Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-12
At Portland Is Scheduled
to Begin This Week.
Maine Guardsmen Have Re.
ceived Much Instruction.
States Soldiers Are Getting Along
Well With Regulars.

Portland, Me-, Aug. 1.-THE First
Guard. have now been in camp at the
Notifications in Casco bay since Thurs
day afternoon and during that time
have been given much valuable in Y
struction in the handling of the big
guns and in supporting the batteries.
Only few companies have been as
signed to actual work in the pits and
the rest have been drilled in outpost
duty. A small detachment of few
companies has been detailed as attack
ing force. though in imagination each
man is to be four men. The prepara-
tory work will continue until Wednes-
lated attacks and outpost duty. Thurs
day the regulars will have sub-caliber
practice in batteries Blair, Fairy.
Ramsey, Kaaney and ingalls,, Monday
and Tuesday, followed by service prac-
tice Wednesday. The militia will fol-
low the regulars at the guns each day.
Thursday and Friday the forts Will
have occasion to defend themselves
while the defenders will be busy look
ing after their own fort one day. an
other Will be called upon to attack
neighboring fort, thus giving the
troops both ends of the argument to
figure out. The last two days will be
the most spectacular of all, according
to the predictions of those who have
followed the preparations, though they
will hardly approach the spectacular
days of the maneuvers held in this dis
trict several years ago.
The militia have fallen into the ways
Of the regulars readily and have not
only won the good will of their frienus
in the regulars, but have also wen
their admiration for the rapid progress
made. The citizen soldiers appeared
to fear that they would make some
break" the first two or three days,
that would subject them to the riiicule
of the regulars, but they soon found
that mistakes are made by all men
and are as readily overlooked by the
regulars as by their own mates. This
spirit has done most to make the first
days of the maneuvers highly succcAs-
full in every way. The boys who are
under Uncle Sam the year round are
perfectly willing to make any allow
ances that may be called for when
eight companies come out for parade
who have not been together for a year.
One remarkable thing about the mi
ltia is the wonderful good health thus
far. But one or two men have been in
the hospital and these have been en-
abled to return to their quarters within
| "a hours owing to the timely and effi-
cient treatment of the Hospital Corps.
Very few have applied for any sort Of
treatment even in their own quarters.
The three torpedo planters and the
government tugs which are to simu-
late the attacking fleet have been tied
up at the government pier, Browns
wharf. thus far, with the exception Ot
one day when one of them was used to
transport a company from Fort Mckir-
ley to Fort Levett. They are tied up.
side by side, at the end of the pier and
have attracted considerable attention.
especially from travellers to and fro on
the Cape electric cars.
| The sub-caliber practice has already
| opened the eyes Of the officers. both
regular and volunteer, to the possible
tiles in the State troops in case OF sud-
| den war, The score of hits made has
Eeen such that even the regulars need
not be ashamed of it, had 1t been theirs.
This has been exceedingly gratifying to
both officers and men.
Payne's End Regiment Band is g
popular part of the garrison at Fort
Preble. This provides the post with q
military band second to none In the
service. and it has not only performed
the regular duties assigned to 1t, but
| has played evenings for the edification
of the officers. The band becomes n
| mart of the Hospital Corps when the
real fun begins.