Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1917-06-15
CALL FOR COMPANY
OF LOCAL MILITIA
Addison County, With no Company
In First, Has Chance TO Re-
deem Herself Now - But
Must Act Quickly

1t is probable that a company Of
militia will be organized in Middlebury
at once. The Register says it is prob
able, because the call has been officially
issued and it cannot be doubted that it
will meet with ready response,
With entrance Of the First Regiment,
V. N. G., into Federal service, prepar-
ing to go to France, the State of Yer
mont is left without military force Of
any kind. Governor Graham has order
ed the organization of second regi-
ment exclusively for home defense,
which will be known as the First YER
mont Volunteer Militia. Col. II. T.
Johnson of Bradford who has been ap.
pointed commander of the new regi-
ment, is at work organizing the officers
and recruiting the necessary II com
panies. Col. Johnson came to Middle
bury this week, hoping to form one
company of the new militia here. He
had an Interview with Prof. Raymond
Mcfarland, of the Public Safety Com
mittee, and advised him that if Middle
bury desired to be represented, its ap-
pication for company must be sent to
him by Saturday tomorrow. Prof
Mcfarland has hurriedly relayed this
call to a hundred or more citizens. His
call reads;
Middlebury, June IA, 1917.
Dear Sir:
With the entrance of the National
Guard into Federal service Vermont is
left without any state constabulary.
Governor Graham wishes regiment of
Volunteer Militia to be organized. Col.
Herbert T. johnson was in town Tues
day and hopes that one company Of this
regiment will be organized in Middle
bury; application for a company should
be sent to him Saturday. Members of
the Volunteer Militia will not be called
to service outside the State, nor to
guard bridges, ETC.; they will receive
arms and equipment from the State,
and pay for actual service. Forty-iive
men between the ages of 81 and 80
years are wanted for Middlebury com
pany. Will you be a charter member
of a Middlebury Volunteer Company?
Please answer at once: get others in
terested.
Very respectfully,
RAYMOND MCFARLAND,
Vergennes is having the same oppor-
tunity, and word comes that a company
may be formed there If Middlebury
does not awake at once to her chance to
redeem herself in a military way, she
may find her opportunity going by de-
fault, because our neighboring city has
taken up the only application necessary
for this county. Addison County has
no organized representation in the First
Regiment, and will have no share, eX-
cept in the case of few scattered en-
listments, in the grim but glorious work
TIE Vermont boys will embark upon
soon abroad. The least the county can
do is to answer the Governors call for a
strong home guard.
The age limits-3l to 50-are such
that the call does not concern those who
are already subject to draft. The call
is for the older men, whose only chance
of bearing any of real military work of
this war lies between enlistment in the
regulars to fight, or staying at home
and organizing for home defence and
making some pretense at backing up the
boys who go abroad
Any patriot who has not received
Prof. McFarland's postcard call and
who desires to enroll as a charter mem
Der of the company to be formed here,
may write to that effect, telephone or
call upon him, or leave their name at
the Register office.