Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-28

War with its awful significance has !
now fully dawned upon the people of /
Maine and its measure of import filled |
to overlooking, has been dealt out to
every home in this peaceful stretch Of
country from Fort Kent to Kittery.
The blushing Dld of youth with all its
vigor and promise has been plucked, |
and is now undergoing the process Of
forced development under the scOrch- !
ing sun of summer at Camp keyes in
this city. &c be made fit for the |
worlds most awful and greatest strug-
gle now devastating the old world. 1t
seems to have taken a considerable
amount of force of argument, supple
mented with absolute facts, that the
matter of this country entering into
the present world conflict was no joke;
but now that a full realization has
taken place, Maine is up and doing, and
can be depended upon to do her share
III rallying to the support of the coun-
try with all the strength and energy
which she possesses. When the stress
and glamour has subsidized, it is safe
to estimate that this State will give
good account of herself and emerge
triumphant and glorious, and new
pages of history will glow with records
of heroic deeds. valor, gallantry, and
successes won, as in the past.
One of the best examples that this
State is alive to the situation and in
tends to do her bit is that the Second
Maine Regiment is the first white regi-
nent in the country to be recruited to
war strength tthe first regiment being
colored outfit in New York; and will
be known as the 65th Infantry [. S. A
after being mustered into federal ser
vice for war in foreign countries. Next
came the Saw-mi Unit which was or
ganiZed and sent across the Atlantic
before anyone hardly realized that such
thing was possible. Following this
was the recruiting for the Quarter
masters Reserve Corps which called for
the pick Of skilled master mechanicians
of motor vehicles and motor vehicle
drivers, transfers, porters. wagoners,
clerks, cargadoes, etc. and no time was
lost. as material came forth and offered
their services to the Army and were
accepted. Next came the Hospital Re-
serves which was rapidly recruited and
al the same time a vigorous campaign
vas being prosecuted for the raising OF
a regiment Of heavy artillery, and the
success Of the workers was realized
when the young men comprising the
officers of the entire regiment met at
the State House and with a brief. but
well-appointed address from Governor
Carl r. Milliken. were handed their
commissions. Adding to this quota the
Maine Naval Reserves the Coast Ar
tillery Corps, and the enlistments in
the regular army and navy, and the
young boys enlisted as Junior Nolun-
teers for farm work, one would be jus
titled in saying that Maine has done
her share in volunteering for the de-
Tense of the country, but the end is not
yet.
Preparations are under way for the
recruiting of an Engineering Corps as
part of the Maine National Guard
and the contingent will call for the best
the State can offer for this branch of
the service and the response will be as
readily as in previous calls, because
this thing Of war is being driven home
in a most convincing manner and a
fuller realization will come when our
boys leave the State to mobilize in
Division Camp where the regular army
officers will attempt the hercuean task
of converting raw material into fit
fighting force for oversee duty and the
seriousness Of this training is embodied
in a section of recent order Of Cen
eral Wood which read: Training
should be intensive in nature. 1t is
impracticable to state at what date the
call for more serious duty may be made
and officers and enlisted men should
spare no opportunity to prepare them
selves in every way for that duty they
may soon be called upon to perform for
the service" Every officer and enlisted
man now encamped on the hill in this
city is being confronted in a convinc-
ing manner what this means when
Charlotte. n. c. is reached and that day
is so near that we begin to steel our
selves. and try to check our emotions
at the thought of the departure and
yet it would not be surprise to learn
little later that our boys had landed
a some port in France.
The next possible unit and one that
appears quite proba BILE. is another regi-
ment of infantry to be recruited in the
State. There has been some strong
talk in certain quarters that Elliott c.
Dill. former Adjutant General of Maine,
may recruit regiment and this news
trings much enthusiasm among former
members of the Guard and those who
are acquainted with the fact are more
than anxious to serve in a regiment
with him. and there is plenty of we'll
disciplined and well-trained material
that is available to make one Of the
best and strongest military fighting
forces that ever left the State, and this
assertion is backed by men who have
served in the Guard while he was the
Adjutant General.
1t is rumored that General Dill has
been offered two positions each with
the rank of Colonel: one of which was
ar inspector Of munitions, which it is
stated he declined in preference to a
chance to see active service If he really
was to enter the army. General Dill
could readily secure such trained men
as George Mel. Presson. the present
Adjutant General of the State of Maine
as Lieut.. Colonel. or General Dill
would readily give way to General
Presson and take the Lieut.. Colonelcy
for himself