Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-03
RIFLE SHOOTING,
Inspector Generals Report
Shows Bad CONDITIONED Affairs.
Plans Made to Overcome Setback
Caused by Spanish War.
Io'' t. Z. harrington Carefully Reviews The
Conditions and Work.

Col. f. c. Harrington. the insnacto
| general of rifle practice, has made hi
annual report to Adjutant General ]
| /. Richards. and after approvinp III,
same the latter has allowed the Jour
nal to give it in full. This report doe
not give the actual condition of tn,
flile shooting of the National Guard ii
a wrong light. On the contrary i
SHOWS 1t just as it exists which i.
by no means source of pleasure TO I'll,
officers of the guard Nevertheless il
is not fault on their part. for the
| Spanish war is the cause of if all
breaking up about everything in the
way of practice in the past two wears
and making changes in the guard. TIL,
condition will be overcome as soon as
possible, and the plans for the practice
OF the future is we'll defined whereby
the old standard which was second tc
none. can be attained.
All feel sure that under the careful
direction of General Richards and
Colonel harrington the work of 1906
VIII go on toward the Improvement
and in a way that will leave no doubt
about the result.
In the report Colonel Harrington
makes several suggestions. and among
other things is the formation of a
ste tan to p3i ticipate in the inter-
$ & shoot, each year. This event has
now been placed under a management
that makes it military affair instead
Of what it used to be, and the adj
vantages of being represented there is
CO nv
The following is the report:
To the Adjutant General of the State
of Maine.
Sir: | have the honor to submit my
report of rifle practice, in the National
Guard of the State of Maine. as is re-
qUired by the statute, together with
such recommendations as is deemed
proper at this time.
1t Will he remembered that the Span
ish- American war occupied the active
attention of your department during
the year 1898: the preparing and send
ing of Il large portion of the National
Guard into the service of the govern
mcnt. produced such Reorganization of
the forces remaining that no practice
was done that year, excepting inStruC-
ton upon the State range to several
batteries prior to their departure.
ON the return and mastering out of
the troops from the service of the gov
ernment. 50 much time was required
to recruit the companies to their com
Element. that there could be hut little
artive range practice in 1888 In an
ticipation of the return to duty Of the
guard I commenced early in 1899. to
ascertain in what condition the com
panv ranges We're. and endcaVOred to
have them put in repair 50 that as
much rifle practice as possible could
b. had the past season. Many Of the
officers most active in this respect. We're
commissioned in the regular army. and
others chosen to fill their places, all Of
which led to the delay in getting tn"
National Guard ready for work upon
the range.
Nearly all tho company ranges We're
repaired and in some cases rebuilt.
TIL" companies now without rifle ranges
are Companies ID and II Of the LIST
Regiment. and Companies \ and NJ
Companies A and NJ Of the End Regi-
ment will have to have new ranges,
and the others repaired.
The only companies which made any
return Of rifle practice during the sea-
son were A. r and NJ Of the LIST Regi-
mont. and \ and L Of the End Regl-
ment. The only companies which ap-
nIied for qualification practice. under
the regulations. We're Companies r of
the 1st and l.. of the End Regiment.
These companies had their practice thr
last DAYS Of October. and their scores
and qualifications are hereby al'-
pended.