Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-30
Sd MAINE TRAINING
WOULD HELP WHEN
you ARE DRAFTED

If Uncle Sam needs YOU a year from
today. he'll come and take you. wheth-
er YOU belong TO the Sd Maine Infantry
or not, and he'll not take YOU any
quicker If you do than if you don't"
remarked q boy on Monday who had
signed one of the enlistment pledges
being circulated in Augusta. That il
one Of the things l told my folks
when we were talking over the matter
OF joining" he continued, and I also
told them that If Uncle Sam did call
for me year from now and I had had
that year OF training. | shall be less
likely to get hurt or become sick. be
cause l shall have learned how to take
care OF myself in camp or in a scrap"
The Sd Maine Infantry now being or
gained gives a man an opportunity 70
learn something about the work Of a
soldier while he is waiting for a call
that is sure to come. Lots OF folks
pretend TO think that the war will be
over in year from now and that all
this raising OF new infantry is un-
necessary. Everyone hopes the war
will be over before then. but the man
or woman who really believes il will
have failed to read understandings
the news dispatches that come from
the front The Sd Maine surely will be
necessary and the men in il stand A
first class chance Of seeing active duty
: unit, The individuals in il stand
just exactly the same chance OF active
duty as individuals if they do not Join
the regiment The boy was right.
When Uncle Sam wants him. Uncle
Sam will reach out and take him. But
the boy will be more valuable to Uncle
Sam and Will be an added protection
10 his mother and sisters if he now
learns something of the work ne will
be called upon to do.
The young man already registered
viii be called for duty in their turn.
They have all been drafted ALREADY.
That was accomplished about the time
OF the drawing for order numbers. The
only question being decided by the
local exemption boards is whether
man is physically fit. whether his de-
pendents need him al home more now
than Uncle Sam needs him and wheth-
er his work is Of such a nature that
he can be Of more service TO the ma
ton at home than in the army.
There is no exemption or DISCHARGE
teven the physicaD that is 50 perma-
nent that the local boards cannot re-
woke Il IN five minutes. ANY instant
the local board decides that his health
mas improved. that he is not caring for
his dependents and therefore thew will
be just as we'll off with him in the
army or that the average of hardship
being borne by all who are called Is
not greater than that which would be
visited upon the individual under con-
sideration, or that his farming opera
tons are not enough larger than his
own stomach and those of his i'm
mediate family require. that instant he
can be recalled and ordered into mill
tarY service.
With this liability to be taken ever
present. every man OF the draft age or
who will become Of draft age within
the next year, should investigate the
opportunities offered by the local com
pany Of the Sd Maine Infantry. to see
what advantage such training will be
to him when his service as drafted
soldier begins.
The old Co NJ. I'd Reg. Inf. y. G.. s.
NJ. armory at City hall will be open
every evening this week and men who
have signified their intention of Join
ing up will be present to tell why thew
have taken the step.