Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-03-14
MAY
Be TRANSFERRED
Self-Inducted Men at Camp
Greene to Be Given Chance
to Enter 57th Pioneer Inf.

Montpelier, March 1O.-Self- indicted
men from Vermont at Camp Greene may
be transferred from the fourth division
tregular) to the 57th Pioneer Infantry.
formerly the First Vermont Infantry.
Ever since self-inducted Vermonters were
first assigned to the fourth division, in
stead of the 57th Pioneer Infantry, Gov
ernor Graham has endeavored to obtain
permission for all those who wished to
be transferred to the organization which
is regarded as Vermont's Green Mountain
regiment. Until to-day authority has
been denied for the transfer Of these
recently elf-inducted men.
The Governors office this evening re-
ceived a telegram from Governor Gra
ham, who is spending several days in
Washington on official business, stating
that on March 9. the secretary Of war
directs that necessary steps be taken to
effect the transfer of the men named in
the attached list, should they so desire.
from the fourth division (regular) to the
57th Pioneer Infantry, formerly the First
Vermont Infantry. The matter Is now
up to the individual men to decide whether
they wish to remain in the fourth division
or be transferred to the 57th Pioneer In
fantry.
With reference to this situation. letter
War Newton D. Baker is quoted below:
washington, Feb 20, 1918.
Hon. Horace F. Graham.
Governor Of Vermont. Montpelier VT.
my Dear Sir
with reference to your telegram OF
February 10th and 18th; relative to the
assignment of men to the First Vermont
Infantry, who have been voluntarily in
Quoted into the service and who it seems
were promised assignment to that organi-
cation, / have the honor to say that a
letter dated January g. 1913 was received
in this office from the commanding officer
of the First Vermont Infantry, setting
forth that the regiment was more or less
disorganized, due to transfers In the for
nation of the 18th division and stating
that information he had received con-
WINGED him that at least 1000 to 1900
men In Vermont of draft age would
present themselves for voluntary induc-
ton II they were given to understand
that they would be assigned to that regi-
ment He recommended that the COM
manding officer Of the regiment be author
lied to designate an officer to go to YER
mont to cooperate with the officials Of
the State and the local recruiting officers
In securing as many men by enlistment
The letter was returned stating that the
recommendation was approved insofar as
1t applies to men not within the draft
age, and that no men who come within
the draft age will be accepted for volun-
tary enlistment except as may be author
lied by the provost marshal general.
Under this authority. 1t appears that Cap
tain Gibson of the First Vermont In
fantry was designated to obtain recruits.
1t also appears that two other officers
Of the regiment, who were on leave Of
absence, likewise made endeavors to
obtain recruits for the regiment Their
efforts appear to have been made on
their own initiative and without any
specific authority from any authorized
source.
1.-The existing instructions from the
provost -marshal-generars office with
regard to voluntary inductions for the
infantry authorized local boards to ac-
cept registered men who apply for VOL
untary induction for the infantry and
to send such accepted men to Camp
Greene. Local boards have no author
ity to accept such for any specific or
ganization of infantry and 1t Is not
understood that local boards have ex-
ceeded this authority. II the officers of
the regiment, who were instrumental In
ending these mon to their local boards
for voluntary induction, gave them to
understand that they would be assigned
to the LIST Vermont infantry, they were
without authority So, to do. All men
who are voluntarily indicted for the
infantry. except those from the Pacific
coast, are sent to Camp Greene, and the
standing instructions to the command
ing general at Camp Greene are that
such men will be sent to the 3rd di-
vision until 1t is filled and thereafter
to the 4th division. The fact that the
LIST Vermont infantry happens to be
stationed at Camp Greene may have
had bearing in the assumption on
the part of men from Vermont who ap-
piled for voluntary induction that they
would be assigned to that regiment on
arrival at Camp Greene. The policy of
the department, however, has been con-
sistently adhered to that the assign
ment of recruits would be determined
by question of priority and 1t is re-
GREETED that exception cannot be made
in the case of the LIST vermont infantry.
The instructions given on the recon-
mendation of the regimental comman-
der In his letter of January 3. referred
~, ware snsaaao that men within the