Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-01

| included in the PlattSburg camps
Furthermore, if Maine boys are to go
to war it would seem more honorable
| for them to 60 under their State and
national flag rather than be split up
and their identity lost. We will send
only two National Guard regiments
into the present world war unless this
new regiment is organized.
| Before going into the war depart
ment requirements for recognition of
this new unit desire to set forth some
of the objections which have been pre-
scented to me, and l will say now there
| is nothing in any of these objections
which cannot be worked out with a
| little energy and time. The, first and
biggest is expense. Now just what is
the expense of this new regiment?
Solely the cost Of new armories. Maine
| MUST have this new regiment by 1921
under the law, and the armories will
| have to be built then. SO that the ad-
ditional cost to the State. in organic
ing this regiment now, is the loss of
! interest on the money invested in these
| armorieS between now and 1921. pro-
| vided the armories are built now; but
don't propose that any new armories
be built now. All cur present national
guard goes into national service July
Is, 1917. The state armories will stand
| idle But, the objector says, they are
not large enough for artillery batteries.
| This is true, were it not that l pro-
pose to split each battery into two
sections and drill these two sections at
different times. 1t is time enough to
I talk about building armories after the
war. If Names regiments return with
/ their ranks depleted you won't need
very large armories; and if they return
! with full ranks the mothers and IA
theirs in this State will be glad to spend
their money for armories instead of
! for soldiers monuments.
! l was told that one of the State Of
| ficials had stated that on account of
! the expense of armories none of the
New England States propose to raise
any of the new artillery units assigned
to them. / Immediately telegraphed
Governor Mccall of Massachusetts
asking what Massachusetts, was doing
in regard to heavy field artillery and l
quote the answer: Mr.. A. T. Balen-
tine. Portland, Maine: Owing to Gov
| ernor McCalls absence in Washington
I advise you that in 1916 Massachusetts
added three batteries of heavy field ar
tillery, making her first full regiment
| Under authorization from the war de-
partment we have this year formed
| second regiment of heavy field artillery
making a total of Il batteries now
maintained by Massachusetts although
Massachusetts thereby has assumed
| disproportionate share of the expenses
of maintaining heavy artillery for the
benefit of the New England tactical
unit The action was taken because
of the desire of the war department
that the New England unit be more
evenly balanced in the several branch
es of the service. We understand that
| the unit still lacks a full regiment of
heavy field artillery, which apparently
you contemplate now to furnish. Stan
! ley r. Miller, Secretary" Now out
side of the expense of building these
armories. what other expense will the
| State incur? Absolutely no other ex-
pense. The United States Government
will clothe, arm and equip the men and
propose to recruit this regiment at
my own expense. Naturally. I would
like to command this regiment. but I
do not ask even this; my sole desire
is to serve, and I stand ready to take
whatever position is assigned to me,
and the men who will associate with
me in the recruiting Of this regiment
are willing to do the same thing.
The following are the requirements
under which new organizations of the
National Guard may receive Federal
recognition:
(a) The new organizations must be
apportioned to the State by authority
of the President.
The Heavy Field Artillery regiment
which 1 am asking to raise has been
apportioned to the State.
(b) A States organization existing
as Organized Militia or National Guard
on April 6. 1916. or recognized as such
since that date must first be raised
to full war strength.
The Coast Artillery regiment, I I'M
derstand, is filed. Col. Hume's reg
iment Of infantry still needs some re-
cruits. In answer to my inquiry Col.
Hume telegraphed me May 2sth as
follows:
"A. T. Balentine.
Portland, Me.
Probably take three weeks. Will adj
wise If finish before.
HUME, Col. Sec. Me. Inf
(c) Suitable armories and facilities
for the care of equipment must be pro-
vided for all new organizations.
/ I have already discussed this mat
ter and propose to use the armories
Of the State after the present Nation
al Guard Is drafted into the Federal
service. drilling the batteries in sec
tions. at different times. because of re-
stricted facilities.
(d) The members of new organiza-
tons shall be SO located that the nee
essary drill and instruction may be
had.
The companies will be located as
follows:
District Popu-
composed Of lation
Ridde,ord '.'.'.i''................1YS'SSS s
OIu CTcndTu .................'...'..' ~.
WeStpfOOk ....................... ...... O. %
SO. portland t'fl l
| portland OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. -Oo'oti
! < ss.s4s
ArmQies: Coast Artillery armory and
Exposition building at Portland. Number