Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-01-03
GEN GUILDS REPORT.

many of her notables. Similar articles
ora 70 follow on Lowell and FAN RIVER
GEN GUILDS REPORT.
The Year of 1897 Remarkable For RECORD
Breaking.
Rrie Gen. Curtis Guild, Jr., inspector
General of rifle practice, in his anhua
Teport of the efficiency Of the state mill mill
tia saws that the fact that the year 1891
should be remarkable, as it has peeIl'
for the breaking of all records, IS eIlIIe-
Nv due to the energy and interest OF une
line officers. and the superb manner IN
which they have been supported by the
rank and file. Last years hlgh stail9-
ard of efficiency has been surpaSseu u
Every regimental team but one I'M
proved upon last years score, and with
very few exceptions, every company
troop and division must be given credit
for putting forth greater efforts than
ever to keep the militia Of Massachu-
setts at the head Of the states in the
knowledge and use of its weapon. The
following table summarizes the year S
work of all those entitled to qualify;
1896 1897.
Per cent of efficients ..SS.45 1888
Per ct. of fresh qualifications.SOSS $685.
Total rifle qualifications .,.. 4470 1924
Enrolment i'm troops emit
tied to qualify .............. 5533 1888
Gain in enrolment ........,... 100
Gain in efficients ............. 4S9
Revolver qualifications ...... 1874 245
L desire, however, says the inspector
to call to your particular attention the
superb record of B Company Sth regt-
ment stationed at Amesbury), and F
division, naval brigade stationed at
Fall River). Every one of the 81 Off
| GERS and men in the company and of the
/ so officers and men of the division is re-
turned as a qualified sharp-shooter.
| There are 29 companies, divisions or
troops in which every man on the rolls
is qualified nlarksman. There are %
companies, divisions or troops with a
full enrolment, in which every man is
a qualified maTksman. OF these % five
are in the I'd regiment. The enrolment
in the list corps cadets is somewhat ir-
regular, but no company has less than
ga, and every man in the corps, with
the exception Of a single officer at head
quarters, Is a qualified marksman
Every man but four in the naval brig
AIDE is a qualified marksman.
Last year the highest company team
score was 415. That record this year
has been surpassed by the scores of
eight company teams The winning
score with the carbine last year out of
a possible $50 was $50. This year it was
sos. In both years the score was made
by the team from Troop F. The win
ming score with rifle out of a possible
1900 was last year 1878. This year 1t was
1893. Last years winning score sixth
Infantry was beaten, not only by the
fifth infantry, who won THE tricolor but
was beaten by this years team from
the sixth infantry and by the team
from the first heavy artillery. The
lowest score last year was 1881 (ninth
Infantry. This year it is 1140 Second
corps cadets.
Of the 81 companies, batteries, divi-
sions and troops, So have range facili-
ties which adequately answer the re-
quirements. or at least will come under
this classification upon the completion
OF repairs and alterations now in prog
ress OF the q remaining commands.
IL report inadequate facilities, Z fair
facilities and 2, owing to the condemna-
ton by this department of the range at
Medhuen, are at present debarred from
range work. The first and second CORPS
of cadets, in addition to the ranges at
or near their home stations, have prop
erly equipped ranges at their respective
camp grounds, bingham and Bedford
preliminary
aiming drill in armories show that GA
commands have received systematic in
soruction during the past season; 9 com
mands have received instruction at ir-
regular intervals while in Is commands
this Important part of the soldiers
training has been utterly disregarded.
Gen. Guild also calls attention of Off
GERS to general orders, which state that
no enlisted man is allowed to be pro-
NOTED to non-commissioned grade I'M
less of record in some class Of marks
manship. ! am gratifled at being able
to report a general compliance with the
provisions OF this order. It has been
observed in all but two instances, to
poth OF which the attention of the prop
er officers has been called. 1t is a sig
nlflcant fact that, with upward of 100
non-commissioned officers in service
only remain unqualified at the date
OF inns report. OF these were appoint
ed prior to the issue of the order above
provisions. '''e
The range at Walnut hill used by the
Boston troops is the subject, as for
many years, of almost universal com
pant 1t is an excellent range. but
extremely inaccessible The various
sites about the city have been examined
by the officers stationed in Boston. and
a site in Revere, near the boundary of
MAIDEN, was universally agreed upon
over a year ago, with the provision that
II be properly drained. The price
then demanded, says Gen. Guild, l am
informed by Mayor Quincy, was too
hlgh to permit of its purchase. I en-
trely agree with him. Within a month
however, the person Offering it for sale
mas offered to leave the price to an i'm
partial committee Of experts. and | GER