Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-05
ARE PREPARING.
FOR DRAFT men
Gen. Sweetser, Despite
Report S, Expec ct S
Aver Men at Camp
Bartlett.

Camp Bartlett, Hampden Plains
Oct. appropriations are still being
made at Camp Bartlett to receive
members of the drafted forces from
! Aver. Col. NJ. J. Healy of the First
New Hampshire is to move his camp
| from the center Of the old depot
brigade position to a point near the
present camp'of the 104th Infantry.
| Little credence is placed by the Of
! fcers at Camp Bartlett in the report
| that drafted men are not to be
brought from Aver. and additional
! strength is given to the statement Of
| Brig. Gen. Sweetser that the draft re-
cruits would be at Westfield soon by
the elaborate steps to extend the road
system through the Hampton Plains
camp. Lieut.. Col. Damon and the
men of his regiment have been placed
] in charge of this part OF the camp ex-
tension program, and more perma-
nent Improvements will be made upon
/ the military highways which were
constructed on order of Brig. Gen.
Charles H. Cole by Maj. Alfred E.
F'oote of Ho!yoke.
Sweetser's Statement
!
| Sweetser sut-tantiated the under
standing of the officers OF the four
infantry regiments at Westfeld. He
said:
Il know nothing ABOUT this rumor,
he said, but l have no doubt what
ever but that | will get the drafted
! men | have Got to have them to take
! the place of the men who are already
being sent away. We are already en-
| listing men, but they are coming
Slowly, because we are taking only
good men. We are finely situated to
receive men at once, with every
facility for feeding. housing and
training them. The chances are that
we will be ordered to Charlotte, \.
4 c., before the first of November, and
these drafted mon all want to come
/ with u.s.
1t was pointed out this morning at
headquarters that if men were sent
from Camp Devens at Aver to the De-
pot Brigade at Westfeld. it would re-
! lieve the congestion which is said to
he very great at Aver and growing
greater as the percentages of drafted
men arrive in camp. 1t was said this
morning that when the camp receives
So per cent of the drafted men next
I Saturday, it will be filled to its limit
capacity, WITH no room for the Is per
cent who will report Oct. II.
The Coming Football Game
All arrangements have been complet-
! ed by Col Balentine of the First Maine
Heavy Field Artillery for the journey
: to Portland, Me, Oct. l3. when the
regiment football team will play the
! cohorts of the University of Maine. The
start will be made from WC.Ifeld by
i special train in the afternoon of Oct.
y. Eight coaches. two kitchen cars
X and a pullman will comprise the sec
4 ton. Two hundred and fifty enlisted
men, the band, g,ee club and team will
make the trip.
4 The soldiers will drill between the
i halves Of the contest, the band will
furnish music. and in the evening there
will be a pop concert in the Portland
4 City Hall. With concerts by the univer-
sity and reemental glee clubs, Sun
day morning at 1880 o'clock the SOL
Giers will march in a body to the Port
( land Cathedral and Bishop Walsh will
I bless the colors of the regiment, re-
! Al
the Rotary Club of Portland. Immedi-
ately after thc.ta ceremonies the troops
will entrain for the return Journey, ar
irving Al Westfeld Monday morning
ready for duty.
I A Game with Harvard, Too
! There was jubilation in the camp
when word was received from Capt.
4 Tudor Gardiner that the game with
Harvard had been arranged, and other
\ contests of equal note are in prospect
The Artillery team is coming along
fast and under the eagle eye of expert
coaches who have made names for
i themselves on the gridiron in past
I years, they are rounding out a sys-
|. tenn Of plays which it will be hard for
any college aggregation to smash.
| The men absent without leave nave
been rounded up. ana the reports
show a marked Improvement in the
discipline of the camp and a lessen
! ing in the numbers of men who are
taking chances when allowed to
;, leave on a pass The presence and
! efforts of the Military Police have
i been in a large measure responsible
4 for the improvement in conditions.
/ Private Osborne Of the Maine
Heavy Artillery ron Of Thomas Mot,
Osborne of Sing Sing and Portsmouth,
/ Naval Prison fame. has been named
J a sergeant ma jor in his regiment BY
Col. Ballcntine. Sergt. Maj. Osborne
enlisted a few weeks ago and recently
was appointed a clerk in the office of
the camp commander.-Springfeld
! 'nion.