The Republican journal., 1918-02-21
The Third Maine Regiment.

The second rally in the interest of the
Third Maine Regiment and organization
of the Belfast Company was held at the
Court House at 730 p. m. last Friday.
There was very large attendance, every
seat being taken and all the standing
room in the rear was well filled.
The Belfast Band occupied seats in the
center of the auditorium and furnished
number of selections during the evening.
On the stage were seated Hon. Ralph o.
Brewster of Portland, sergeant of Com
pany A. of that city; Capt. Sabine W.
Woods and Lieut. Albert P. Cushman of
Company B., Bangor, Hodgdon C. Buz-
zell, Morris L. Slugg and Orrin j. Dickey.
Mr.. Slugg conducted the exercises.
He briefly told of the objects of the
meeting, urged the organization of COM
pany in this city as part of the Third
Maine Regiment; and said there would be
no question but that the Company would
be organized here, but that there has been
numerous opinions as regards the enlist
ments and that the speakers of the even
ing would explain these misunderstand-
ings. He was confident Belfast would do
something along this line and then in
troduced Mr.. Brewster as the principal
speaker.
Mr. Brewster was heard for the first
time in Belfast and he created a very
! favorable impression with the audience
He went very carefully over all the
ground, from the submarine conditions
to the need of the home companies in
case there was call for duty at home
He stated that it was not expected of the
they were enlisting for cross-sea duty,
but on the other hand that it was intend
ed that they should remain at home and
! be trained here and in case of strikes or
internal disturbances in the State they
would be called upon for duty. That it
was probable that they would never see
|
were unable to meet the emergency in
conquering the German people, then the
men of this company would naturally 60
into the service, as they would even if
they were not members of the company,
/ because the government would have to
/ call them to the service. He said the
! Mt ho ha lrin
ing at home, keeping with their family
and carrying on their work until needed,
if they ever were. 1t takes a year to
make good trained soldier and the SOL
dier trained at home cannot expect to be-
come one any sooner. If the present
army have not conquered Germany at
the close of year, every American will
be expected to present himself for SER
vice and whether he is member of the
Third Maine or not will be expected to
answer the call to arms. The members
of the Third Maine will be the drilled
men and the drilled men are better in the
service.
H. C. Buzzell, Esq, was Unexpectedly
called to speak in the absence of Gen.
/ Presson who had expected to be present.
He spoke along similar lines and while
/ he was not familiar with the military
plans and knew little of the Third Maine,
i he did feel that there was an importance
in this movement and that Belfast need
! ~ nd hot + hoc ch Il
give their support to it.
Capt Sabine W. Wood of Company B.,
Bangor, spoke in the interest of the Bel
fast company and told what had been ac-
complished in Bangor. After the Maine
State National Guard had been called to
the service and was already at the front,
Bangor had raised and accepted for
service in the Third Maine Regiment 140
men and they were part of the re-
serve force of the United States Army
He said he could not guarantee any man
that ne would ever go across the waters
| to France; that he would ever see any
fighting, because there were SO many
IlleN Ill LIe uldlt dlu Illcy WOulu Uc lIISl
accepted in the service, but if it was
found that these men of draft age after
having been trained and sent to Tranc
were unable to meet the emergency then,
and not till then, might the Third Maine
Regiment be expected to do their part.
The company is intended for home duty
and we cannot guarantee that they will
have any other duty.
Sergt Brewster returned to Portland
on the morning train Saturday, but Capt.
Wood and Lieut.. Cushmanfremained here
until Saturday afternoon, meeting num-
Der of the members at the office of City
Clerk Orrin j. Dickey in the city build
ing. Quite large percentage of the
men were sworn in, filled out their en-
listment papers and talked the situation
over with the officers. Some were ex-
amined and the city building presented a
busy recruiting office during the day.
The next examination will take place
at the city building this, Thursday, at
7.3O p. m, when Lieut.. Carl H. Stevens
of this city will be the examining ply
sician. 1t is expected that there will be
! uuite number ready for examination on