The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-08-30
SOLDIERS FROM MAINE
A HUSKY LOT
Former Somerset County Resident
Interested in Our Soldier Boys

The following letter has been receiv-
ed from Don V. Messer former resi-
dent of East Madison, now located in
Huntingdon Mass. Mr.. Messer will
be remembered by many local resi-
dents who will be glad to learn of his
interest in the boys of Co f.
The writer of the letter given be-
low spent his boyhood in East Madi-
son and for some years was employed
In the wooden mill there. About nine
years ago he left for Massachusetts
and has since been engaged in the
woolen industry. The letter and
clippings mentioned, regarding the ar
rival OF the Maine troops at Camp
Bartlett, Westfeld, Mass, should
prove interesting,
Huntington, Mass, Aug. 22-17.
lndependentRepo
Skowhegan, Me.
Gentlemen:-
Enclosed herewith are clippings
taken from yesterday mornings issue
of the Springfield (Mass) Union, con-
cerning mobilization of troops at
Westfield. a town very near here.
You will note, that altho troops are
gathering here from every State in
New England the arrival OF the Maine
boys is given particular attention and
on this account | thought this article
would be of interest to your readers,
especially those of Skowhegan and
surrounding towns
BY this time you are no doubt Won
dering why [ should be so interested
in your Maine boys. The answer is,
that | am a native of one of the sub
urbs of SkOwhegan, east Madison to
be exact Next Sunday, visitors
day | plan on hunting up Company E
and hope either to renew some old ac-
Quaintances or scrape up new ones. 1t
has been nine years since | left
home, consequently will not be sur
prised if there isn't a familiar face
in the outfit for it must be remem
hered that the kid of nine years ago
Is the same fellow, who before very
long, is going to make the Kaiser
eat dog
However there is fraternity among
people from home which bridges over
any lack of previous acquaintaneeship,
so | anticipate it will not take long
to know them all by their nicknames
Yours truly.
DON V MESSER.
CAMP BARTLETT, Hampton Plains,
Aug 20-Thruout the day long col
umns of khaki clad men have been
pounding the grit leading from the
spur track on the railroad sidings
mile and half away to the camp
site
Following them have come the big
army wagons piled high with baggage,
tentage and the odds and ends which
follow in the wake of an army. 1t
has been hot, dusty and grimy work.
But the men have been jovial under
The burden of their task and there has
been no grumbling.
All the way from their camp at Au
gusta. Me, 2000 husky sons of the
Pine Tree State arrived to join their
Iuture comrades of the Second Massa-
chusetts. After nightfall came the
three commands which are to form
the mounted machine gun battalion
the single converted cavalry troop of
New Hampshire and two troops from
Rhode Island.
ARRIVAL OF MAINE MEN
The third battalion of the Second
Massachusetts, encamped at the
Springfield arsenal Is scheduled to
move tomorrow. The camp was
struck yesterday and the tentage
brought to Camp Bartlett Details
from each company we're told off to
pitch the new camp on Hampton
-Flains. The Machine Gun company