Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-10


OF his inspection of the National
Guard, State of Maine, will give the
pubic an unprejudiced estimate of the
elnclency of our soldier boys:
FIRST INFANTRY.
Company "a" The company APP
peared to be instructed in but few drill
movements, but those We're fairly well
executed. The officers knowledge of
drill regulations seemed to be con-
fined to few movements. Sufficient
interest is shown, but company needs
instruction to make it effective.
Oflcers are elected by the men. The
men are not we'll set up.
Company "B." Officers and men
take commendable interest in their
work and the efficiency of the company
is comparatively high. The company is
recruited from a good class of young
men. Their drill in both close and ex-
tended order was fairly good.
Company &C." The company was
fairly we'll instructed in close order and
partly in extended order. The men of
the company are all very young, and
it is doubtful if they could stand hard
service. The spirit of the officers and
men is good and a very intelligent class
of men is drawn upon for recruits.
Company ID" No report made by
inspecting officer.
Company "E" This company is in
very bad condition. The captain has
been relieved from duty and a major
of the regiment has taken the property
responsibility and is settling up the af-
fairs of the company. The list lieu
tenant has resigned and there remained
only one officer FOR duty. The drill
ard instruction were poor.
Company e" This company was
organized June l, 1903: has not as yet
received arms or equipments, and has
received no military instruction. 1t
was organized to replace a company
disbanded at Augusta, Maine, in
February, 1893. No company has here
tofore been stationed at Sanford,
Maine, hence the company contains
very few men who have ever had mill
tary training. The men appeared at
inspection without arms or equipments
and in civilian clothing.
Company c. The drill of this COM
pany was poor; the movements prac-
ticed few and indifferently executed.
The members of the company seem to
he without interest in their work and
the efficiency isl correspondence low.
Most of the duties of the captain seem
to have been delegated to his sub
crGinates without supervision on his
part.
r. Company III The company was
very poorly instructed in drill regula-
lions, both close and extended order,
and could execute very few move
ments and those badly. Property was
well cared for. Interest in the work
seems to beasrnallAand no progress APP
pears to have been made. The armory
is very small and not suitable as a
Grill hall.
Company a." Men appear fairly
we'll set up. Officers and men display
plenty of interest in the work. Officers
are considered very capable and the
drill of the company in close order was
excellent. Extended order has not
been taught to any extent. Officers are
elected by the men. The company APP
pears to be fairly efficient, as far as
could be determined by inspection in
small armory, with no space to effec-
lively maneuver.
Company * The company did not
appear to be well instructed in drill
regulations, and there was lack of
interest apparent in their work. The
officers arc not well instructed and the
company in general is low in efficiency
Company a." Sufficient interest
seems to be shown by both officers and
men and a good esprit de corps exists
in the company. The men in general
seem to be intelligent. The company
elects it's own officers, which is con-
sidered undesirable and bar to strict
discipline and the maximum of
efficiency. The desirability of an in
structor detailed to the National
Guard of the State or to each regi-
ment thereof. is apparent The officers
and men desire to progress but have
no one to direct their efforts.
Company IN" Interest in the work
is good and the company receives strong
support from the people of the town.
Infantry drill was very good, both in
close and extended order. A great deal
has been done in this company to at
tract a good class of young men to the
service and il appears to be in the ma
ture of a club where members can con-
gregate at any time for social pleas
ure.
SECOND INFANTRY.
Company "A" The company drilled
fairly well in close order. but knew very
little about extended order. A lack of in
terest in the work seems to prevail,
Company b" Company is fairly well
instructed in close order. instruction has
been given in extended order but to a very
limited extent. Interest in the work is
good and the company averages well in
efficiency.
Company &C" Interest in work is high
and men attend drills fairly regularly
Drill in close and extended order was fair
and showed that a reasonable amount of
instruction had been given. Armory is too
small for satisfactory work. The COM
pany receives support from the municipal
authorities and seems to be a popular
institution:
Company D officers and men show
interest in their work. Drill in close or
der was fair: in extended order was very
poor. The captain states that many of
the men work on night shifts in the mills
and that it is difficult to get his command
together for drills. The armory is very
poorly arranged and small, so that effici-
ent drill is impracticable.
Company E. Officers did not know
their drill. Men were fairly we'll instruct
ed as far as instruction was carried Not
much interest taken and c0ropapI. &c