The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-09-10
26 DIVISION
NEARLY READY
FOR SERVICE
Unit Contains More Than
Thousand Vermonters
REGIMENTS ARE FILLED
Sunday Was a Big Day at Camp Bart
Iett-Discipline Rather Lax and
Many Soldiers Gone.

Camp Bartlett, Hampton Plains,
Sept. 9-Soldier votes of the men
from Maine tomorrow at Camp Bart
lett may determine whether equal
suffrage shall be granted to the wo-
men of the Pine Tree State. There are
about 5000 men from Maine who will
cast their votes in improvised ballot
boxes at the big mobilization camp
in Westfleld on this and other ques'
tions of Importance to their common
wealth to be decided in a special elec-
tion.
With the exception of one formal
ceremony in the camp of the 104th In
fantry this afternoon when there was
a guard mount, this has been a day
of rest throughout the camp. Fifty
per cent of the men were absent on
96-hour leave, probably the last time
they will be given so much liberty be-
fore they depart for France. This
left an unusually small number in
camp, for in addition to the longer
leave of absence, many of the sol
diers were given a half day off to
visit some of the nearer towns and
cities.
But there were enough men left TO
draw many thosuands of visitors, and
they flocked to Westfield for another
glimpse OF the soldiers. Hundreds of
automobiles were parked north of the
prison stockade on that portion of the
parade ground set aside for parking
space. So great was the crush that a
detail of men from the military police
acted as traffic squad. The machines
we're parked in streets, laid out by
the camp authorities, and in addition
the trolleys were packed to the limit.
They were run in strings OF five cars
each on 15.minute time from West
field, and even then there was insult
ficient accommodation for all those
who wished to make the trip.
There were visitors from ever State
in New England. Camp Bartlett is
now an all New England camp with
units from every State in the North
eastern group under canvass Oh
Hampton Plains The roster Of States
was completed Saturday by the ar
rival OF detachments of organizations
from Connecticut. The Field Hospi-
tai Company has not arrived and an
other change is rumOred. II is said
that instead of the Connecticut outfit
the New Hampshire organization in
camp at birmingham is to come to
Westfield to join the commands OF
the Depot Brigade.
The schemes to stop passing ma
chimes were humorous 1t was a
common sight to see two or three sol
diers standing in the middle of the
road gravely using the semaphore
signal code with bandanna handker'
chiefs as flags to attract the attention
| of the drivers. Most of these were
good natured and gave the soldiers a
| life. Many a youngster in khaki owes
| his Sunday trip home to the kindness
of the motorists of Massachusetts,
| There were church services in
every regimental camp this morning
and two general camp services Bis
hop William Lawrence Of the Episco.
pal diocese conducted q camp service
at Z o'clock. Later he visited the
quarteds of the Maine Heavy Artil-
lery and inspected and inquired into
the system formulated by Col. Bal
lentine In carrying out his regimental
union plan. This is a scheme worked
out by Col. Ballentine, and Bishop
Lawrence was so pleased with the
idea he is to advocate its extension
to other regiments now in service In
the army. IL Is Col Ballentine's S
boast that since coming to Camp Bart
lett not one OF the men of his com
mand has been inside the guardhouse
or under arrest. and he believes much
OF this record Is due to the activities
and amusements provided for the
men OF his regiment by the Regimen
tai Union.
There are nightly motion picture eN
hibtions IN the Union tent. with the
latest feature releases shown
lChrough the kindness OF Mr.. Abra
hams. director Of the Paramount
Company. an order has been obtained
by Col. Ballentine which insures new
pictures daily, no matter where the
regiment is ordered Then there ar,
tho baseball contests and the boxinl
exhibitions in the special ring ant
band concerts. There is plenty {,
amuse the MAINE Heavies" and lttl,
time for mischief when off duty.
A camp mass took place at
o'clock at the field altar constructed
at brigade headquarters through Tn,
generosity OF the members OF ~,
i Catholic order OF Foresters of sprlnl
field This was a gift 10 Rev. Fr