Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-12
OUR MAINE TROOPS.
What Lieut.. Morton Has to Say OF Them ant
OF Names Position.

Lieut.. Charles G. Morton. 9th L. s ~.
who has been detailed by the national
government as instructor for the Ma
tional Guard in this State was inter-
viewed by reporter OF hhc Sunday Times
and the substance Of what he said is AS
follows:
The social condition OF Maine is such
that the chances Of the National Guard
ever being called out for riot duty are
almost too remote to be considered New
ertheies.s the efficiency of this body is
the subject Of most lively interest to the
national government. omitting all lingo
sentiments and ideas Of twisting the
lions tail, The fact remains, thar the
only natural foe that tihis country has 10
fear is England No other country. I'M
less from some very extraordinary cause
would lie likely 30 engage us in conflict
Teritorialiy. England is The only coun
try that could seriously threaten us with
land invasion. and il Is In such war
fare that Maine would be Il stratecical
point of the first Importance Anyone
whether ne understands military science
or not. has only TO look on the map To
see the particularly exposed condition Of
the northern Maine boundary which Is
nothing but wedge projecting into Can
ada and exposed from three sides to at
tack, 10 realize this. Again TWO Cana
iitl railways traverse the STATE, and
would invite strong efforts on the part OF
1t il for these reasons that Lieut. Nor
ton likens the position Of Maine in a war
with England, 10 that Of Virginia in the
late rebellion.
We viii imagine that war has been de-
cared between England ana the United
States. Should this country take the in
itiatiye column would be projected
from New York up through the Lake
Chdmplain region tBurgoyne's old routel
the objective point being Montreal. 81
multaneously another column would be
scrt from Massachusetts through the
White mountains. converging with the
first column before Montreal. Should
this city be overcome, then the combined
columns would attack Quebec by land
and if this stronghold should be cap
tured the backbone of the Dominion
would be broken in two: the East and
West separated. and the St Lawrence
river controlling the waters of the Great
Lakes. closed to our adversary
Now this suppositious invasion is not
for one moment to be considered as hav-
ing plain sailing. ana in the efforts of the
enemy to overcome or divert our columns
the Importance of Maine and it's Nationa!
Guard becomes manifest. As soon as the
eastern column was started. England
would probably project counter demon
stration west from Halifax and St. John
into Maine hoping thereby to divert this
column from its original destination
This the United States would in no way
allow to be done and would depend en-
tirely on the National Guard of Maine
reinforced by a small detachment of reg
ulars to repel attack and invasion from
that quarter. and hold the railroads ira
versing the Provinces ard entering Maine
at Nanceboro.
Is it to be wondered at that the govern |
ment at Washington should encourage
the State TO uphold its military suprem-
acy?
With Montreal and Quebec in our pos
session. all idea Of Il land invasion of |
the United States would have to be |
abandoned as these points are absolute |
ly necessary as British base of opera |
ton. The United States could throw col |
umn after column across the boundary |
at other places. and using the State of |
Maine as the base, could threw other col |
umns into the Provinces on to st. John
and Halifax. Columns would also be |
sent East from Montreal and Quebec for
the same points. In invading this terri
tory, we should be limited TO land opera |
lions because of Hle almost impregnable
of Halifax from the water. ana |
also from che fact that England could
at that point. two warships
to every one that We coald send to at
tack. With Maine the nearest vantage
point ana base for supplies, orr State
would be in the very vortex of the whirl-
pool. and its guard in the thickcst of the
fray. Therefore efficiency counts. and
Maine, the DiIigo State. must lead in
deed as it does today. in effective work.
Lieut.. Morton says that while compar-
sons are sometimes invidious and should
be used with discretion. yet he can say
nat the National Guard Of Maine stands
second TO none. unless 1t be with the eX-
,eption of about three or four of the larg-
est states, where appropriations are
more in conformity with the service like
Y to be required.
So important is Maine's position. that
he government have had under consider
ltion at different times, plans for making
Bangor a military post. This would
olace our regular forces in direct control
IF communication with the Provinces.
md establish a well equipped base of
operations for an eastern campaign.
lieut. Morton says that one of the great {
ast surprises to him is the remarkab'e
of our guard. 1t is fact
hat Maine leads the country in shoot
ng. With the establishment of modern
ortifcations in our own city. the United ;
states has shown its appreciation of the
states importance. In the original plans (