Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-14
NAMES NATIONAL GUARD.
Col. Dill Talks About the Boys OF the
Militia.

Zone of the visitors to the city to at
tend the school of instruction" says
the Bangor Commercial of wednesday,
was Col. Elliott c. Dill, the versatile
and popular special writer of the Lew
iston Journal, who is inspector gen.
eral of rifle practice. In chat with
Commercial man Colonel Dill said:
maine had certainly good reason to
feel proud Of her national guard for,
while it Is not so large as the guard in
many other states, and is given dimes
where similar organizations in other
states have dollars, it is a compact and
business-like body. The commanding
officers Of the several organizations are
men who have won their straps by
plucky, untiring devotion to the States
service and to the National service dur
ing the recent brush with the arms of
Spain. Col L. H. Kendall of the First
regiment and Col. E. E. Newcomb of
the Second are officers who have
worked their way to their eagles from
the ranks and consequently they know
what goes to make up an efficient regi-
ment and how to secure the same.
For the most part the officers of
the field and line are also men of ex-
field. In each regiment there is enough
of the seasoned material to break in
the rockies and to give their lines the
swing Of veterans. Under the economi-
cal, yet progressive, administration of
Ma .-Gen. Augustus B. Farnham of
Bangor, every cent of the money
which the guard receives from the
state will be expended to the best ad-
vantage. General Farnham, being a
veteran campaigner, has as little use
for the frlls and furbelows of militia
life as had his predecessor. that admir-
atle officer, Gen. John T. Richards. Cen
eral Farnham has already minated
that his first consideration will be the
welfare and interests of the enlisted
men, fully realizing that from the in
dividual men comes the corps d'esprit
which goes to make military success
full.
1.-The interest which the officers
have evinced at this present school OF
instruction shows that the Second is
bent on a business-lk like year and l can
assure you from my recent visits to
companies in the First that the same
interest and enthusiasm prevails in
that organization. Unless all signs
fail the present season will show as
much interest in rifle practice as the
guard has ever known. Although to
certain extent they have to dodge the
snow flakes, quite a number of Port
land enthusiasts have been out to the
range and are returning good scores.
Portland's generosity in appropriating
$500 for the construction of a range,
adequate for her six militia organize
tions, will give the greatest impetus to
rifle shooting in the Forest City. Like
action on the part of Bangor gives
Company G target facilities long need
ed, and look for excellent results from
the Queen City boys this year.
THE qualifications are unchanged
from last year for the rifle and carbine
though revolver qualifications will
mean higher scores this year. Last
years rules. which were considerable
of an innovation. were found to work
quite smoothly, being elastic enough to
fit the needs of the guard.
The National Guard of Maine
stands well among the leaders in the
organized militia of the country. This
was conclusively proven in 1898 when
Maine sent forth troops which were
second to none in point of drill equip
ment and physique. The guard of
Maine. while at all times conservative,
has been among the first to adopt
such improvements in drill and equip
ment as would keep it in the van of
military progress.