Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-05-01
latly Heuaebst sanraal
City and County.
WISE SUGGESTIONS
To Officers Of I'd Regiment by Inspector
General harrington.

| dress, yesterday afternoon, before the
school of instruction for the officers Of the
second regiment of the National Guard of
Maine at Bangor. Following is an alb.
stract of his remarks:
By invitation of your colonel command
ing, am pleased to speak to YOU regard
ing the duties of officers of the N. G.. Civ
ing some suggestions how the perform
ance ON your part may add strength and
efficiency to the military force OF the
state. Ii some of these suggestions to your
minds relates only remotely to rifle prac-
tlce, you will bear in mind that it is
impossible to succeed in bringing any
command up to a high standard as marks
men, If the other requirements of military
| instruction fails. That, as a rule the
command which excels in craftsmanship
Will excel in almost everything that
makes an efficient military organization.
While believe that no duty should be
neglected l am also believer in the say
ing of Napoleon, which I saw posted in
| gold letters at the headquarters of the
National Rifle Association at Sea Grit, n
j., when there last fall, Fire is every
thing, the rest is nothing" The officer
who brings the necessary discipline and
enthusiasm to his command to secure
strength in rifle practice will hardly be
found deficient in the instruction that
will bring the soldier into such position
/ as will permit him to use his rife with
effect. From considerable observation
1t Is apparent to me at least that the
| efficiency of q command, whether large or
small, depends largely. l might say almost
exclusively upon the officers in command
do not know but 1 might say officer
| in command.
Happily for the National Guard of
Maine your coplmander-in chief, and his
adjutant, Gen. Common have brought ex-
perience and ripe Judgment in the man
agement OF the military department of the
State. The method and discipline has
been felt throughout the whole guard,
and if not as fully as might be desired, yet
for good effect. There is gentlemen, q
tremendous power in the will and energy
Of one man, if properly exerted. 1t is
| individual effort that wins recognition in
every avenue of business. This applies
to military matters, as forcibly as to bust
ness affairs. 1t is the personal effort.
vim, the determination to bring to bear
on the education, discipline and manage
ment of regiment that will give distinc-
ton to any commander. The captain of
company can much easier let his com
pany go to pieces than keep it up to high
standard of excellence; but he can never
| theless give that tone, discipline and sue
cess by personal exertion, which every
company must receive or suffer loss there
by. If he does his whole duty, the officers
under HIM will respond to their duties
Also and the men in the ranks will at
once partake of the influences OF their
officers and new life will pervade the
whole company. Gentlemen, the matter
of success rests with you who have been
| honored with commissions. / know the
difficulties under which you labor; the
sacrifices you have to make; the vexations
which constantly embarrass you. but
YOU have assumed the responsibility. and
you owe it TO yourselves, your company.
and the State to do your best to maintain
company. fully prepared to respond at
moments notice, fully understanding all
their duties as soldiers.
| All this has O direct bearing upon the
work of the part l have somewhat in
charge fr d that the best riflemen,
whether officers or men. and commanders
have told me often that those who took
an interest in rifle practice were those
most constant in attention regarding their
other duties. Not but that we have
officers who have as yet given but little
attention to this part of their duty, who
are valuable officers still II they We're
marksmen, they would find additional
incentive to become efficient soldiers 1t
is hard to cnthuse another with about a
matter of which we know nothing. 1t
must be let to another, and If a comman-
der has such in his company to take
charge of rifle practice and will give him
the proper encouragement, success will
surely come.
| AS a whole the second regiment has
very fair standing in craftsmanship, but
1t Is not what it ought to be, and 1t is not
what it may be. The State has right to
expect some companies to do much better
than last year In fact the better COM
panies in craftsmanship have an interest
in your advancement. Your weakness
| reflects upon the whole regiment and
brings down its standing. To be sure the
"tactics" of war must be understood, but
of what avail If when the commander
| is able to place his army in favorable
position for combating the enemy, and
then finds that it cannot use with de-
structive effect the weapons they have IN
their hands Without q proper Under
standing of the manoevers OF war, an
army would be q mob simply when
| massed for combat. Without knowing
how to shoot effectively, would be simply
1 to be led to slaughter.
Whether in riots, or open warfare, the
Esoldier must be marksman to be of val
Eue. Expert craftsmanship. is the highest
lachievement of the soldiers education.
lsThe physician upon the battlefield, with
! out the knowledge of surgery, would be
as much out of place as a soldier in the
ranks without the knowledge of marks
manship. Such are absolutely worthless,
worse than none at all, for they take the
place of men fitted to do the duties en-
trusted to them, disappointment ana
constant embarrassment. The education
they must have, and should have received
before they were called into active duty
must now be secured to them before they
can be of service as effective soldiers.
When at the national matches last fall
at Sea Grit, N. j., the Maine team met dis
tinRuished officers and men from many