Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-29
OUR STATE MILITIA.
What a Capable Military
Critic Says Of It.
Official Report Of Captain c. G.
Morton, 9Th U. S. Infantry.
On tho Condition Of Our National Guard
for 1897.

Much interest will be felt by mem
bers and friends of the National Guart
of this State in the report which ha.
just been made to the war department
at Washington by Capt. c. G. Morto,
of the 9th U. S. Infantry, the officer de
| tailed for inspection duty in Maine
Captain Morton reports the tota
strength Of the National Guard of thi.
State as 11S officers and 1896 enlisted
men.
The average per cent of the tota
force attending muster was So, the
maximum for any one day being 49,
OF the ambulance corps he says:
There is no hospital corps outside
the regimental surgeons and stewards
Equipments consist of one ambulance
nearly or quite like that used in the U.
S. army, several filters of obsolete pa.-
tern, hospital corps knives, and few
supplies for rendering first aid. Rifles
are issued for target practice only.
The corps is well disciplined and in
structed. The State owns no surgical
instruments, but has one medicine
chest, well stocked. In the camp Of
instruction one of the headquarters
buildings and a part of another We're
set apart as a hospital and dispensary,
the necessary surgeons and stewards
being in attendance day and night
There were about II beds in the hospi-
tai. The work was very skilfully con-
Quoted" s The Signal Corps is
we'll disciplined and proficient in the
use of it's equipment The new signal
code is used exclusively, Excellent
day and night work was done in the
camp of instruction. The trip to camp
and back, about 60 miles each way, was
made by the entire corps on their own
bicycles, map of the country being
made at the same time. The trips were
successfully performed, but the COM
mander of the corps reports adversely
upon the use of the bicycle in war.
f Troops will rarely be needed to sup
press domestic violence in this State
Should they be needed points of con-
centration would probably be: Angus
ia, to settle disturbance growing out Of
rival claims for the State government.
and Lewiston and Auburn or Biddeford
and Saco, to settle labor troubles. To
tFepel a jointsland and naval attack
upon Portland by the British, which
would be very likely to occur at the
sbeginning Of war, and for reasons I'M
necessary to state, troops would be
concentrated at or near that city. =,
To make an invasion eastward, or re-
Snel one from the same direction, troops
Would be concentrated al BJhgor or.
Mattawamkeag. If at the for1h er place,
,outposts should be at Vanceboro, Houl-
ton and Greenville. In an attempt to
capture Montreal and Quebec, or repel
invasion from those points, troops
would be concentrated at North STRAIT
ford, N. H., with outpost at Beecher
Falls. Reasons are apparent by
glance at railroad map of the State.
1t would require "a hours for concentra-
ton of the troops for service in the State
and As hours for service outside. There
are no special plans for emergency eX-
cept that some companies have fire alarm
or other signals for calling members to
armOry quickly. 1t may be estimated that
IS per cent Of the force would turn out for
sixty days service in case of need. The
infantry has a full equipment of Spring.
field rifles cal. 45. with from SO to 100 in
reserve. Spare parts for repairs are fur
nished on requisitiOn. Nearly all rifles
are serviceable, or could be made so in
few minutes by use of spare parts. but
from 30 to so per cent are of model %. and
nearly worn out. Bayonets and scab-
bards are provided for all infantry troops,
as are black leather waist belts, waist
belt plates, and Mckeever cartridge
boxes These are serviceable. although
not kept as clean or well polished as in
the regular service.
There is practically no cavalry or ar
tillery that is serviceable. One regiment
of infantry is equipped with blanket bags.
and the other with a box knapsack, made
of enameled leather spread over frame.
The former are serviceable, while the
latter although good enough for peace
purposes, would speedily wear out and be
discarded in campaign. There are can
teens and haversacks sufficient for all
troops, and in good order.
The head dress consists of the helmet,
forage cap and campaign hat. The he'll
met is the same as used-by the.U S.
troops, except that State front piece is
substituted for the eagle Officers wear
the forage cap used by the U. S. army,
while enlisted men use that just super
seeded. The campaign hat is the drab hat
used in the regular service. Head dress
serviceable, except that helmets are con-
tinually becoming disabled by reason OF
the brass cross which receives the spike
becoming broken. Body garments con-
| and blouse. These are of U. 5. pattern,
except that State button is used. and
State insignia are on collar of officers
blouse. Trousers are of U. S. pattern.
except that those of privates have the
white piping on outside seam of leg.
Blankets are similar to those used in reg
ular army, substituting IN. G. s. M for
"U. s." Clothing in general is service
able and enough on hand to supply the
organized strength. An unusual amount
of clothing has been condemned and re-
placed by new this year.
Most of the horses used in the service
are hired. None are owned by the State.
| There are 1000 rounds of ammunition in
the hands of each company. to be used
only in emergency. This is nearly all rifle
ball, cal As, although a few thousand
rounds are carbne call, cal, IS. In addi-
| ton, each company will have variable
amount of loaded ammunition, and mate
rial for reloading shells, in it's hands foI
| target practice. Every company mas sci
of reloading tools.
| In case of emergency 1900 rounds coulo
be supplied each company on arrival at
| the point of concentration, in addition 10
| that kept at the armOries.
| Nearly every company drills weekly
the drill lasting from ~ to hours. A
| few companies drill only twice month
| The latter number complies with the law
Drills are generally in the school OF the
soldier and of the company in close or.