Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-06
The MAINE HEAVIES"
BEST IN THE BIG CAMP
Visitor at Camp Bartlett Tells What He Saw an,
More Particularly What He Heard fir ON
Group of Medical Men. F.,

| A correspondent OF the Portland
Press who was at westfeld recently
gives report Of his visit to the Maine
Heavy Field artillery as follows:
Way down on the right of the Mas
sachusetts regiment is the camp Of
the Maine Heavy Field Artillery. the
Milliken regiment. Col. A T. Ballen-
. tine commanding. ! thoroughly en-
joyed visit here because there are so
many men from this part of the State
in this command whom l knew. 1t is
! splendid camp too. This regiment
also did a land cleo ring stunt that was
wonderful. They had bigger trees TO
chop down and more of them than any
one else and their camp covers very
large area. But the men Of this regi-
ment haven't been soldiers long
enough 10 learn how to soldier.
From what l saw of them I don't pe-
iieve they will ever learn the Sinking
game. The seem to love the work
and while they have only been in camp
at Westaeld a week they have done
nlarreiously well. The camp site is
better as 70 drainage. etc, than any Of
the others. Col. Ballentine picked it
out with this in view. I presume that
this outfit has created more talk and
&C me in for more praise than any 9TH
er organization, regular or National
Guard. in the entire camp. Little was
expected Of them because they had not
been organized very long when they
arrived. Here are some Of the things
that were told me or / overheard a
group OF medical men-ls in number
were leaving the camp, having tenn
porarily finished their work at this
camp. They were discussing what they
rad done. The men of that Maine ar
tillery regiment are tie best in this
camp, in fact the best I have seen"
said one Of these surgeons. I'm ply
4ique they are superior. They seem
10 be very intelligent. should judge
the most OF them had enjoyed good
educations and come from A good class
Of people. Many Of them should say
were college men with athletic train
irg Then they were clean lot I
mean that they were physically clean
and had been taking care Of them
selves. The discipline Of this partic-
ular regiment was evidenced by The
promptness with which everything
vas done and by the military courtesy
which was shown by every man.
There is splendid material in that out
fit,''
Mind you. this I overheard and II
didn't come from a Maine man either
The same group spoke of the 1881 in
fantry and expressed regret because
the New Hampshire regiment had been
incorporated with the Maine men.
These doctors who are experts in their
line seemed to think we'll of the men
Maine had supplied to this camp
The Milliken regiment Is the hap
riest outfit I ran across. They have
the only screened. absolutely sanitary
cook houses and mess shacks in this
camp. They have the only shower
baths and they installed them them
selves. Their latrines are models
which other regiments are told to go
see and pattern after. Gen. Cole AZ
brigade officers school has twice sin
gled out this regiment for its work.
Once he referred to il because its men
and officers were up to the mark in
regimcntal courtesy. Again he SPOKE