Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-04
sELECTIvE SERVICE MEN
GIVEN GOOD SENDOFF
Mayor Swift Speaks to Div. ! Young
Men Friday Morning Just Before
They Leave for Fort SIocum, ". Y.
MANY Present to Cheer the Boys

Men Friday Morning Just oerorej
They Leave for Fort Slocum, N. Y.
MANY Present to Cheer the Boys
A good number of Augusta citizens
were at the Maine Central station early
Friday morning and cheered the IL
young men from Division l Of kennebec
couaty who were entrained at rs Tor
Fort Slocum, New Rochelle, \. y,
Among those present to see the boys
off were Mayor Willis 4. Swift. Chair
man f. w. Plaisted of local board Tor
Div. l, Chairman Guy p. Gannett OF
the Augusta chapter of the Red Cross,
Blaine Owen and Mrs. George +. Ma
comber Of the canteen committee and a
number of ladies Of the Red Cross. Be-
fore their departure the selective SER
! vice men were supplied with fruit, choc-
olate, stamped post cards and kennebec
| Journals and to each was given ar
| American flag.
! feature on the occasion of the boys
! departure was a brief patriotic talk
/ given by Mayor Swift which was cor
daily received and greatly appreciated.
Mayor Swift stated that one of the
greatest privleg any young man can
| have is to serve the country in this time
of need, and he congratulated them
upon being physically fit to be of ser
vice. He spoke of the great army nee
essary in order to hold a position of
! authority - nd he said that obedience
was one of the first requirements Of
any soldier, whatever his rank He
spoke of the splendid spirit in the camps
and said that there are found million
aires and the humblest laborer lined llp
side by side, and that these assoca-
lions had developed a love of country.
a loyalty to the country and a devotion
to the flag and American ideals, which
meant better America.
Mayor Swift told the young men Of
the work Ex-Governor Plaisted is doing
! in handling the selective service in this
! division, and he spoke Of what the Re,
| ross is doing for the men in the ser
vice and for their families through its
chairman, Hon. Guy =. Gannett. He
urged the boys TO keep the home fires
burning in their hearts and write home
often, and he told them to keep them
| selves clean and to come back as pure
as they went away ana when they re-
| turn 10 their homes the people will be
| here to meet them with a royal well
! come. And in closing he pointed out
i that every man in the line, from the
! highest general in command to the last
! private in the ranks. are working and
! hghtng for the same country and the
same common cause.-the United States
and the cause Of humanity.
When the train came in the Water
vile boys gave three cheers for their
Augusta comrades and the contingent
from Division l marched to the train
under the leadership Of Cecil A. Rollins
of Nassalboro, a Hebron teacher and a
graduate Of Colby College one other
man in the quota, Harold G White Of
( Ninslow, is also a graduate Of Colby
! College. The boys were in fine spirits
when they entrained.
At the request of Ex-Governor Flais-
ted one of the Watervllle contingent.
Lorin "A. Stevens of Readfeld Depot.
came out Oh the platform and was
greeted with cheers when it was seen
that the young man was six feet seven
and one-half inches in height Mr. Ste
vens told Chairman Plasted that he is
! one of four brother, the shortest Of
whom is six feet six and onc-half inch
es. and he was proud to state that each
of them was Of draft age and was 60
ing into the service of the country.
The 10 men from this division, whose
names were published in FRIDAYS Jour
| nal, were due to arrive AT Nav, 20
chelle. n. y, at SIS last evening.