Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-18
RIFLE PRACTICE.
Report Of Inspector General
Of National Guard.
Col. Dill Urges Independent Eacamp,
ment for Competitive Trials.
Large Increase in Ammunition used
and Great Gain in Efficiency.


and Great Gain in Efficiency.
The annual report Of Col. Elliott c.
Dill. inspector general OF rifle practice
on the staff of Governor Hill. will soon
be promulgated by Maj. Gen. A. B.
farnham in general orders. Col Dill
prefaces his admirable report with the
following:
IN prefacing last years report, l ex-
pressed the assurance that another
twelve-month would find the gain Of
1901 considerably increased, and it is
gratifying to report at this time that
the hopes of last year have become the
| records of the present year. Through
| out the guard there has been great ac-
tivity in range work and officers and
Snen have given me the most hearty CO.
operation in raising the standard of
craftsmanship. Out of the twenty-six
organizations which make report to me
of small arms practice there are but
two or three whose work can be classedi
as unsatisfactory. This statement
speaks volumes for the fidelity of the
| individual commands, when one bears
in mind f(w widely separated for the
most part the several organizations
are, and how little they have to do with
each other during the year. When
companies that are not within days
journey of each other work faithfully
on their home ranges to raise the reg
mental average, it will be seen that
even the volunteer militia possesses
that esprit de corps which makes the
| army what it is.
The rules governing small arms
qualification have been given another
years trial, with certain changes in
| regard to revolver qualification, and
their careful study leads me to believe
that they should be modified so as to
better meet the needs of the guard.
| hesitated to suggest any changes last
year, feeling that one years trial was
insufficient to test the efficacy Of the
1 system, but l feel now that the rules
have had a fair test and should be
modified at once. 1 will not at this
time outline the changes which I re-
gard as necessary, but will lay the plan
before the board of officers whose duty
it is to prepare the rules and regula-
tons governing small arms qualifica-
ton practice. at such time as you may
l see fit to convene the board.
THE work of the season covered by
this report has been a marked ad-
vance over the preceding year. the in.
Il creased activity being forcibly shown
by the expenditure of ammunition,
which is over fifty thousand rounds in
II excess of last season.
! panies is given. A summary of the
Il First Infantry is as follows: THE
year which closed the 31st of October
was one of remarkable Improvement in
! spa4 arms practice in this regiment.
The close of the season finds eleven
companies which have done good work.
Col. Lucius II. Kendall, of Biddeford.
commanding the regiment. has sought
| in every way to interest his companies
/ and with one exception they have done
him honor. Col. Kendall has had an
!. liable executive officer in the person CT
| First Lieut. John J. DoOley of Port
Hand, his inspector of rifle practice.
| Lieut. Dooley has done more than any
one member of the Guard to enthuse
| the several commands. He not only
understands how to plan but how to
L
ing his regiment work as it has never
| worked before. Excellent as has been
the years record, Col. Kendall conf
] Identity expects his men to make an
even better showing the coming sea-
SON
A detailed statement by companies
Itfollows. OF Co. F. Augusta, Col. Dill
says:
| x,1,n in, incnonfnrc during
present season has given to this COM
pany an inspector who devotes much
time to his work, and does that work
well. Corp. T. M. j. Enright. He has
worked under many disadvantages,
but is entitled to a great deal of credit
for what he has done. Another year,
if given proper cooperation. he will
greatly increase the standing of the
.fcompany. The returns show that four
qualified as distinguished sharpshoot-
ers: one as a first-class marksman;
and seventeen as marksmen.
A summary of the Second Regiment S
work is as follows:
There has been some remarkable
Improvement and some marked lack OF
improvement in the past season
work of this regiment. Several
|lcompanies have failed to waken to
the necessity Of small arms practice
ard that has decreased the standing OF
the regiment not little. On the other
hand. several companies have taken
wonderful strides to the front and VIII
mot be again found among the ias-
cards The companies which were
tstrong last year will in nearly all cases
he found stronger at the close OF the
season covered by this report. Thefesi-
Iment lacks the assistance or an IN
spector of small arms practice VINO ma $
no other military duties. First Lieut..
lOIin NJ smith of Houlton. adJutant OF
tbe first battalion, rendered much as
sistance during encampment, but the
Irerimen. stands in need OF some one
j who can keep sharply after the deiin-
lnuents throughout the season. Co,. =.
4 y Newcosb Of Eastport, commandins
tho regiment. would like to see al ms
companies hard at work on the range
for he is an old rifleman and 1uiis ap-
nreciates the Importance OF TINS prahcii
Of the Modern soldiers training.
4 ossyhe companies in the Second hesi-