The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-04-04
OTHER MON CONS CHOSEN
New Order Names Complete Staff
Captains Write Letters to Keep In
terestNin Battalion - Inattendance
Cause for Dishonorable Discharge.

Fred Fl. J. Baum has been selected
as the ergeant-major of the Kenosha
Provisional Battalion His selection to
head the non-comnissioned staff of the
Kenosha unit in the last general order
from Major Mellum, which also made
the following appointments of non
commissioned staff officers: Quartermas-
ter sergeant, Fred E. Westine; commits
sary sergeant, George n. Tremper;
ordnance sergeant, A. F. Anderson;
color sergeant, Ed. NJ. Meers; color
sergeant, Hal Fletcher; principal must
clan, Fred e. Stemm; chief trumpeter,
R. O. Likes. The appointments COM
plete the organization of the staff
of the battalion.
ergeant-Major Baum has particular
qualifications to lead the 'non-coms' of
the battalion During eight years Of
manuevers of the Third Regiment of
Infantry of the Wisconsin National
Guard he was on special detail at the
regimental headquarters to assist the
adjutant in performing the duties per-
tanning to his office and that Of regi-
mental sergeant-at-arms. He has had
eight years experience as a member of
companies of the state guard and is
thoroughly trained for the demands
which his office will make upon him,
Since his appointment recently he has
"put his part Of the battalion house
in ORDER in great shape and proved
the wisdom of the appointment.
Company commanders of the bat
TALON have recently launched cam
paign for increased interest in the
drills of the unit. Letters have been
mailed to each member Of the battalion
pointing out the necessity of having
every member of the company at the
regular drill meeting each week The
fact that large percentage Of absence
without leave has sprung up in the
companies has led to the consideration
of the plan of dishonorable discharge
to any member who persists in failure
to report for drill The names Of such
members will be published tgether with
statement of their failure to live up
to their obligation which they took
upon entering the battalion.
The letter, which has been written
bv the captains to the members Of their
companies, points out that recently
military authorities placed the provi-
sional battalions of the various states
as of third importance in the defense
of the nation with the men on the fir
ING line and those in the training
camps Of more Importance. It is point
ed out that if the Kenosha County Pro
visional Battalion protects the home
interests which are entrusted to its
keeping that it must have regular at
| tendance at drill to be ready for service
whenever any call may come.
''We had boped,'' said Major Mel
lum in discussing the situation, Eto be
able to avoid the penalty of dishonor
able discharge for failure to attend
drill, but there are few men in the
companies who have failed to respond
to every appeal which has been made
| to them. To be fair to the members
of the battalion who have lived up to
their obligation it will be necessary to
take some action. We are going to
give them one more chance, but if at the
end of the present month, we have Sc
cured no results we will be ready to is
sue the black list of members.