Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-05

Wednesday by an officer of the
Guard that more progress had
beer made up to date than in any mus
ter for a number Of years. There are
many reasons for this. In the first
place although there are the usual
number of, men, who have not been to
muster before to be developed into
GOOD working material. the guardsmen
in addition to the regular instructor de-
tailed by the United States army have
the advantage of the presence close at
hand of a camp of regulars, the Oil
GERS Of whom have already given man.
points of needed information at schools
of instruction. Then the weather mas
been conducive to work. for while il
has been warm there has generally
been an invigorating air and thus far
no rain has fallen to put the grounds
in p wet or muddy condition. The Their
mometer ranged around so above
Wednesday, but rot Withstanding there
Was a breeze so that when the soldier
came to his tent if he desired to lie
down for a moment it WAS quite neces-
sary to have some sort of covering
The members of the Governors staff
arrived during the afternoon and
Wednesday evening the staff gave ar
informal lunchean in the mess house t.
the officers Of the detachment of regu
lars. everything in the line of events
thus leading up to the occasion eagerly
looked forward to by both soldiers and
civilians. Governors day. when the
commandment chief reviews the State
forces.
The mon at Camp Fernald are in the
best of health and spirits and the cases
that have been reported to the hospital
detachment are but very few and gen
orally of minor importance. The physi
cal rcnuirTcnts necessary for a sue
ceSSful candidate in the National Guard
are growing more stringent every year
and in order for Il man to run the
gauntlet of the physicians he must be
well nigh perfect physically. which ac-
counts for the few cases of serious dis
ability brought to the attention of the
hospital detachment during the an
nual encampment. The changes in air,
food and water as well as the work.
however, are inclined to bring on slight
troubles. which require the attention of
the hospital forces for the first few
days Of any tour of duty.
One great change has been brought
about in the medical department at the
encampment. Col. James b. ONcii of
Portland, the surgeon general has TAX
on complete stock of the medical sup
plies in the department and not a thing
| is issued except to a responsible person,
who is required to sign re-
ceipt for it. This means that every in
strument, roll or bandage or anything
which is redeemable owned by the de-
| partmont Of the guard is accounted for
The person receipting for medical sup
| plies must at the end of the muster re-
| turn them or otherwise account for
| them to Col. oNeil or he will be re-
| quired to pay for them. This practice
| has net been followed in the past. The
result has been that a number of in
! strnments have disappeared The new
idea is in step with what Col. O'Nei
has long felt should be the method Of
handling these supplies and it was
quickly and heartily approved by Ad.
Il jutant General Dill when suggested t.
him by Col O-Neil.
II The work of this week at Camp Fer
maid will BIZ wholly of a practical ma
ture. Col. Newcomb of PASSPORT, the
II Commander of the regiment will SEE
1 that the officers and men are giver
| plenty of stunts in the minor tactic.
and while no sham battles are to b,
fought this week the boys of the Sec
ond Regiment will have, at this en-
campment a daily calandar of dut,
with movements in advance guard
rear guard and outpost works. Col
Newcomb is mot an enthusiastic ovel
the srectacular, but he does beliey'