Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-05

During the forenoon the men
We're given instruction in the pits,
in the plotting rooms and in the
finding stations and there were few
idle moments for Lieut.. Col. Warren
p. Newcomb and Col. Charles Collins
arrived at the camp during the fore
noon on a tour of inspection.
In the absence of Major Frank B. c.
WEIGH. the commander of the militia
forces al Preble, this forenoon, Cap
tain George c. Weber of Auburn ,was
in command, and he said that all the
men were showing great interest in
their work End that. they were get
ting along in fine shape. 1--WE have
not had any sickness in the camp"
said Captain Weber, land 1 have
found that the men are enjoying
themselves in good style. Quartermas-
ter Captain James r. Parsons visited
us this morning and Lieut.. Col. New
comb and Col Collins made an inspec-
ton of the camp"
1t is to be said that whenever the
maneuvers are inagurated that the
land forces will be in readiness for
them, unless all signs fail. The men
al Z udhs PuttihS III hot oAhy efiS
scheduled amount of time at the big
guns to which the respective COM
panies are assigned, but they are find
ing time for extra service, in order that
they may become proficient in hand
ling the guns. In addition to this, the
officers, commissioned and non-com-
missioned, attend special schools of in
struction, and this gives added pro-
ficiency in the specific work to which
each of the several companies is de-
tailed. The men take great intesest in
their duties, and scarcely murmur
is to be heard from any of the men.
On the other hand the men voluntarily
express themselves as specially pleas
ed with the work to which they are as
signed. This is particularly true of
the men who have been in the service.
the longest. More than one man who
has been in the militia for some years,
and who, as a member of the First In
fantry has been in camp at Augusta
says emphatically that the present
coast artillery service has got 1t all
over" the infantry service. In TINS
connection they state that it is harder
work, more study being required, and
the actual work at the big guns ex-
ceeding the work required of the IN
fantry branch of the service. But In
the present form of service and Or
ganization there is some incentive TO
work hard and the study and work
put in counts for something.
1t is full day that all of the men
put in at this fort. First Co., Frank
e. Cummings, commanding, and Sec
and Co, commanded by LIST Lieut..
Henry w. Way, in the absence OF Its
Capt. William p. Norton,
who is acting adjutant for the militia
command at this post, are putting in
some effective work at the mortar bat
teries. These are Pinch guns the uni
form mortar calibre, the battery beng
known as Battery ingalls,. Drills are
held morning and afternoon and in ad-
dition the officers attend the school OF
instruction.
Fifth Co., Capt. Robert E. Foster. at
Battery Honeycutt on the South fork,
is making the most of the time allot-
ted to gun practice Eleventh Co,
Capt. John j. A. Mulhearn. at Battery
Carpenter, also on the South FORK,
drills from to 10 in the morning,
and from to 3 in the afternoon. sixth
co. of Sanford, Capt. Frank c. Thomp-
son and Seventh Co. of Biddetord,
Capt. Everett, L. Holt, are making
progress at Battery Weymouth on this
fork of land.
The hours of drill vary with the diff
ferent companies for the reason that
the regular troops at Fort Mckinley
which are in camp with the militia
have their drill hours-Portland Elk
press.