Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-24
Maine Guardsmen in Splendid
Condition Says Annual Report
OF Inspector General Moriarty


IN previous reports l went into de-
tail in regard to needed improvements
in the various armories throughout
the State,'' says Col. James l.. Mori-
arty of Lewiston, the inspector gener-
al of the National Guard of the State
of Maine, in his annual report, which
was made public Thursday.
1.-THE tour of inspection revealed
some much needed improvements in
some of the armories,' continues Col.
Moriarty New quarters have been
furnished Company B of Rumford,
which are located in a rather small
hall on the second floor of building
on the main street, and appear to be
clean, well heated and well lighted.
Although these quarters are great
Improvement over those heretofore &C.
e,lpied by this organization, yet the
lack of sufficient space for drill pur-
poses and for the proper care of cloth
ing and equipment is serious draw
back.
Continuing in his report Col Mori-
arty says:
During the year much needed re-
pairs were made on the building owned
and occupied by Company 1 of East
port. A new hard wood floor has been
laid in the main room used for drill
hall. A smaller room on the same
floor has been converted into a locker
room used for the storage of clothing
and equipment. An attic room has
been finished off and is now used as
an amusement room. The building
has been painted throughout the in
terror, and the quarters are now
vast Improvement over former condi-
lions.
1 had occasion in my last report to
criticize the quarters of Company K of
Pennington as being entirely made
quate for the purposes of the company.
This criticism no longer applies. Since
my inspection the company has been
provided with new quarters in a build
ing formerly used as a skating rink.
1t appears to be an excellent propo-
sition for an armory. There is album
..dant room for officers quarters and
for the proper care of company prop
erty. The building also furnishes gem
erous space for drilling purposes
something lacking in nearly every ar
mory in the State. The City of Lew
iston now holds a lease for a term of
! five years of the quarters used by
the Sth and 9th Companies, Coast
Artillery Corps. Since the execution
of the lease much needed repairing
has been done. The city has also gem
erously met the expense for the in
stallation of plotting room and tele-
phone booths.
A system of State owned armories
xyxA l. =.
great bugbear that now affiicts the
militia. Municipalities do not seem to
be inclined to realize the Importance
of well trained, well disciplined mil
itia. At least this would seem to be
indicated in the quarters which they
are compelled to furnish the various
organizations in their midst. So long
as these conditions obtain, so long as
the cramped, inattractive quarters are
dignified with the name of 'armory,'
Just so long will the endeavors of the
company officers to build up and hold
a representative organization continue
! to be a struggle.
Clothing and Equipment
Inspections have disclosed a con-
tinued Improvement in the care of
clothing and equipment This condi-
l.
ton attests the conscientious and care
full work of commanding officers of
organizations, many of them whom are
embarrassed in endeavoring to per-
form their duty along these lines by
the painfully inadequate facilities CIV
en- them with which to work.
The excellent system used in the
! care Of clothing and equipment in the
! armories has been favorably comment
! ed upon by federal inspecting officers
who have volunteered the information
that the clothing and equipment of
Z other organizations in other states
with vastly superior facilities do not
disclose the same care and attention
as that of our own
Care OF the rife is a subject that
shas been preached for many years.
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