Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-09-03
IT Is NEEDED.
Regular Army Soldiers Should
DO Stationed 10 Maine.
Militia Wcu,d b. Benefits d-AuRusta
wsu,d Get CSC, 600 q Year.

Militia Wcud bs 0eosfts d-AuRuats
wsu,d Get $50. 900 q Year.
During IN: week Of muster Q party Of
prominent military men we're collected in
one Of the Offices At the csmpsfound. The
subject wa discussion - 10 how our boz
Ia blue we're doing. After awhile the talk
d,iftsd 70 the superiority Of the regular
.,oops Then one officer said that he wished
that the Maine Militia could have
the benefit Of joint camp with the q. 8.
soldiers. In . number Of the states each
y.sr at the camp Of instruction regulars are
stationed there ct the the same time - the
S,sts troops. Ia this way the miiitiamen
r.e.i,s the benei, Of the example set, both
in drill and in discipline.
81, can't be done nov In this State for
for there 10 no infantry stationed near
enough to us TO make !: practicable
10 have . joint camp. There 10 . battery
Of artillery st Portland but they would not
help us out very much
by the way, speaking Of the distance
.s are from the REGULAR" said . brother
officer, did ii ever strike you how wrong
that IL. Why here Is one Of the bigass.
states in the East, bigger than the rest Of
New Engisna and we have only q
sinsie battery out Of the whole army, and
that is tucked away in the lower
part Of the State. What we need ia
sever,l companies Of infantry located in
some central situation. In this way the
military spirit In our people would b,
qlickened and aroused to new life. Then,
besides. there 10 our great border on Cana
d. and the Provinces. 10 case Of war with
England Maine would be made the base Of
operations against the rest Of New Eaz-
land. The only dependence we would have
pending the arrival OF the militia OF other
states would De our own militia and The
trained rife men. In this way our sole
hope would be IN the general popuia'ioa.
why is 1t that it is so necessary to have
troops a. once!
because the British troops would be
thrown over the border in the tvinkiiDs OF
IN eye
The discussion then became general
and all agreed that 1t was Of the utmost
Importance that United states troops should
De stationed in Maine. After oil had
agyReh a n In This mint fhaV than a Had
the best situstion for An army post. Augusta
vas the almost unanimous choice. 1t was
decided that owing to It's position 1t enjoyed
an unequsiied and unsurpasssble advantage.
Then there is still something more"
SAID one, I'VE have the Arsenal here which
could be turned into three company in
An appropriation Of SO, 900 would make it
one Of the finest posts Of Its sizs in the
whole country. As an srsensl OF storage the
Kennebec Arsenal 10 Of comparative little
benefit TO the Nation. Chsnged over
into an infantry station Ii would be Of in
estimabie advantage as you fellows have
shown,
A Journal reporter who was present and
Who had been listening to and occasionally
ioining in the conversation was very much
stuck BY this last suggestion. He at once
started GU, upon An Investigation Of the
subject. As . result Of this search
he found that the plan W. not
only feasibls but would be Of the utmost
bene At to this city a well As the whole
state.
Al presen. the Arsenal adds quite . con
siderable sum to the gross revenue Of the
city. Suchs post a. is proposed and is
needed would bring into the city much more
,ronsv f., ~o,Id .dd IN o,r no,u,.,ion
sa''''o" u '"A' "N' "ou'u 'heiu'e' o."
told, between 100 and 200 people. The
amount that would be annually expended
.,,,d ,s.ch sio oon Dos.nt ,b;. mako
:. =. -,
"o'" our ""''e W Try !" se' mere
The militia officers are thoroughly IN earn
- 49, 10 a.. o,.f.on. .,I ~. oaI,.,n;.na