
country.
Do not magnify your trouble in trying
to keep up your commands, but rather
take pride in overcoming everything that
stands in your way Of success.
am certainly am proud of the Second
Regiment and thank you for your assist
ancc in the discharge of my duties, To
Lit. l. II. Ncwcomb, your regimental in
spector Of rifle practice, your confidence
and regards is due for his constant and
untiring efforts in his department,
And now thanking sou for your atten
ton at this time, let us work with re
newed energy for an increased efficiency
in the regiment,