The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-15
MILITIA COMPANY
WAS MUSTERED IN
Co. K N. G. S. NJ, With Excellent Commissioned Officers
and Fifty-one Privates, Sworn in Last Night.-Conl.
pany Starts Out With Splendid Prospects.

pleted the election of officers fol-
lowed. A. Otto was chosen as cap
tain, John Hilleby was selected as
first lieutenant and Kenneth H.
Kelly as second lieutenant. These
are commissioned officers and they
will jointly select the non-commis-
stoned officers of the company,
later.
The election of officers was unani-
nous and all three gentlemen are
very popular with the company.
Mr.. Otto thanked the members of
the company for the honor paid
him in electing him as their head
and stated that he would do all in
his power to keep the company up
to high standard of efficiency; he
wanted to impress upon the new
soldiers the fact that he must have
the hearty cooperation and assis-
lance of the officers and every men,
Der of the company in order to make
the organization the success he con-
templated.
Lieutenants Hilleby and Kelley
also thanked the company and as
sured them they would do their ut
most in it's behalf.
After the election of officers,
Colonel Resche made short adj
dress to the new company, Colonel
Resche complimented the company
on having such a fine bunch of mus
cular young fellows in the member
ship. He hoped that the company
would have the maximum strength of
seventy-six before going into camp
this summer. He stated that the
company would be furnished with
the new Springfield automatic rifles
and splendid uniforms.
Colonel Resche reminded the new
soldiers that the officers alone could
not make the company a successful
one; that they must have the hearty
cooperation and assistance of every
member of the company in order to
be efficient.
The colonel was pleased to note
that there were many members of
the company who had seen previous
service, and he could see no reason
why Bemidji Company K should
not be the best in the state; the
company would certainly be a credit
to this thriving, hustling city.
The speaker stated that the Third
Regiment lead the state militia in
rifle work, and he desired to see the
record kept up. He invited the
members of the Bemidji company to
join the rifle team. He stated that
the Third Regiment will go to
the encampment at Lake City, June
IS for ten days. Lake City is fifty
one miles south of St. Paul on the
Mississippi river, and the Bemidji
Company would certainly enjoy
encampment. Co. K. will leave
Bemidji on June II.
Col. Resche announced that the
Bemidji company would be subjected
to government inspection in thirty
days, when each member will draw
an apportionment of 81 for the use
of the company.
1t is expected that the new COM
pany's uniforms will arrive within
the next ten days.
The new company starts out under
the most favorable circumstances,
and with officers that it is believed
will equal those of any of the younger
companies of the state.
Captain Otto has had much ex-
perience in army matters. He has
served three different enlistments in
the regular army, the terms of which
were for three years service each.
During the last three years. enlist
ment in the U. S. A. Mr.. Otto was for
eighteen months a member of the
famous Battery L of the Third
Artillery; and during these eighteen
months of service Mr.. Otto partici-
pated in many days of actual fight
ing against the Islanders in the
Filipino instruction.
Mr.. Otto was also with the Thirty
third Coast Artillery at Fort Column
bia, WASH, where he served as SER