Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-25
DEFENSE
CORPS OF Maine
MAY SEE BORDER.
UnconArmed Reports Have It
That c. A. C. viii Relieve the
Second Infantry at Border
Middle of December - Several
Aspirants to Succeed General
PressOn )


from the State and federal govern
ments for the 10-days tour Of duty. and
the prospects Of q journey to the Mexi-
can border in the very near future up-i
permost in their minds, the 700 odd en>
listed men and officers of the Coast Ar
tillery Corps. National Guard of the
State Of Maine, broke camp late yester-
day afternoon and returned to Portland
ready for an early departure to their
home stations. Preparations for break
ing camp were begun early Saturday,
morning. but the heavy fog, OCCASION
al showers and general inclemency Of
the weather. necessitated a halt in the
activities of the day. for the men were
obliged to let their tents remain stand
ing until Capt. ]. H. Goodrich and his
Quartermaster corps can dismantle
them after they are thoroughly dried
out.
Credit for Capt. Miles
The encampment was unquestionably
the most successful in the history of
the corps. the men Of all companies
showing a decided proficiency in both
artillery and infantry drills. and moth
ing had been left undone during the 10
days. The men of the IS companies have
been thoroughly instructed in both
branches of the work under the direc-
ton Of Capt. Ellery W. Niles. c. A. c..
U. S. A, nd his three sergeant-inst
tors. Sergeants Edward A. Sartin, Will
liam w. Darlington and ]. J. Fitzsim-
mons. and to their efforts must go con-
siderable Of the credit for the time
showing made.
Lead in Shooting
In the shooting the .honols were
evenly divided between the Fifth Co.
of Portland and the 18th Co. of West
brook, each getting two hits in three
shots, according to the data which has
been compiled but not yet checked up.
In the figure of merit, however, the
Portland company leads by approx,
mately two points and if the dope"
proves correct the Dandy Fifth" viii
be the championship company for 1916
so far as service target practice is
concerned. The work of the militia
men on the guns was excellent in all
particulars and the officers, both of the
National Guard and the regular army
expressed the highest praise for the
showing made.
In addition to the regular artillery.
work, infantry drills in close and ex-
tended order were daily features Of.
the encampment with the exception Of
Tuesday. Wednesday. and Thursday,
when the guardsmen fred their rec
ord shots from Batteries Sullivan, De.
Hart, Blair and Garesche. These days
were devoted entirely to artillery work
and the infantry drills were dispensed
with. Despite the heavy fog which
overhung the field of fire all Thursday
forenoon and the large number of
small craft which interrupted the fir
ing on Wednesday. the artillery work
was carried out with precision which
allowed the guardsmen to complete the
stated program on time.
For the last six days of the encamp.
ment, Brigadier General George Mel
Presson. the adjutant general, was
present in camp. supervising the adj
ministration work of the troops, and
Friday he acted in his official capacity
as paymaster general, .disbursing the
State pay to the enlisted men on duty
at Fort Williams. -
This Is the first time In the history OF
the corps that the men have received
their compensation from the State dur.
ing the encampment. this usually being
delayed from two to six months under the
old order Of things.
Presson May Retire
All indications points to the fact that
the 1916 encampment Of the Coast Artil.
lery Corps will be the last for some years
at least that General Presson will attend
in the official capacity Of adjutant gener-
al as it is anticipated that the Office will
be filled by anotheP after January l. when
Governor-elect Milliken assumes the du-
ties Of his office. According to rumor in
camp there are three candidates for the
position, Captain Ara Cushman, Jr., COM
handing the 10th company Of Brunswick;
Captain Edward H. Besse of the 5th Com
pany Of Portland, and Capt. Albert
Greenlaw. former adjutant general, who
is now, serving as regimental quartermas-
ter with the Second Maine Infantry. AS
to the relative strength Of the three can
didates among the officers Of the Coast
Artillery Corps. nothing has developed
as yet,s and whatever recommendation tho
field, staff and line officers have to mako
to the incoming governor Is not deter
mined.
New Physical Examination
A new departure in the history Of the
corps was the physical examination which
was conducted during the encampment by
the officers Of the medical corps. N G. s.
M, commanded by Major c. F. Kendall,
under the supervision Of Major J. N.
Hall, NJ c., U. s. A. As a result of this
examination a total Of 2o2 enlisted men
and several officers. It Is rumored, will be
discharged from the service Of the State.
The number of enlisted men is au-
thentic as the report Of the physical
condition Of the 10 companies was made
by Major Hall before leaving camp. AS
to the officers. however. nothing au-
thentic has been announced although it
is understood that several of the field.
staff and line officers were found phys
ically deficient.
According to common report both
from here and the Mexican border Che
Coast Artillery Corps Of the State Of
Maine will replace the Second Infantry
now on border duty when the latter or
ganization is sent home. and from ap.
parently- official sources it is stated
that this unit will leave for Texas on
Dec. Is. for at least six-months service.
So far there has been no way of posi-