Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-16
I OFFICIAL REPORT.
Capt. S. A. CoIman, U. S. A,
Commends Names Guard.
Was the Government Inspector at
Recent Encampment.
Makes Important Recommendations
and Gives Erase Where Due.

Capt. S. A. Cloman, 29d Infantry, U.
S. A., who was the official inspector at
last summers encampment of Names
National Guard in this city, has made
his report to the secretary of war, and
has mailed copy of the same to
general of Maine.
| While in attendance at the muster
Capt. Cloman was the admiration of
both officers and men by his soldierly
bearing and gentlemanly conduct, and
by his strict and constant devotion to
| duty and discipline. His report, there
| fore. will be read with interest by all
members of the Guard. In making his
recommendations, Capt. Cloman says:
Il. That the Guard be equipped with
Krag- Jorgensen rifles, Cal. 80, without
delay 1t is absurd to teach the use of
a weapon that will be discarded at
once in time of war. While the general
principles of target practice, drill, and
care of the piece are the same, still
The knowledge that they are working
with weapons that they will not use
in action is but poor encouragement
for proficiency. Furthermore the fact
that they have been furnished with
rifles that have been discarded by the
regular forces of our country and every
other, is inclined to give the men a
poor opinion of their own dignity and
Importance and without this proper
pride there can be no perfection.
50. That an organization OF the reg
ular forces be sent to each encamp-
ment, notice being given as far ahead
as possible SO that the officers and
non commissioned officers of the same
may prepare themselves for their
duties as instructors.
80. That sufficient appropriations be
made by the State to justify a year
ly encampment of not less than two
weeks for all troops.
a. That a system of theoretical in
struction be established in the Guard
that will carry out the law and bring
officers and men to the encampment
fitted to begin the practical work with
out loss of time.
IS. That, the regulations be rigidly
enforced against officers and men who
absent themselves from duty without
authority, and in other ways show that
| they have not the proper spirit and
| pride in their work. Nothing is SO
| catching" as this carelessness and
| the sooner such men are forced out
of the service the better.
Sc. | noticed vast difference in Of
| ficers of the same rank. A few, and /
am glad to say a very few, did not
seem to have a genuine interest in
their work but were in the Guard for
other reasons that l could not fathom.
Il. Such an organization as the
| National Guard of Maine should re-
lentlessly purge itself of this dead
wood. If poor officers and men remain
en- the same plane as good ones there
| is no incentive to work. One of the
duties of the inspector generals de-
| Lartment is to report, impartially, the
| good and the bad so that proper action
| may be taken, and with the present
| fearless and accomplished inspector
| general, l have no doubt this will be
done Likewise commentator should
be freely and publicly bestowed when
deserved, and in this and in other ways
a. gulf created between the deserving
and undeserving that will either force
the latter to change or get out of the
service. Healthy rivalry is necessary
here as in other matters of life"
1851 DIE --------
/ In his 0rltlclSnr OF oHcefS ana men,
| Capts Cleinan says:
During the encampment at Augusta
4 acted as inspector and instructor and
ssproper netidcatabn was issued to the
troops by the commander-in-chief. The
10 Gays I Was in camp l noted no flag
rant breach of regulations or discipline.
1t was a quiet, orderly camp where all
seemed to desire to learn as much as
, possible. However, there were num-
Der of small Irregularities that were
most noticeable. and While they were
, corrected on the. spot l will mention
! them here in the hope that this report
f may be read by many of the Guard and
at future encampments there will be
I no necessity for criticism.
Firstly, irregularities in the uni
:. forms. Every man in the Guard knows
: what the proper uniform is as well as
| do, but men would appear with KHAKI
). blouse, blue trousers, civilian coats and
: khaki trousers, Nblue caps with KHAKI
Z clothing, sometimes no leggins and va
rious other combinations, and the eli
;. max was capped by, an officer appear.
ing with his khaki trousers stuffed in q