The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-06-29
Sixty-Nine Men Have Taken
Oath Of Organization
CAPTAIN IS G. A. LEWIS
Roy H. Allison and Ivan Bowen
Made Lieutenants; Drill
Was Had

| Company c of the Sixth battalion
OF the home guard of Minnesota was
formerly mustered into the service of
the state government last night by
Major Oscar Seebach of Redwing,
and is now a part of the military arm
of the commonwealth. The oath was
administered and Major Seebach gave
the company talk on its duties and
responsibilities, and told how it was
bound by the military law as effective
ly as any other troops are. Sixty-nine
members of the company were must
| cred in, out of the eighty-two en-
rolled. Most Of those not present were
out of the city, and will be mustered in
later
| Major Seebach, after consultation
with Captain G. A. Lewis, announced
the appointment of Roy II. Allison as
first lieutenant and Ivan Bowen as
second lieutenant. The appointments
are said to give general satisfaction.
These two gentlemen have been very
active in applying themselves to the
work and have advanced rapidly.
They have drilled the company very
successfully.
| The company was put through some
foot movements before being mustered
in last night, by Mr.. Allison, who
handled the men like veteran. After
time, Major Seebach addressed the
| company in substance as follows: 81
| want you to feel that in taking this
oath that it makes you real soldier.
This is no Sunday school picnic, no
play, no pastime and no joke, but q
very serious matter. The organization
of the home guard is expected to en-
sure peace and quiet to the state.
Peple who are inclined to start dis
orders will not do so if there is an
effective home guard --
Will Be Forty Companies.
There are going to be forty COM
panies of this home guard, and per-
haps forty-four or even forty eight.
The companies will be scattered over
the state. In the northwest section,
where there was but one militia COM
pany, there will be seven companies of
the home guard. In the northeast,
where the /. w. w. have been active,
there will be six, where there was
previously only one national guard
unit. So in other parts of the state,
the companies will be distributed
| where needed. All of this is with the
idea Of having the company in each
town take care of it's own immediate
vicinity, rather than have to send
companies away from home. There Is
very little probability of your being
sent far from Mankato. In fact, no
more chance Of it than there is of an
invasion of the state, for only on
such an emergency are you apt to be
called to any distance.
"The home guard will be organized
the same as the national guard. The
military code applies to the home
guard the same as to the other.
want you all to read it. Courts martial
are providd for trial for military Of
Tense. You will be under just as
rigid rules as though you had Joined
the regular army.
There will be the regulation civic
organization, consisting of president,
secretary, treasurer, etc., these Of
fees being held by your commissioned
officers, and there will be board of
directors. These will have the right to
establish certain regulations, provide
a system of fines for hardness, alb
sence from drill, etc. 1t will be the
duty of the first sergeant to direct alb
sentees from drill to appear before the
board of directors at the next meeting
and give an excuse for being away. II
any member moves from the city, he
will be given an honorable discharge.
Sickness will be an excuse for abb
sence from meetings, but IL anyone
stays away from drill to go to
dance, show or party he must expect
to pay fine"
Administered the Oath.
Major Seebach then called the roll
and administered the oath Of allegi-
ance and service to the company, each
member holding up his right hand
while it was read. This oath binds the
members to the military service of the
state until the end of the war unless
sooner discharged. The major then ex-
planned that the governor appoints the
captain and first and second lieuten-
ants, and that he would announce dur
ing the evening the appointment Of the
two lieutenants after consultation
with Captain Lewis as to who of the
members seem most fitted for the po-
sitions. Major Seebach then con-
tinued: 81 don't want any dissentions
in the company. will name whoever
your captain recommends. You have
got to heartily back up the captain
and lieutenants, for they will have no
easy job. Their work will be the most
difficult of any of the members"
Captain Lewis then addressed few
words to the members, saying: "Pitch
right in and all do the best you can.