Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-12

Announcement was made yesterday
ut the office of the Adjutant General
that as soon as the returns for the past
summers small-arms qualification
practice have been received and tabu-
lated by the ordnance department a
ordnance of the United States army
for the new bronze insignia for sharp
shooters and marksmen. During the
past season new bronze expert insignia
was issued to all expert riilemen of the
National Guard, and when the change
has been made in the case of the
sharpshooters and marksmen all quail
fled rifcmen in the Maine National
Guard will be wearing the insignia
prescribed by the War Department,
and which is uniform in all the states
This years revolver insignia will be
of the state pattern but next season
the revolver qualifications will be made
under the recently established revolver
course, and the insignia will be of
bronze and uniform for all the states
The insignia of the different grades of
craftsmanship will be as follows:
Markslnan's Pn.-To markSmen,
when first qualifying as such, will be
issued Il bronze markSmans pin, which
will be worn to the close of the sue
ceeGing practice season. Ii qualifica-
ton is renewed in the succeeding sea-
son the pin may be worn another year,
and so on for further seasons, but it
the grade of a SharpShooter is attained.
or that OF markSman not reached, the
pin will not be worn.
Snarpshcoter's Radge.-To the sharp
shooter, a bronze badge will be issued.
For the year when qualification is first
completed, the badge will consist of a
pin and cross; the soldier having once
qualified as sharpShooter may con-
tinue to wear the badge even if quail
fiCation is not renewed in future years.
To the soldier who has qualified as a
sharpshooter for three years, not nee
esSarily in the same enlistment, Il Sill
Yer bar will be issued, which will
specify the years of qualification and
will be attached TO the badge between
the pin and the cross. For each addi-
tional three years of qualification ar
additional bar will be issued. and each
in succession attached below the one
previously supplied and above the
cross. If the grade of expert rifleman
is attained. the snarpshooters badge
VIII not he worn.
Expert Kitiemen's Badge.-To the
expert rirleman will be issded a bronze
badge The soldier having ever quail
fed as an expert rileman may con-
tinuc to wear the badge even if quail
fication is not renewed in future years.
To the soldier who has qualified as an
expert ritlcman for three years, not
necessarily consecutive years, or, in
the case of enlisted men, not necessari-
ly in the same enlistment, bronze
bar will be issued. which will specify
the years Of qualification and will be
attached to the badge Immediately be-
low the pin. For each additional three
years of qualification an additional bar
will be issued, and each in succession
attached Immediately below the one
previously issued.
The preliminary work which is in
progress on the grounds about the
State House and which will soon be
followed by the commencement Of
operations on the foundation of the
new south wing has already resulted
in many changes, one of the most no.
ticeablc is the removal of several
pieces of artillery which had heretofore
served as ornaments to different parts
of the grounds. The two bronze guns
which had for a long time graccd the
eastern terrace have been hauled to
the State campground on Western
avenue and placed in the storehouse
for safe keeping, as have the three
guns or the western terrace.
The two guns which stood IN front
of the Capitol were a part of the old
militia artillery, but the guns on the
western terrace are of an historical
nature. Two of them are small bronze
pieces bearing the seal of the Common
wealth of Massachusetts, and both of
them were turned over to Maine when
she became a State in 1920.
These guns were for q long time kept
in the old gun house at East Machias
being removed from there to Augusta
few years ago and given a place on
the Capitol grounds by the late Col
f. G. Stevens, at that time superin-
well back to Revolutionary times these
old guns cannot have created a great
deal of interest, and it is hoped that
when the state House grounds are fin
ally restored a suitable place may be
| found for them.
The other gun which stood between
| the two above mentioned is also Of
historical interest, being a Confcder.
ate cannon which was brought home
| ana presented to the State by the FRS
Maine Cavalry, having been captured
| by them during the last campaign o.
the war around AppomattoX. Ions
| exposure to the weather had weakened
| the carriage Of the gun to such an eX
| tent that the gun had to be diSmountet
in order to haul it to the State store
| house. Before the gun can be again
| placed on exhibition it must be thor
| oughly built over, and the Adjutan
General has referred the matter to TIL
First Maine Cavalry Association. stat
| ing that he would be pleased to b,
guided b. the wishes of the survivin:
| members of the regiment in making re
pairs.
| Another gun which will have to b'
!