The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-09-19
DRAFTED MEN
!. BEING SENT
TO WESTF|ELD
Are Transferred from Aver to
Depot Brigade
WILL FILL VACANCIES
Not Enough Soldiers at Camp Bartlett
to Take Places of the Men
Rejected.


Camp Bartlett, Hampton Plains,
Sept. 1S-Two hundred men of the
National Army from Camp Devens at
Aver. marched into the mobilization
camp of the Natloaal Guard at West
field tonight, arriving after dark.
They detrained at Westfield at 7
o'clock and began trudge up the
road which has seen thousands of
troops pass within the last five
weeks.
They we're the first of the horde
of drafted men who will follow to
complete the roster of the 104th In
fantry and the units of the Depot
Brigade OF the 2Gth Division. Where
they win be assigned later was not
made known tonight. Temporarily
they were assigned to the First New
Hampshire Infantry. In the absence
of Brig. Gen. Cole, camp commandant
who was called away on business
early this morning, the detachment
reported to Col. Frank NJ. Hume Of
the 1880 Infantry, senior colonel Of
the SD Brigade.
The recruits from the ranks OF the
National Army we're a husky looking
body of soldiers. although they We're
lacking somewhat in military equip
ment. A portion of them wore full
uniforms. Some were only partially
in uniform, while others were with
out uniforms at all. They took their
hike TO camp cneerfuiiy and will be
the first men chosen through the sc,
lective draft to get into service with
an active unit soon to see military
service overseas.
It is believed at Camp Bartlett the
drafted men may be taken to Ill the
ranks of the 104th Infantry Nearly
200 men of that outfit were transfer
red to the Depot Brigade today be-
cause of physical disability and are
now awaiting their discharge. OF
these, as went into the Eighth Massa-
chusetts and 100 to the Sixth Massa-
chusetts. In the First New Hamp-
shire Infantry, nearly 200 men who
were discharged as physically unfit
have departed within the last two
days. so that there we're accommOda'
tions in that regiment for the latest
arrivals.
1t is known that thousands of the
draft army will be taken to complete
| the complement of the five regiments
assigned to the Depot Brigade. These
are the First New Hampshire, First
| Vermont, Sixth and Eighth Massa'
chusetts Infantry commands and the
| First Maine Heavy Artillery. Col
Ballentine of the Maine Ileavies re
| ceiyed personal assurance on his re
| cent visit 10 Boston that his regiment
4 would be recruited to its full strength
| OF 1900 men rapidly, and this same
assurance has been conveyed TO the
other regimental commanders of the
Depot Brigade at Camp Bartlett. II
is expected the entire force Of the re
serve regiments will be assembled al
West1eld soon after Oct. /.
Prospects of permanent camp al
WestReld for the winter are increas
ing. although a definite announce
ment to this effect had not been made
by the camp officials. Col. BallentinC
has been asked by Brig. Gen. Il. lie
roy Sweetser commander OF the
depot brigade, to submit plans for {
cantonment camp on Hampton Plain!
drawn along the lines of those of {
Maine lumber camp. Four officers o
the Maine artillery who have had ex
perience in the Maine woods in lum
bering operations have been assigned
by Col. Ballentine to draw up thes'
plans. They are working on them L
day,
| II is proposed instead Of the lonl
battalion buildings which have beer
built at Aver, to erect building
which will house platoon of CON
, pany or a section of a battery. Thes
will be square instead of oblong, thu
insuring an even heating in all part
. OF the structure. Instead Of steam
Is proposed to heat the barracks
, | which will be small, with the larg
round stoves so common in the raj
, road stations of an earlier day an
which are used in lumber camps. II
r suring an even radiation of hes
q throughout With the men of th
Q section or platoon together Il is b,
3 lieyed by those who have considere
Y the idea that excellent results migl