Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-26
TROOPS NEEDED FOR
STATE PROTECTION
SAYS GEN. PRESSoN
Addressing Gathering
of Young Men Inter-
ested in New Regi-
ment Force Prob
ably to Remain in
State

| Intimation of knowledge az condi
I tons demanding the presence Of n
military force in the State of Maine,
was given by Adjutant General. Pres
son Sunday afternoon in an address at
a meeting at City hall in the interests
/ of the company now being organized
for the prospective Third Maine Reg
| iment. II received a telephone call last
/ night concerning the affair in Mime
! apolis, That's what's going to happen
| here" he said. The whole pacifist pro-
gram i'll the United States is undoubt-
! eddy backed up by Germany. We've
got to keep on the watch. The Cover
! nor will be asked very soon to set q
National Guard regiment into shape"
There was a good attendance at the
meeting, consisting largely Of young
men of military age. Mayor Swift IN
troduced the speaker and remarked
that Augusta has reason for pride in
the fact that she has already given
nearly 900 men TO the service. Marie
also has cause for pride, he said. in
! that as per cent. OF her quota yolun-
tered and that with this percentage
she stands second only to the state of
! Washington. But FIVE counties in The
| United States furnished their full quo
ias without resorting to the draft:
! three Of these are in Maine ami one of
them is kcnncbec," said the mayor.
General Presson said that the Amer
! lean people have been blinded to the
! seriousness of the situation by tI:e
knowledge that in all past wars they
nave been victorious Historians. re
said, have pointed out the Victories
that have been won, but have failed 10
chronicle the delays and resulting nm
necessary losses. The battle of RulI
Kun was mentioned as an instance of
the disastrous results Of lack Of disci-
pine The Union soldiers were brave
men but they were not real soldiers "
SAD the speaker. They were inst a
MOB and went along the road pi.kins
biackberries by tho way. They we,e
unorganized and answered the officers
orders with catcalls. When they went
INTO battle. what happened? They ran
! IKE cats and dogs"
! The National Army cantonments
General Presson described as great
melting pots of democracy" on his
visit to Aver he saw near together IN
Uniform an eX-Yalc football cantaiu
mayor of city (who had waived ~
/ cmptlon). man who had invested s,o
700 in Liberty Loan bonds and paid
'or lhefn outright, a farmer, d mer
chant. and near-criminal.
! The republics Of Greece and no,ne
at the time they fell were shoutina t,o
ioudest about democracy" said Con
/ eral Prcsson. Possibly our nal,,, y.,s
getting ready to fall, and this crcar
war with all its horrors NAV be i bless
, ing"
3
I we hear it said that the drafte1 49,
"lef is not as good as the ynI,Intn.,.
! nat may have been true in The civ
II war but ii is not true today" sad
| me speaker. Men can't buy themselves
or as they did then"
'fh'fdl lrcSSon said that tho prom
oSlllCn 10 organize a home guard bad
/ peell TAXED over with war .Iepar:n.r,
olhc1als and that it had ',c,l felt thar
! Nucl q force would not D. an ,.tIician,
arm OF the service. Tne war danaft-
/ hleht asked that Maine wal Till sono
pan had been worked out and rave
assurance that in the mean time tho
state would be protected bv troons
from the forts. Tie departnnnt h.,s
now notified the state that i, i, reo11
ior TIC organization of a NationsI
Guard regiment to take place.
Ihat the now regiment will be kent in
! Maine all the time was tho belief ey
/ pressed by tho adiutant general. bu, 10
! asked BIS hearers to understand that
the force may he called upon for far
! tien service.
/ General Presson said that he vas
foid by General Crowder that mi
\ersai training law. whereby eysrv
young man physically able and not
needed i'll some other capacity sbouId
. on reaching the age of 10. be enrolled
1or enc or two Years of military train
Ihsr will probably be passed liz can.
ereAs.