Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-18
new ENGLAND
DIVISION HOPES
STIR ENTHUSIASM
Boston Thinks 7. r.
Only Man That Can
Make the Red Blood
Jump - Rumors Will
Not Down and Are All
the Talk Heard by
Visitors to Westfield
and birmingham

Boston, Mass. Oct. II (SpeciaD-
visitors to various military camps in
this state and newspaper correspond
ents there say that, since the first ru-
NOR Of q possibility tina Col. Roose-
welt might be induced to form a bril-
gade based upon the Depot Brigade"
now at Camp Bartlett, Westfield, and
at birmingham. little else has been
talked of in the two camps. Even
here in Boston comment Is heard ev-
erywhere of this tenor: IF t. r.
should call for volunteers to Ali up
this division. you couldn't stop 'em.
Everywhere it is conceded that Col.
Roosevelt is the one mar in the coun-
try TO arouse real military enthusi-
asm and the possibility of a New Eng
land division led by Roosevelt stirs
the people Of the Northeastern states.
Officers at the camps seem to know
little or nothing about the rumors
and, in these times Of military secrecy
: this attitude lends all the more color
to the whole story. During the recent
visit Of the boys of the First Maine
Heavy Field Artillery to Portland a
number of them were questioned as
regards their hopes and desires and
. without exception they were all very
enthusiastic to 0 from Westfield
to the scene of more active oper-
etions and all expressed the wish that
they might have a leader for their
division such as Roosevelt. The Mil
Hkens seem to possess much the same
spirit that was evidenced by the
Rough Riders back in '9S and in fact
It was Col. Balentine's original plan
to go to the front under Col. Roosevelt,
which plan he a to give up when
the admir- istration refused to commits
sion Teddy. 1t is understood tina Col.
Balentine declines to become entanel-
ed in any way in the present movement
but those who know him best feel
| that he would be one of the first to
boost such a plan were it not for the
fact that he is now In the army and
, SO must remain silent.
It was rlmored that several govern
ors Of New England had held a con-
ference in regard to his plan some
time ago in Boston. Whatever the re-
suit Of such a conference would be is
difficult to determine at the present
time hut the people of Maine will GER
tainly stand behind their governor in
any steps he may take to aid in the
prosecution Of the war. especially a
plan that would undoubtedly result
in more volunteering and so less
drafting. Men enlisting are certainly
entitled to select their branch Of SER
vice and to a certain extern. should
be allowed to follow the leader they
choose. 4
The question most frequently hea I'd
ir correction with the rumors is con
cerning the numbers Of the ~organiZa-
tons In the depot brigade. 1t is no
secret at this time that quartcred az
Camp Bartlett, Westfeld Plains. are
the First Maine Heavy Field Artillery
Nncwr. as the Milliken regiment>, the
9Th Mass. Inf. the Sth Mass. Inf. the
LIST y. II. Infantry. the 1st Vt. Infan-
try, 1st separate Co. Mass. Inf. 1st
separate Co. Conn. Inf. Co. A. Conn
signal corps, %. p. y. H. signal CORPS.
At Framingham are the 18th Mass in
fantrv and LIST Conn. Inf.
The requirements for a division un-
der tho new tables of organization,
are: One divisional headquarters COM
papv 1854; one machine gun battalion
Of four companys 76S; two infantry
hrigades each composed Of two regi-
merits infantry and a machine gun
battalion Of two companies 1920;
one field artillery brigade of three field
artillery regiments and one trench mo-
tar battery 506S; one field signal bat
TALON 262: one regiment engineers 1865:
one train headquarters and military
police 337: one supply train a62: one
engineer train 81: one sanitary train
composed Of four field hospitals and
four ambulance companies 949. A to.
tai OF officers and men Of 27.152.
From these. figures It may be seen that
at Westield and F~ramingham are the
substantial foundation for a splendid
New England division. It Is not 70
be understood that these organizations
are full but rather that they have
the framework in which to set the vol
unteers or drafted men required and
that in this manner the division could
he made q mobile and disciplined or
Pani7ation more rapidly than in any
other way aviIahle.