Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-25
COAST ARTILLERY OFFICER
To Be Detailed as Permanent Instruc
tor by War Department.

L was announced Wednesday morn
ing by Adjutant General Dill that il.
addition to the infantry officer whose
detail as INSTRUCTORS and inspector was
recently noted in this column Maine is
t. have an officer Of the regular coast
artillery as permanent Instructor for
its coast artillery corps When the
State Was notified that I'd Lieut.. Ed
win Butcher of the 18th Infantry was
To be assigned to the State, Governor
Plaisted wrote the secretary of war.
asking that special provision be made
for the instruction of the coast artil-
lery arm of the State service As a re-
suit of this request General Evans,
chief of the division of militia affairs
in the war department, has notified the
adJutant general that such detail will
be made. General Evans says:
I'm connection with the letter of the
Governor of the 2d instant. addressed
t. the secretary of war, in which he
requests that some provision be made
for the instruction of the coast artil-
lery arm of the State service, | beg to
inform YOU that an officer of the coast
artillery of the regular service will be
detailed for duty as instructor and
inspector of the organized militia and
VIII be given station at Portland, Me.
He will devote his entire time and at
tention to the coast artillery compan-
les of the State of Maine. The select
ton of the officer has not yet been
definitely decided upon. but it is be-
lieved that the detail will he made in
tie near future"
This pp1uS will h., aSpa1ialI,-
ing to the Maine Coast Artillery for it
means that officers and men will have
the benefit of constant instruction and
beyond that the advice and assistance
of an experienced officer, who will be
detailed for that purpose. The Maine
corps has been greatly assisted in the
past two years by the detail of officers
| from the Artillery district of Portland,
but those officers were not relieved OF
| theiI regular work and could give but
| a portion of their time and attention
to the instruction OF the guard.
Maine is the first State to secure two
| officers under the recent Act of Con-
| gress and would nor have received the
| detail of an officer of the coast artif-
| lery at this time had not the matter
| | cen presented to the war department
| by the Governor
| The coast artillery officer will proba-
| bly, report for duty early in June.
Lieut.. Butcher is upder orders to take
a special course of instruction at the
| service schools at Fort Leavenworth.
ending Aug. 10. but under date of May
| l6, General Dill asked the war de-
partment to have him excused, il pos
sihle in time to attend the encalnp-
ment of the I'd Infantry at Augusta,
| Aug. 7-t6, believing it would be great
| ~ 70 his advantage to see the regi-
| ment in the field before commencing
| his work as instructor. General Dill
| Wednesday morning received d letter
from General Evans. chief of the di-
| vision of militia affairs, saying II
| beg to inform you that your letter will
be referred TO the commandant of the
army service schools at Fort Leaven-
worth, Kan, and II it is at all posi-
bile to do so. Lieut.. Butcher will be
relieved from duty at Fort Leaven-
| worth in time to attend the encamp-
ment at Augusta. You will be in
| formed just as soon as definite action
| is taken upon your request"