Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-14
Gardiner Board Of | trade
Has Rousing Smoke ak
and Excellent Speeches
Adjuan General Psson and Highway Engineer Sargent Are
Speakers of the Evening
TEL EPHONE S7-W

| The Gardiner Board Of Trade again
demonstrated on Thursday evening at T.
A. r. hall that it is live wire' organ
ization. The smoke talk was exceedingly
well attended and much enthusiasm and
| optimism expressed. Excellent music
was furnished by McMaster's four-piece
! orchestra. President F. S. Smith opened
the session, and after few brief remarks
introduced Major John w. Berry, who
acted as POSTMASTER for the occasion. As
all residents Of the city are familiar with
| the majors ability in this capacity, no
comment is necessary.
Paul D. Sargent
| Adj. General Geo. Mel. Presson and
State Highway Engineer Paul D. Sargent
cigars had been passed, Maj. Berry Intro,
duced Adj. Gen. Presson, who was re-
| ceived with hearty applause. He bad
chosen for his topic Our National De-
fence" He spoke in part as follows:
Fancy yourself on your way to work
when you unfold your morning paper
and read these headlines.
War has been declared. Congress
has authorized the raising of one mil
lion volunteers. The President issues
call to arms at midnight.
Now what does it mean to you?
War Of course, but what sort of pic
ture does it bring to your mind?
Let us look at it. One million men
out of our male population. One man
out of every Al males-boys, and men,
young, old, able bodied, decrepit. That
is the first thing it means to the life Of
a nation. What it means IN the home,
in the business of the 47th man we can
only guess.
| What does it mean to those who
face the task Of finding those million
men, taking them in hand, sorting
them, organizing them, arranging
them, arming, uniforming, training and
equipping them-making into fight
ing machine.
| Summed up, it is task that would
tax the finest organization that peace
ingenuity could devise. With disaster
hanging over our heads, danger threat
ening us. on every side and the con-
fusion Of unpreparedness handicapping
our every effort it means a task that
will strain the utmost shoulder to
shoulder effort Of the nation to the
breaking point.
7 Let us glance at the round num-
bers that such task brings to our
eyes One million men-a column Of
men four abreast over four hundred
miles long-a million men eager to
fight in defense Of their country and
ignorant of the first principles of a
soldiers trade. A million men who are
nothing but burden to be cared for
until they can be taught to care for
themselves. A million men who can
not move without leaders. or raise a
hand in defense until they have been
taught.
| What else does it mean?
100000 rifles and bayonets for them to
| fight with.
265, 900 pistols, little brothers of rifles
5000 machine guns, the military scythe.
POO field guns to batter down attack.
| 100000 cartridges to carry with
them into their first fight and as
many more for each succeeding fight.
100000 shells and shrapnel for our
| field guns for every hour they are in
action.
10000 horses to carry them and pull
their gun carriages
$4,000 mules to haul their supplies
and pack their guns.
| 5000 wagons to transport their sup
plies and ammunition.
100000 cartridge belts for their am
munition.
100000 first aid packets to bind up
their wounds.
100000 canteens.
Each of them must have uniform
and equipment.
| 100000 shelter halves to protect them
from the weather.
| 100000 ponchos to keep them dry.
| 100000 blankets to keep them warm
100000 pairs of shoes.
100000 uniform coats, breeches, leg
gins. suits Of underwear.
100000 hats.
100000 shirts.
4,000,0 pairs of socks.
100000 haversacks to carry their
equipment.
Finally they must eat
100000 pounds of meat.
100000 pounds Of bread.
100000 pounds of vegetables.
100000 pints of coffee or tea each day.
All this must be purchased, trans
ported, prepared and cooked each day
and to eat it they must have
100000 cups.
100000 plates.
100000 knives.
1000, 900 forks.
100000 spoons.
To provide for proper care, training