The Republican journal., 1918-08-29
The Third Maine Infantry.

After an intensive training at Camp
Keyes, Augusta, Me-, Capt. Orrin j.
Dickey, First Lieut.. Ross l. Hammons
Lieut.. Carl Stevens of the Medical Dept,
Sergt. Melvin o. Dickey, Sergt. Roy E.
Young and Corporal Percy Smart, return
ed home Monday evening.
During the stay there the Belfast men
had taste of all kinds of work and came
home looking fine and hardy as the re-
suits of the ten days out of door training.
In sham battle among the divisions of
the command which was fought out on
one of the hills near the camp grounds,
Lieut.. Ross l. Hammons of this city was
complimented by the instructors in the
excellence of his craftsmanship and good
work, he having 'kllled" five of the
enemy before his position was discover
ed. This might have been bettered but
for the fact that one of his own men gave
him away.
Gov. Carl E. Milliken and Mayor Swift
of Augusta were both guests on different
days at the Camp for dinner and made
addresses to the members of the Regi-
ment. Sunday evening, the closing day
of the Camp, there was given minstrel
show which attracted large audience,
the members of the Camp appearing
in the circle and Company F. was
represented by Lieut. Hammons and
Sergt. Dickey.
Capt. Orrin j. Dickey was unfortunate
to fall ill on his arrival at Camp and was
in the hospital two and half days be-
fore he was able to be on the field, but
found it very good place to be ill in and
care and attention of the best. Contrary
to report his illness was not occasioned
by his work in camp.
One of the keen disappointments to
Company F. was the fact that Sergt.
Melvin 0. Dickey, who had the night
before the trip to Augusta been elected
to the position of Second Lieutenant, was
on arrival there disqualified by reason of
his age. Mr.. Dickey will be returned to
the position of First Sergeant of the Com
pany which he formerly held, and the
following letter has been received by him
since his return from Augusta
Headquarters, Third Infantry.
CAMP KEYES, AUGUSTA, MAINE.
August 20, 1918.
Mr.. Melvin o. Dickey,
Belfast, Maine.
My. dear Mr.. Dickey:-
am informed by the Adjutant General
that in accordance with paragraph IA of
the law establishing a National Guard for
the United States, that you are not eli
gible for commission as Second Lieu
tenant. The law provides that the Sec
ond Lieutenant shall not be more than
thirty years of age. A waiver might be
asked for in this case and would probably
be granted if your age was not more than
five years in excess of the specified limit.
| am informed that you are more than
forty-one years of age. have made an
effort to name you as First Lieutenant
on the staff, but find that even with that
rank, according to the law, you would be
ineligible to commission.
| regret this Y cry much, your spirit.
zeal and appearance, all have impressed
me very favorably and | regard your loss
as distinct misfortune.
Very respectfully,
HARRY Nj. BIGELOW,
Colonel, 3rd Inf. N. G. Me.
During the stay in camp Percy Smart
was appointed Corporal and did consider
able service as guard at the office of
Colonel BigeloW as well as acting as an
orderly to him. Capt. Dickey was en-
ployed during the closing days of camp
in the office of Colonel Bigelow and all
the Belfast men received most excellent
recognition during their stay in camp.
There was no drill of the company
Wednesday evening, but Friday evening
there will be a three hour period.
A non commissioned officers school will
be opened this week under the direction
of Capt. Dickey and officers of the COM
pany and all ''non-coms" will be required
to be in attendance. just when this
Company will be called to service has not
vet been announce !, but there is no ques-
ton but that they will have service this
fall in some section.
Fred Drew who left the Company here
and went to Syracuse, New York, in the
draft has been appointed as Corporal in
his Company there and is very well
pleased with the new location. He was a
cook in the Belfast Company
The draft this week takes from Com
pany F, Clarence Nickerson of Swan
vile and Fred R. Dickey of Belfast.
There will be another election of the
officers of Company F, on Friday even
ing, Sept 9th, when a second lieutenant
will be elected.
Wedding Bells.
CARTER-FOWLES. Charles w. Carter
of Bath, formerly of Belfast, and Miss