Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-13
ELOQUENT SPEAKERS STIR
ENTHUSIASM FOR 3RD MAINE
Biggest Gathering of Men Ever in City Hall LIS
ten to Addresses by Gov. Milliken, 1t. COL
Cummings Hon. Ralph Brewster and Judge b.
F. Maher y

Enthusiasm for Augustus company
in the new Third Maine Regiment
reached unanticipated bounds Tuesday
evening at rally in City hall attend
ed by an immense audience in which
young men We're the predominating
representation Police on duty at the
hall said that it was the biggest gather
ing Of men the auditorium has ever
held.
The National Home orchestra, Prof.
Theme leader, gave half hour con-
cert of patriotic selections before the
speaking started and also played at
intervals between the addresses.
Mayor Swift Presides
Mayor Swift presided at the rally.
Does Maine Need the New Regi-
ment?" he asked and answered his own
question. There is no question about
it; it is going to be raised. Does Au-
gusta, the Capital city, want to see a
Maine Regiment in which 1t is not
represented by company" and
Does Augusta want to see her splen-
did record for enlistments for the Red
Gloss, the Y. M. c. A., the Knights of
Columbus, and for the Liberty Loans
dimmed by her failure to answer this
CALI" were other questions which he
asked. and the manifest spirit of his
hearers was a satisfactory and en-
phatic answer in the negative.
Enlisted Men Cheered
After the audience was seated the
men who have already enrolled in the
new company marched to seats in the
front of the hall and their progress
down the center aisle was accompa-
MED by spirited applause from floor
and balconies.
The audience arose and again ap-
plauded as the speakers Of the evening
took the platfornl-Mayor Willis E.
Swift, Gov. Carl E. Milliken, Lieut.. Col.
Frank b. Cummings. Hon. Ralph
Brewster of Portland and Judge Bene-
dict F. Maher.
Governor Milliken
Your presence here in such numbers
at the oYset shows me that my pres
ence here is not really necessary" re-
marked Gov. Niliken. He called atten-
ton to Names just reason for pride in
the fact that from the time Of our en-
trance into the war she has stood in the
foremost ranks in all war activities. The
Governor emphasized that the Third
Maine is not a Home Guard. but Ma
tional Guard regiment. The men who join
will belong to Just as truly national
guard force as any that has preceded It.
While the State has until now been fort
innate in not suffering from the lack Of
a military force, it is desirable that such
a force be at once obtained, he said.
In answer to what he said is frequen:
question. Governor Milliken stated that
and he said that he had the assurance of
the war department that proper instruc-
ton will be provided. Referring to rumors
that certain employees have put obstacles
in the way of men desiring to enlist, he
said that if such proved true the punish
ment will be prompt and severe. To the
question as TO whether or not the regi-
ment will have muster this summer, he
said the answer is Yes" Hitherto, said
Governor Millken, no special effort has
been made to hurry the recruiting Of the
the results be accomplished at once.
Lieut.. Col Cummings
Lieut. Col Cummings. taking the
ground, as he said, that his hearers were
present from patriotic motives, stated
that he would confne his remarks large
ly to a description of what boy goes
through after he enters the service. He
| told of the transports. saying that they
are mostly converted German liners
which, despite the fact that the Germans
were satisfied they had spoiled them. are
giving a two knots greater speed then
when used for their original purpose. He
, exhibited dark blue light bulb of the
sort which provides the only illumina-
ton allowed on the transports. The light
is not sufficiently bright for reading or
even for card playing, he said. The drill
in leaving the ship which the boys un.
dergo is not a proceeding that would