Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-25

| lie AuiloM Ing Is tne report OF inspector
General Of Rifle Practice harrington, for
the year ending October ST. 1895.
To the Adjutant General of the State of
| Maine:
Sir: have the honor to submit my
report of rifle practice, showing the con
dition of the various companies in the
national guard, and making such recon-
mendations as is regarded best for the
future advancement in rifle practice
You will observe that the guard has made
a reasonable degree OF improvement,
maintaining higher per cent of eflici
ency, and showing increased strength in
craftsmanship. The per cent of efficiency
is based upon the number Of qualified
marksmen in the several classes, and the
standing" upon the strength of marks
manship. The per cent of those praotlc
ing and not qualifying might properly
bear some relation to the efficiency of the
guard, still ii cannot be said that soldier
who cannot or will not practice or make
a qualifying score in the lowest class is to
be relied upon As one prepared for or able
to meet violence successfully.
The systematic efforts CT most COM
panies give promies of continued gain,
each year will show such gain that it will
not be long before we may expect the
guard of Maine to be a force of superior
marksmen. In noticing the per cent of
gain over last year. it must be remem-
bored that when rate of per cent of
nearly three fourtbs of the command is
reached, even small additional gain
counts largely in the general improve
ment of the guard.
The whole number Of officers and men
in the twenty two companies of tie
national guard, as returned to me upon
the rolls of rifle practice to October 81,
1895, is ZIG, as against 1149 in 1894,
The number of sharpshooters is &C. first
class marksmen, IS; second class marks
men, 406; third class marksmen, 2i5
practicing and not qualifying, 1874, hay
ing no practice, 1917.
The number of sharpshooters in 1894
was 90, first class marksmen, 90, second
class marksmen, $40; third class marks.
men, 1872 practicing and not Qualifying,
1913; having no practice, PIG.
The per cent of qualification in 1894
was SO. Sc, and at the close of this season,
IL.
The returns of the companies in the
first regiment gave total OF 549 officers
and men, and of these 21 are sharp
shooters; % first class marksmen; 1876
second class marksmen; ll9 third class
marksmen; 63 practicing and not qualify
ing; 1876 having no practice. The figure
of merit is 60. 81, and the standing"
all.
The returns of the companies of the Cd
Regiment give total of 567 officers and
men, and of these, 10 are sharpshooters
10 first-class markmen; 2l1 second class
marksmen; 126 third class marksmen; II
practicing and not qualifying; II having
| no practice. The figure of merit of the
regiment is 74.90, and the standing"
2.42
| An appended table will how the ex-
| penditure of ammunition and condition
of each company in the regiments.
Ambulance Corps.
| Rifle practice is not enforced in the
ambulance corps, and but little was done
this year in that direction.
Signal Corps.
| This organization Is armed with the
United States oarbine, and conditions of
qualification were provided for their
practice. They did not get their arms
until the middle of August, after which
the corps did good work upon the range
Their return shows 10 men, and of these
one attained first class marksman eight
second class marksmen; one third class
marksman five practced and failed to
qualify. and four had no practice. am
assured that this command will take
especial pains to establish record of
craftsmanship another year.
| Their per cent. OF qualification is SO. 63,
and standing l.63.
Detailed Statement OF Companies. - First
Regiment.
| Company A, Portland.-This company
took but little interest in rifle practice
during the year, and dropped from 1878
per cent. to "A. "A per cent.
| Company B, Portland. This company
did not get at work in season to secure the