Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-03
Of Inspector General Of
Rifle Practice.
Guard Shows Advancement in
Use Of Small Arms.
Maine Rifle Teams Benefited by
interstate Competitions.

rifle practice, has been issued from the
Office Of the adjutant general:
STATE OF MAINE.
Adjutant Generals Office.
Augusta. December Il, 1916
General Orders No. 20.
The following is hereby published
for the information Of all concerned:
STATE OF MAINE.
Office of Irspect"r-General Of ilii"
Practice.
Portland, December y, 1896.
Major General Augustus Il. farnrlani'
Adlutant General. augusta, -hai''''.
Sir.-I have the honor to Sub,nit th''
following report of small arms
nractice in the National Gu'tr'l OF the
state of Maine, f.. tn: season ending
November l. 1906:
Thanks to Il hard winters ""iK on
the indoor ranges, in which practice M
the prone position WaS made = tenure
the rifcncn Of the Guard rnter''! upon
the outdoor rang season May ISL
be tier prepared than eyer before 70
achieve good results.
That the season has not shown tn
gain in qualification which sh"uid
have resulted is due to the ever
present problem Of ranges. COM
panics 4, b. + and /. of tn. fifa'
Infantry and the Naval Reserve were
practically without opportunity Tor
practice. Very little practice was &C
cornplished ON the City Of Portland
range for the erection If ADDITIONAL
dwellings near the range has rr!!deftd
more frequent the protests against
a., ,ly
be- heard when practice is conducted
near thckly settled sections. some q
the organizations mentioned succ""d"'i
in doing IL little work but X was de-
SultOry in character and adds niue T.
the figure of merit. Practice on me
CITY of Lewiston range was somewhat
hampcrcd by complaints of stray
bullets. though during tn" latte. part
Of the season when there was cor
siderable shouting no complaints ""r''
rccurdcd Co.. VI Of the Second In
fantry was without rang" facilities for
the greater part OF tin" season bu: the
completion of the State rang"
remedies this.
The Portland organizations feel
kecnly the Lack Of range facilities and
if an adequate range site can he found
and equipped within reasonable dis
tancc Of tine city the figure of merit for
tn" Guard will show an immediat" and
substantial increase. Extensive ana
quite thickly settled suburbs make 1t
difficult to secure Il sufficient amount
of land for a range with the five or
even tcn-ccnt limit of the electric cars
ana to go beyond such limits would
in1nnnccihle Dill .rant
inquiry and no little investigation of
surrounding territory have failed To
disclose Il suitable lange sit" for the
Portland organizations but ii is hoTcd
that one will yet be discovered.
Numerous changes in the roster of
the Guard are responsible for dc
creased qualification in some IN
stances. Changes in the list of cor l.
pany commanders nearly always affect
small arms practice. During til" i'll
terrcgnum between the resignation Of
Il captain and the qualification of his
successor there is usually = cessation
Of the sustained effort which alone
produces the desired reS,li. in figure Of
merit. Under Special Course &C.
where firing must be conducted nj
least three ranges if the company is
TO sccur" standing worthy o: mention,
nothing short Of a regular program
strictly adhered to will secure Il high
standing. And such a program can
neither he intcllig"ntly planned nor
effectively carried out if company is
to be handicapped by frequent changes
in its commissioned strength.
The adoption of my rcrnm:nrr l1tinn
that proficiency III small arms IsaCtic"
lie made 4 requisite Ia commission
and warrant has bora" exc llcnt :rliit
in SO far rs il has been appli d To *
aminatiuuS for commission. The re
turns from the several companies this
year show Il much clearer under
standing Of the regulations than WAS
apparent last year a majority of tn"
annual returns were received promptly
and in proper form but a small per-
ccntagc of dclnqurnts has delayed not
only this report but the States annual
return to the War Department under
the provisions of Special Course C"
Two things are required to place the
States figure of merit where il should
be: Adequate ranges and sustained
effort on the part Of company COM
manders in conducting qualification
practice.
This department will do all that ii
can to supply the first requisite hu.
commanding officers themselves must
furnish the latter.
The reorganization Of qualification.
as shown in the report of this depart
ment to the military secretary under
date of December 10. 1906 as COM
pared with the recapitulation of 1908.
shows Il decrease of seven in the
number of Expert Rifemcn; an in
crease of four in the number Of Sharp
shooters: a decrease Of Sc in the nul!' :
Der of Marksmen: n decrease of Is in
the number of First-ClaSsmen: a de-
crease of one in the number OF
Second Classmen: a decrease of 70 In
the number of Third -Classmen; an
increase of 1S2 in the number of
Fourth Classmen: and a decrease or
6.S4 in the individual figure of merit
for the State.
Company ID. First Infantry. Norway.
for the third time has the honor OF
leading the State in figure OF merit. in
creasiug its splendid figure of 1928 for