Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-23
STATE HOUSE.
National Guard Netes-Recent Field Day Ex.
ercises- State Board Of Health.

the guest of Capt. Morton in Portland
for several days during the weel,
Both officers were pleased spectators O
the field work of the Portland battal
ion and the signal corps on Friday.
Conditions at the Portland armor,
have not improved. The festival il
over, but it will be week or two be-
fore the staging and platforms are re-.
moved. 1t is rumored that the great
wooden gallery which occupies the
front end of the drill hall will be lief,
there until an iron gallery is built
The wooden gallery has a multitude OF
supporting posts, and the floor under
it cannot be used for drill purposes
1t seems hardly possible that the city
government can take such active steps
to injure the Guard, but the evidence
points that way at present.
The troops in Biddeford and Rock
land held their field day, Wednesday
the goth. 1t was a success in both
cases, as it has been everywhere.
Capt. Starr of Westbrook, reports that
his men reached their armory tired and
enthusiastic. Capt. Shurteleff of
Waterville, and his company not only
put in a whole afternoons work, but
also bivouacked during the night in
the open. 1t was very cold, but the
captain had his outposts out, and
everything was conducted as if in the
enemy's country. The field day
throughout the State has been so far a
pronounced success, and when reports
are in much valuable information for
future work will doubtless be OBJ
tanned.
Lieut.. Royden's report to the war de-
partment on his work with the Guard
during the last encampment has just
been rendered. He states that on all
sides he heard the encampment was
the most valuable ever held in the
State. The good effect of regmental
drill in the 1st Regiment on company
and battalion work was very notice.
able. Lieut.. Royden says the person
mel of the Guard is of the highest
quality. although as soldiers there is
room for improvement. He speaks
particularly of the lack of military
10
ment in this respect of late years, and
men fail more from ignorance of the
proper thing to do than from deliberate
intention of neglecting their duty.
Lieut.. Royden recommends that 4
battalion of regulars camp with the
troops, that regimental camps be. held.
that the full dress uniform be abolish
ed, that the blanket roll be worn in
stead of the knapsack, that less tar
get practice be held in camp, and that
greater effort be made to secure full
attendance of men at drills. Many of
these recommendations are excellent,
and some while good, are impossible Of
fulfillment 1t would be desirable 10
have at least company of regular in
fantry in camp with the Guard, but the
nearest infantry post is at Plattsburg,
New York, and it is not believed the
government could be pursuaded to send
troops as far as Augusta, unless the
State paid for their transportation.
Col. E. c. Milliken, State pension
agent, has gone to Boston, for a few
days on business.
Adjutant General Richards was in
Portland, yesterday. looking after the
for the fall field day Of
the Portland battalion of the National
Guard.
Down in the office of the secretary of
the State board of health we found
Miss Lovejoy busy with a large num-
Der of bottles of water that had been
sent to the Office from different towns
ana C1tleS IN the otdte accompanied
with the request that the water be
analysed. Miss Lovejoy says that this
is the season of the year which the peo-
pie begin to grow frightened and want
the water analysed that they may de-
termine whether or not there are any
typhoid germs to be found therein.
Capt. Lovejoy, commanding Co. F, I'd
Regiment, N. G. S. NJ, says that his
company will not perform field day
duty as it was intended, to do, today.
The captain finds it impossible for the
non-commissioned officers to leave
their work, and it would be use
less to take the command out without
the non-commissioned officers. Capt.
Lovejoy regrets that he can not take
his command out, and it is certainly to
be regretted that the company Will
miss this opportunity to perform this
duty which could not but be bene-
fetal to the men. The Introduction OF
this tour of duty will work wonders