Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-02-24
TheSNationaI Guard.

ThesNationaI Guard.
A Journal man was chatting with
Adjutant General Geo. Mel Presson
the other day and the matter of the
resignation Of Secretary Of War Car
rison was mentioned. Asked as to his
opinion Of the various plans and
projects being presented to Congress
for the increase and betterment OF the
National Guard, Gen. Presson states
his belief that a greater measure OF
defence preparedness could be OBJ
tanned by federalizing the National
Guard than by trying to secure VOL
unteer force along the lines proposed
for the Continental Army.
The National Guard has had much
money and time expended on it and to
develop or enlarge it to meet the in
creased ideas Of defence appears more
feasible than to create an entirely new
body and one that would indirectly
compete with the present establish
ment."
Inquiries have from time to time
been received from citizens of Bar
Harbor as to the possibility Of obtain
ing the encampment of the National
Guard for that place, instead OF the
encampment at Augusta or the par
ticipation in maneuvres at other
places 1t is learned that no formal
application has been received at the
office of the adjutant general and no
consideration of the subject has been
10 <o ~ official
knowledge Of such a plan.
1t is said that a marked interest in
the Coast Artillery is being developed
and that recruiting is expected to take
good-sized boom from now on. The
authorities are considering keeping the
recruiting Office open evenings in
Portland. Many young men are in
quiring into the conditions Of the SER
vice and it is expected that the Port
land companies will easily and quickly
fill their ranks to the limit, when they
start the work Of recruiting. Word
also comes from the other cities hav-
ing Coast Artillery companies that
similar interest is being shown. with
the exception of Biddeford, where ex-
been obtained. The muster of 1916 is
expected to be the best ever held.
Now comes a report that Secretary
of the Navy Daniels is considering the
civilian naval training course similar
to that Of last season at Plattsburg,
N. y, and other places for military
training. His plan is said to call for
the use of six battleships and a
months training at sea for those
civilians who present themselves for
it. The places along the Atlantic
coast at which the battleships would
take on their would-be man-o'-war's
men would probably be Portland, Bos-
ton, New York, Philadelphia, Norfolk
and Charleston. The scheme looks
good enough to feel sure that the ap-
plicants will, if all are accepted, fill up
all the spare room on each Of the veS-
sells put into such service.
1t is understood at the adjutant gen.
erals office that the architects plans
for the remodeling and repairs on the
of CO. |, I'd Reg. n. G. S. NJ.
at Eastport are being drawn and that
work will be started as soon in the
spring as the weather will permit
The city, since the destruction several
years ago by fire of the old Opera
house, has been handicapped for suit
able accommodations for the larger
such as Memorial day ex-
ercises, local productions, political
meetings, etc. and the intention is in
the new armory to provide
space for such affairs. Land has been |
purchased on the north side of the
Green Street armory at Eastport and |
will at once be put in, so
as to have the enlarged building ready |
for use for the annual Memorial Day |
exercises of Meade Post. G. A. r.
1t is unofficially learned that Major |,
Walter J. Mayo, member Of the !
Armory Commission, who has been in
Bangor relative to the armory ques-
ion in that city, is strongly in favor
If asking the Legislature for an ap-
1ropriation for the erection Of an up
o-date, modern armory, Bangor being
IN important point from a military
view, the distributing center for east
ern and northern Maine as we'll as the
home of two fine military companies.
'ne Of them the only Machine Gun
Company in the State Guard.
Major Mayo in company with Mayor
Voodman Of Bangor has visited sew
,ral buildings, which 1t is suggested ,
night be used for armory purposes, in
,luding the Auditorium, which has
great floor space. Other locations
md buildings will be viewed by Major
Mayo. before he makes his official re-
bort to the adjutant generals Office,
ollowing which the full board Of the |
Armory Commission probably will be
'rdered to Bangor to go over the stu
Ition. The Bangor municipal officers
ire heartily in sympathy with securing
roper quarters for their soldier boys,
f whom they are very proud.
1t is found that many people think
he numerous rifle practice clubs
which are springing up all over the
'tate, in common with the same prac-
ice in other states, are in some way
onnected with the National Guard,
ut this idea Is incorrect. They are
o more than bands or small COM
anies Of civilians, who form organi-
ations for practicing with the rifle