Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-07-01

GENUINE lS5lcl Ndo llilHSICu Win IiiO
rdtgnation expressed Friday at the
adiutant generals Office and by the
United States regular army officers
stationed here at the reports given out
in Portland intimating that the SOL
der boys of the I'd Maine Infantry
we're rot properly outfitted and sup
piled when they left Augusta late
Thursday afternoon on their long jour-
ney TO Laredo, Texas. These men have
been working night and day in putting
the Maine boys in the very best state
Il preparedness and such statements
ara so at variance with the truth that
they cut to the quick.
The story is utterly false" said
Adjutant General Presson, ''and it is
wicked to make such insinuations in
view Of the many anxious mothers that
are left behind who may thus be led to
believe that their boys are not being
properly cared for
Capt. Ellery w. Niles, L. S. A. who
Nas one of the representatives of the
regular army connected with the prep
aration for the departure of the Maine
troops was even more emphatic in his
characterize ton of the story as abso-
lutely untrue.
They pointed out that while the army
regulations may provide for tourists
cars in troop movements Of several
days, that with only about 20 tourists
cars in use on all the railroads of the
country and most of these in the West
or middle West, the railroads were un-
able to provide them in the East, al
though it is possible that after reach
ing Buffalo the war department may
be able to secure tourists cars for the
Maine boys. Even the New York troops
were obliged to go out in ordinary pas
senger cars.
LAS for the troops having less than
f7ve-days rations and part of it spoiled
al the start. they had as a matter of
fact nine-days rations or its equiva-
lent" said Capt. Niles. "Five-daNs ra
tions were issued for the journey and
in addition four days rations We're talk
en- from the camp. 1t was all frst-class
food in excellent condition, bought of
local contractors at a high price scale
and superior to that bought by the reg
ular army"
It was also explained at the adjutant
generals Office that the statements
that was no opportunity for cooking
the food on the troop trains and that
The members Of the different companies
we're not issued shoes in sufficient
quantity were also untrue. 1t is true
that there were no kitchen cars on the
troop trains, but as there are only
about Il in existence on the railroads
of the United States, that is not sur
prisjng. One baggage car on each train
vas fitted with a range and wood was
taken on at Portland furnished by the
Maine Central Shoes We're issued to
every man and if there were members
Of Company + or any other company
wearing tennis shoes it was because
they had packed away the shoes issued
to them and were wearing sneakers"
tor their own comfort.
why, the men were fully equipped,
they had nothing lacking, even to tooth
brushes and combs" said Adjutant
General Presson. Not only were the
State and the federal government
ready TO do their parts. but Governor
Curtis called me up last Monday morn
ing and offered to put at the disposal
OF the adjutant generals Office any
amount Of money that might be needed
IN connection with the movement of
the troops"
II develops, however that all the ex-
penSes Of the mobilization of the md
Regiment from the moment that the
companies We're summoned to their ar
Hofles under arms Will be borne by the
mted states government, while the de
'ai!s OF mobilization We're executed by
ltle adutant generals department. That
t2e Maine troops We're better equipped
'AaN those of some other states when
starting TO the front was due to that
policy IF preparedness which was start
~ IN the adjutant generals department
IN the administration of Gen Elliott c.
I''ll and which is being continued un-
der Gen. Presson How we'll this poli
tN was carried out was shown by the
fact that the ID Maine Regiment was
fully equipped from State supplies and
that all Of the federal equipment is still
a, the mobilization camp for the use of
recruits.
Meanwhile the work Of preparing the
discharge papers for the five officers
ard 4oS enlisted men who We're rejected
through the searching physical examin-
alton given by the federal army sur
Seon is in progress and it is expected
that all Of these will be out Of the camp
ny Tuesday or Wednesday. The mo-
pilization camp will then be devoted to
recruiting purposes. further recruiting
10 be done by the federal officials
The following National Guard officers
rave been called to Camp F. D. Keyes