Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-22
OF C. A. C.
GOING TO BORDER
ARE PERSISTENT
Rigid Physical Examination by
the Army Surgeons at Port
land and Other Signs Lend
Color to Possibility of Going

Portland, Me-, Sept. 21.-Accordins
TO unconfrmed, yet persistent rumors,
both in the Coast Artillery camp at
Fort Williams, and the Infantry camps
Artillery branch of the National Guard
of the State of Maine, together with
scheduled to go to the border to re-
place the National Guards Infantry
troops which will be sent to their home
stations within a short time. This ru-
NOR apparently had it's inception at
the State capital and has been preva-
lent at the Fort Williams encampment
for several days and is receiving more
or less credence among the officers
and men of the corps.
Yesterday letter received at Fort
Williams from Nogales. Ariz.. from a
non commission officer in one of the
companies in the Connecticut Guard
stated that the same rumor prevails
among the Guardsm-n on the border
and that it has been announced by re-
liable authority that the camps along
the Rio Grande. which will shortly be
vacated, by the National Guard troops
stationed there since June will be fill-
ed by the troops of the Coast Artil-
lery Corps Of the various states No
officer could be found last night who
could in ally way confirm this rumor,
but. nevertheless, much reliance is
placed in the report by the 500 officers
and men now on duty.
L. is pointed out that the recent
rigid physical examinations undergone
by the troops through the medium of
which an estimated % per cent. of the
enlisted men will be discharged soon
after camp. is significant Of the predic-
ton that the Coasy Artillery troops
will soon be mustered into the Federal
service and sent South for border SER
vice.
In connection with the rumor that the
corps will go to the border, it is also stat
ed among some Of the men of the various
organizations in camp that there is a
strong possibility of the Maine soldiers
remaining in camp al Fort Williams aft.
err the prescribed date for closing camp
Sept. %, and will go direct to Mexico
from Fort Williams without returning to
their home stations.
The examinations which the men Of the
Coast Artillery Corps have been forced
to undergo have been ever more severe
than that given the men of the Maine IN
fantry after they had been mustered into
the federal service at Augusta. That the
rigid examinations given the Coast AZ
tillery Corps men at Fort Williams are
significant of some eventual move is the
opinion expressed by one of the medical
officers. 1t is also understood that in the
event of move on the part of the wal
department to send the Maine Coast AT.
tillery men to the border the examina.
tons that have been given during the
recent encampment have been made to
obviate the necessity of doing the work
when the troops are mustered into fed
eral service.
Out of a grand total of 725 enlisted men
in the corps, this number being exclusive
of the band and hospital corps. 202 were
rejected for physical disability following
the examinations. making an average OF
IS per cent, which is considered an un.
usually good showing. Thus far the num-
Der of officers failing to pass the re-
auired tests has not been computed, and
the men with the shoulder straps are
anxiously awaiting report in their cases.